Uncreating our First Parents and turning the Genesis narrative into myth creates unsalvageable damage to marriage and creates a false theology of salvation and the Church. The stakes are that high. Confuse Adam and Eve, redefine marriage according to contemporary cultural norms, and turn the gospel into meaningless mush. This imposter gospel is far from good news.
This article is part two of a two-part series. Read part one here.
Marriage, History and Theology
With magisterial grace, the Bible weds Christian theology to the male/female distinctions in God’s creation of marriage. Space permits only a brief consideration of this mysterious and intricate knot.
Adam and Eve are one flesh, but they are not one person. Their union is vital and real, yet for that to be the case, their distinct identities endure. Adam is not Eve, and Eve is not Adam. This personal and gender distinction is a sine qua non of marriage itself.
Many have argued for heterosexual marriage, with a degree of measurable success, from anatomical differences between the genders. Others have noted patterns in the psychological and emotional distinctions between then sexes, finding rich complementarity dependent upon embedded gender diversity. United by divine institution, these marvelously distinct genders become one flesh. But their one flesh solidarity does not obviate their differences. Marriage makes two gloriously one, but preserves the distinctiveness of the two in this dynamic of mysterious oneness.
But there is much more involved here in the case for heterosexual marriage. The vitality of gender distinction extends beyond the institution of marriage itself. Woven into the fabric of our binary, heterosexual gender distinctions lies a divinely-revealed theological treasure. God imbues his design of the marital relationship with covenantal, relational (and eschatological!) significance, making the visible human institution a walking sermon of divine love for fallen man.
With impenetrable yet discernible intimacy (see Ephesians 5:18–33), God consistently expresses his love for his people in marital terms. This divine–and amazing—love culminates in his Son Jesus Christ who sacrificially, permanently, and intimately loves his Bride.
Christ Jesus is Head of his Church and as such, stays distinct from her. Adam is not Eve. Christ is not his Church. Thus, union with Christ does not involve conflation or confusion with Christ.