Women in the Image of God

Complete in God - Genesis 1:27 declares one of the most foundational truths in all of Scripture: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

From the very beginning, women were never presented as secondary, accidental, or inferior. Women were created in the image of God. This truth establishes the equal dignity, value, and divine purpose of women alongside men. Both male and female were created to reflect God’s nature and represent Him in the earth.

The image of God was never fully revealed through man alone. Humanity required both male and female together to display the fullness of God’s character. Woman was not an afterthought in creation—she was part of God’s original design and essential to the complete revelation of His image in humanity.

This is why womanhood is deeply connected to completeness. Together, male and female reveal dimensions of God’s character:

• strength and tenderness

• authority and compassion

• leadership and nurturing

• justice and mercy

God chose to reveal aspects of Himself through woman that were not yet visible in Adam alone.

Genesis 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. Help Meet – ezer kenegdo - helper suitable for him.

While "helper" often suggests a subordinate assistant in English, the original Hebrew terms convey a much more powerful and equal partnership. 

The word help - ezer - appears 21 times in the Old Testament and refers to to God as:

rescuer, protector, strength, deliverer. This is not weak language. It is warrior language.

Jesus consistently broke through cultural restrictions to affirm women as equal image-bearers. He invited Mary to sit at His feet as a disciple—something traditionally reserved for men. He chose women to be the first witnesses of His resurrection in a culture where female testimony was often disregarded. Women such as Joanna and Susanna also financially supported Jesus’ ministry and traveled alongside His disciples. They were not spectators—they were participants in the Kingdom mission.

Paul also acknowledged women in ministry leadership:

• Phoebe served as a deacon and patron of the church,

• Priscilla helped teach Apollos,

• Junia is recognized by many scholars as prominent among the apostles.

Clearly Paul supported the idea of women in ministry. To understand why Paul later wrote "I do not permit a woman to teach," scholars look at the unique culture of Ephesus, where the Artemis cult was dominant. In this cult, women held high status as priestesses, and some local myths even suggested women were "born first" or superior to men. Paul's restriction in Ephesus was not a universal ban but a local correction for wealthy, uneducated women who were trying to dominate the church with "Artemis-influenced" false doctrines. The rare Greek word Paul uses for authority here, authentein, is often translated as "to domineer" or "usurp authority," suggesting he was stopping abusive behavior rather than feminine leadership in general. 

In 2 Corinthians 6:14 Paul talks about being unequally yoked with non believers. He uses the metaphor of oxen in that two oxen required to walk side-by-side will have difficulty if they are "unequal." Different strengths cause different directions which prohibit them from working efficiently and create struggle to move forward together. Being unequally yoked refers to close relationships where spiritual foundations are divided. This applies especially to marriage, but also to business partnerships and deeply binding relationships. The concern is not isolation from unbelievers, but avoiding relationships that pressure believers to compromise their faith and calling.

At the same time, in 1 Corinthians 7:12 Paul offers grace and wisdom for those already married to unbelievers. He encourages believers to remain faithful and peaceful within those relationships whenever possible.

There is a necessity for spiritual order and covering. Paul answers this for us in 1 Corinthians 11.

1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. 8 For the man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man. 9 Neither was the man created for the woman, but the woman for the man.

A spiritual covering provides accountability, guidance, and protection within ministry. For women without a husband or a husband who is a non-believer or one that is unequally yoked, a spiritual authority or Bishop can fill that role. Here is the why of it: without the "Father" side of the image of God as a covering, the woman becomes over-nurturing and misrepresents the complete image of God. The track record has been that they usually loose the authority side which is completely necessary in ministry.

This message was all about the "Completeness of God", His full reflection. On a day when everyone talks about the biological role of women, God went BAM, "Beyond A Mother" and showed women their real image and purpose from the beginning.

Thank you for giving me the grace of preaching Bishop's message, revelation, and his heart to propel women beyond and into their God given purpose!

Let's discuss:

1. The Hebrew word ezer describes woman as a strong helper, protector, and ally—even a term used for God Himself. How does this deeper meaning challenge traditional views of women’s roles in ministry, marriage, and leadership?

2. Even though women are equal, why do they still need a covering?

3. What were your aha moments?