There is NO Gender-Based Hierarchy in Marriage

Because there is NO Hierarchy within the Godhead

There is NO Gender-Based Hierarchy in Marriage: Because there is NO Hierarchy within the Godhead

The Bible says, "Out of the mouths of two or three witnesses, let every word be established." The number of scriptural witnesses that Jesus is the Almighty are many more than just two or three. That means the number of scriptural witnesses to biblical equality/autonomy of the sexes are many more than just two or three as well.

Why do I say that? Let me explain.

In his book, A Man's Touch, the late Charles Stanley wrote that complementarian (patriarchal) theology bases its entire gender-based hierarchical paradigm on one thing and one thing only...hierarchy within the Godhead.

Stanley wrote, “Here we see the inconsistency of claiming independence and authority for wives. If we say the Bible is wrong in placing the man in authority over the woman, then we must say Christ is not the appointed leader of the Church, nor is God the Father necessarily the leader of the triune Godhead. Yet that reality establishes the remainder of God’s chain of command as being Father; Son; man; woman….”

“God’s” chain of command? But Jesus is God. Even so, notice Stanley’s strategy of putting distance between God and Jesus by referring to “God’s” chain of command, as if Jesus somehow isn’t really God.

Stanley succinctly articulates the reason complementarians cling so desperately to the Arian, Eternal Son, doctrine that has been rejected as heresy and refuted by all historical mainstream scholars and Bible commentators. "Trinity Marriage," the concept that marriage is a microcosm of the Godhead, is a bedrock teaching of complementarianism. Though they never try to explain how the marriage duo can be compared to the Triune Godhead, and they ignore the Holy Spirit entirely.

Arian theology came through Arius, who taught that the Son came into being through the will of the Father.  Therefore, the Son had to have a beginning. Arian theology teaches that although the Son was before all "other" things, he was not eternal, and Father and Son were not of the same essence. Because of this, Watchtower Society added the word "other" to Colossians 1:17, which, in all but their corrupt New World Translation, clearly states that ALL things were created by Jesus.

Though Complementarians loudly protest the idea that their teaching is a spin-off of Arius's eternal sonship theory, excepting a few tweaks here and there, the doctrine promoted by the Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW), and the late Charles Stanley, aligns nicely with the Christology of Watchtower, Mormonism, Seventh Day Adventists, and, among others, Unitarians.

If complementarian theology is true, that Jesus has always been the son (eternal sonship doctrine), then that means that Jesus is a created being just like the angels, who are also called sons of God. They are called sons of God because God created them.

Oxymoronically, most complementarians deny that Jesus is a created being like all the other "sons of God" (the angels), while at the same time affirming the rejection of the biblical teaching that God became the son by entering into the world via the womb of his human mother (Psalm 2:7, Acts 13:33, Hebrews 1:5, 5:5). Complementarians adopt the portion of Arius's theory that promotes the lie that Jesus was always a son of God and therefore subordinate.

The term eternal sonship can only be applied to created beings, the angels, because they were created as sons of God.  From their creation, they have always been sons and they always will be sons—hence, only angels can be called “eternal sons” of God. But that is not the case with Jesus. He is the Creator and not the created. Before his incarnation as a human, Jesus was not the Son. He was THE WORD (John 1:1,14).

Complementarians can’t have it both ways. Either Jesus was always a son of God (therefore created, in which case he could not have created ALL things) or he became the son when God became flesh and dwelled among us. The two are mutually exclusive. So, which is it?

Responsible scholarship has always acknowledged the eternal counsels of the Co-Equal and Triune Godhead in the obedience of the Son rather than the hierarchal and heretical Eternal Son theory of Arius.  The late J. Vernon McGee held to the Incarnational Sonship of Jesus. In his book, Countdown at Calvary, he wrote, “He said, ‘I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do’ (John 17:4). He handed in His report. He had completed the thing that was decided back in the eternal counsels of Almighty God.”

Hebrews 3:1-4 says, Wherefore holy brethren partakers of the heavenly calling consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession Christ Jesus Who was faithful to him that appointed him as also Moses was faithful in all his house For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house For every house is builded by some man but he that built all things is God...Col 1:16-17, 1 Tim 3:16, Acts 20:28

In this article I have presented the reader with seven witnesses to the Godship and Incarnational Sonship of Jesus, our Creator and Savior. If there is hierarchy within the Godhead (and there isn't), then Jesus is at the top. But by the late Charles Stanley's own reckoning (of complementarianism’s existence depending solely upon there being hierarchy within the Godhead), there can be no gender-based hierarchy in marriage either.

For by him were ALL things created that are in heaven and that are in earth visible and invisible whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers all things were created by him and for him And he is before ALL things and by him all things consist…Colossians 1:16-17

Jesus is Creator

Jesus is God

This is the book of the generations of 'âdâm [humanity] In the day that Elohim created 'âdâm [humanity] in the likeness of Elohim made he him Male and female created he them and blessed them and called their name 'âdâm [human] in the day when they were created…Genesis 5:1-2

Jesus is Elohim

Jesus is Creator

Jesus is God

16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness GOD was manifest in the FLESH, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory…1 Timothy 3:16

Manifest in the Flesh= Jesus is God Incarnate=God became the Son.

Jesus is God

And Elohim said Let us make 'âdâm [humanity] in our image after our likeness and let them have dominion [together] over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air and over the cattle and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth So Elohim created 'âdâm [humanity] in his own image in the image of Elohim created he him Male and female created he them And Elohim blessed them and Elohim said unto them Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it and have dominion [together] over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth…Genesis 1:26-28

There is no hierarchy within the Godhead, and there is no gender-based hierarchy among God’s human creation, 'âdâm.

Jesus is Elohim

Jesus is God

Jesus is the ALMIGHTY

Jocelyn Andersen is a Bible teacher, blogger, and the author of several Christian books, including, Woman Submit! Christians & Domestic Violence and Woman this is WAR! Gender, Slavery, and the Evangelical Caste System. She is a regular contributor to Adorning His Bride Magazine and a member of AWSA (Advanced Writers & Speakers Association). Her work has been featured in magazines, newspapers, radio, and television. She can be contacted through her website www.JocelynAndersen.com.