What is complementarianism?
Complementarianism understands man and woman as complementary to one another, meaning that they are equally made in the image of God and yet distinct in their roles, completing one another as defined in Scripture.
In past decades, sound theologians have thoroughly explored this issue. I don’t really have anything new to say. My reason for saying anything at all is that our society continues to rush downhill on this matter, rejecting God’s truth and attempting to redefine what it means to be a man or a woman, if any clear definition is even given at all. In response to their unbelief, God has judged many by giving them over to their sin and the delusion of thinking that this sin is something to celebrate (Romans 1:26–27, 32).
Here’s a quick summary of complementarianism, organized according to the storyline of the Bible.
God created mankind with complementary roles.
God created mankind in His image, distinct as male and female who are equal in dignity and worth (Gen 1:26–28). They are fellow heirs of the grace of life (1 Peter 3:7). God created Adam first to be the authority and head of the home, and God created Eve to be his helper (Gen 2:18; 1 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Timothy 2:13). As husband and wife, they would be joined together as one (Genesis 2:24). As Paul would explain in time, marriage would picture Christ and the church by means of how the husband sacrificially loves his wife and how the wife respects and submits to her husband (Ephesians 5:22–33).
God continued these roles after mankind’s fall into sin.
Man fell into sin (Genesis 3:1–7; Romans 5:12), affecting all of creation (cf. Romans 8:19–22), himself and marriage included. In her sinfulness, the woman would desire to reverse the marriage roles and rule over her husband. In his sinful response, the man would harshly rule over her (Genesis 3:16b). It is therefore no surprise that the primary commands about marriage in the New Testament are for husbands to love their wives and for wives to submit to their husbands (Ephesians 5:22–33; Colossians 3:18–19). By faith in Christ, a husband and wife can glorify God and live out the complementary roles that they are given. In common grace, unbelieving couples can reflect what God intends a marriage to be as well.
Multiple passages clearly teach that complementarianism spans the Testaments. In the New Testament, Paul repeatedly looks back to Adam and Eve when giving instruction for today (1 Corinthians 11:3, 7–9; 1 Timothy 2:11–15). Peter uses the example of Abraham and Sarah as well (1 Peter 3:5–6). Whether Adam and Eve before mankind’s fall into sin, the Old Testament after the fall, or the New Testament thereafter, complementarianism continues from one Testament to the next and into our present day.
God confirms these roles in the church.
Just as male headship exists in the home, so also it does in the church. Women may not teach or exercise authority over men in the church (and thus the church as a whole) and may therefore not function as pastors (1 Tim 2:11–14; cf. 1 Corinthians 14:34–35). Pastors may only be men and only as they fit the qualifications given by God (1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:6–9). To be sure, women use their spiritual gifts in the church, disciple other women in the church (Titus 2:3–5), and can clearly build up both men and women in their fellowship with one another (e.g., Acts 18:26). Both men and women glorify God together as one in Christ in their service to Him and to one another in the church (1 Cor 12:12–26; Gal 3:28).
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