Gender Roles and the Glory of God: -- By: James M. Hamilton, Jr.

Journal: Journal for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
Volume: JBMW 09:2 (Fall 2004)
Article: Gender Roles and the Glory of God:
Author: James M. Hamilton, Jr.


Gender Roles and the Glory of God:

A Sermon on 1 Corinthians 11:2–12

James M. Hamilton, Jr.

Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Houston Park Place Campus Houston, Texas

[Editor’s Note: This sermon was preached at Mills Road Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, on October 12, 2003.]

Introduction

Our society hates gender distinctions. Specifically, contemporary American culture hates any indication that there are certain things that men should do but that women should not do. So now we send nineteen year old girls, like Jessica Lynch, into battle. We can now buy “unisex” cologne/perfume and “unisex” clothing.

The culture’s war on gender includes a battle over Bible translation. The frontal attack can be seen in the publication of Today’s New International Version. The TNIV systematically avoids masculine elements of language, even in texts that refer to the “Son of Man.” So, for instance, rather than translating the Christological reference in Heb 2:6 as it should read, “what is man that you are mindful of him, the SON OF MAN that you care for him,” the TNIV renders it, “what are mere mortals that you are mindful of them, HUMAN BEINGS that you care for them?” The result is that a text that refers to the SON OF MAN, Jesus, cannot be read as alluding to Jesus’ favorite self-designation. Now Heb 2:6 can only be interpreted as referring to human beings.

Examples of this cultural drive to obliterate gender distinctions could be multiplied, but as we see from Genesis 1 and 2, gender is God-made not man-made. Everything that God makes is for his own glory. This sermon, titled “Gender Roles and the Glory of God,” intends to connect the dots between gender and the display of God’s beauty and genius.

As Christians, we must develop a biblical view of masculinity and femininity. We cannot allow a culture that has rejected our God and his Word to teach us what it means to be male and female in the image of God. In order to understand anything, we must first understand its ultimate purpose. As we examine 1 Cor 11:2–12, we will see the ultimate purpose of males and the ultimate purpose of females.

The main point of this sermon is that gender is for the glory of God. We are going to see that gender is for the glory of God in 1 Cor...

You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
Click here to subscribe
visitor : : uid: ()