Matrimony and Gender
Chapter Four
Yordanos Addise
The foundation and culmination of Christian matrimony are rooted in God. In holy matrimony, the two men and woman become one through the holy sacrament. Without entering into a covenant with the One who grants us His Kingdom, starting marriage would be akin to the Old Testament concept of worldly, earthly and fleshly unions. These would exist solely for procreation, fulfilling physical desires, or resolving disputes, making matrimony a mere worldly endeavor. In Christian matrimony, however, these are gifts from God Himself. If we remain steadfast in our faith and live a virtuous life, we are promised the inheritance of the heavenly Kingdom.
A matrimony that is not aligned with the will of our God, the Lord, will not transcend into the Kingdom of Heaven (the life to come). Instead, it becomes something that ends in death, concludes with the grave, and fades away. Such a marriage is confined to this earthly life, where its purpose is ultimately death. This means living for death; marrying for death; bearing children for death; investigating for death; and striving for death. However, when God is present in the covenant, He elevates it beyond death and makes it complete. He grants life, and through Him, the covenant becomes meaningful and eternal. In the absence of God, the union between a man and a woman becomes merely a natural arrangement, limited to their existence as creatures. What is offered in such matrimony is purely natural and finite, confined to the boundaries of this earthly life. Only with God does the covenant become transformative and essential, surpassing the limitations of this temporal world.
To understand matrimony more comprehensively, we must first examine its origins. As discussed in previous sections, we have reflected on the dignity and gender of humankind. Now, we will turn our attention to Adam and Eve, the first to establish matrimony. When we think of Adam and Eve, many of us fail to acknowledge their sanctity. Adam is our holy father, and Eve is our holy mother. In the Church, Adam and Eve are remembered and honored as Saints, just like other holy figures. Their names are recited in the Synaxarium, and they are glorified. Their names symbolize our Christian identity and can serve as an inspiration and a model for us. They are presented as our holy guardians, offering us a divine example of matrimony rooted in sanctity and purpose.
Saint Irenaeus states: “The Gnostics claim that Adam was not saved, but the Church proclaims his salvation.” This teaching distinguishes the Church from those heretical views. The names Adam and Eve refer to the first humans created, and they hold a sacred significance. Together, they are often referred to by the collective name “human” (man), representing the essence of humanity. Human beings are composed of both spiritual and physical natures—spiritual in their soul, resembling Angels, and physical in their body, resembling animals. Therefore, the term “human” is used as a universal designation for both male and female, highlighting their shared origin and nature.
The Bible explains this as follows: “God created man in His own image; He created them male and female.” (Genesis 1:27). Thus, according to the teaching of the Holy Scriptures, the term “man” applies equally to both male and female as a universal name. Adam was created as a complete human being, mature and whole. The name Adam has three meanings: one who is beautiful, one of medium stature, and one formed from the earth.
Regarding the creation of Eve, the Bible says: “The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’ The Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, He took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib He had taken out of the man, and He brought her to the man. The man said, ‘ this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called “woman,” for she was taken out of man.’” This clear and detailed account reveals the creation of Eve and her relationship to Adam as his companion and helper.
When God created Eve, He did not form her from the dust of the ground as He did with Adam. Instead, He took a single rib from Adam’s side and made it into a woman. The account in the Book of Genesis regarding the creation of woman does not merely describe the physical act of her being formed from Adam’s side; it also conveys the deeper truth that, prior to this, God had already created humankind in His image: “God created man in His own image; He created them male and female” (Genesis 1:27). The reference to male and female highlights that when Adam was created, Eve’s existence as part of him was already established, and her formation from Adam’s side serves to illustrate this connection.
Among the church fathers, Saint Ephraim the Syrian says: “He made them male and female. This is stated to show that Eve existed within Adam. She is the rib that came from him. She existed within his body, but not only in his body; had she also existed within his soul and spirit. This is because God shaped and formed her from the rib taken from Adam, without adding anything else to her. Therefore, everything that pertains to Eve was contained within Adam, and when it is said that He made them male and female, it is correct to understand this as referring to that single rib being counted as both male and female.” Adam realized that the animals were not suitable helpers for him. For this reason, God created Eve as his helper.
God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep and created Eve from one of his ribs. Adam and the other creatures (animals) were formed from the dust of the earth, but Eve was taken from Adam’s side. (1 Timothy 2:13) The bible states that Adam was created first, and then Eve. God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…male and female He created them.” This powerful statement reveals that Eve existed within Adam in unity before being taken from his side and brought to life. It emphasizes that Eve was part of Adam before her physical creation from his rib.
“The Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground” (Genesis 2:7). Through this powerful statement, the Bible conveys man is a unity of body and soul. If this were not the case, it would imply God first formed the body from the dust of the ground and then created the soul separately. In addressing this matter, Saint Epiphanius explains: “Can we say that Adam was created in a sequence, first his physical body and then his soul? No, we cannot. If there had been a sequence, it would imply: ‘Let us first create the flesh, and then we will create the soul.’ But this is not the case.” This affirms that Adam was created simultaneously as a unified being of body and soul, without any sequential process.
Humankind was created on the sixth day, elevated in honor above animals. Unlike animals, which were formed from the dust of the ground, humanity was made by the holy hands of God, signifying its special dignity. Saint Basil of Caesarea states: “The term ‘image’ refers to our free will, enabling us to grow into the likeness of God through our choices.” This “image” signifies the freedom of our will, which allows us to make choices that align with God’s likeness. Through this free will, we can choose either to draw closer to God or to turn away. Both paths reflect the potential within us to grow into the likeness of God.
In matrimony, we are called to imitate God. We are created with a purpose and with a form; the distinction of male and female is not meant to be reduced to an animal-like existence but to reflect a divine image. According to worldly thinking, we should strive to reflect God’s image, as this is a sacred calling. The purpose of matrimony is to help us grow toward the fullness of paradise. This is why it is essential for us to seek to live in harmony with our spouse. When we are given something to work with, we should treat it with care and respect. Matrimony is a divine gift, and in this world, it is a sacred duty that helps us reflect God’s will on earth. As such, to experience true marriage, we must first understand the true meaning of divine love.
The human being lives in three worlds: one is the world where they are formed; the second is the world in which they live; and the third is the world where they transition to after death.
The first world is where a person is formed in the womb. This world is a preparation for the next, where the body is formed by the hands of God. In this world, the child’s body is prepared for birth, but it is not yet capable of using its senses. Upon birth, the child enters the second world.
The second world is the one we inhabit in our lifetime. In this world, we use the body that was formed in the first world. However, there is a limit to how much we can understand about ourselves. We do not know how we are made or what sustains us. Our life in this world is a mystery, and the basic needs of life, such as food, are part of our survival. How life operates beyond birth; how blood circulates; or how the body functions remains a mystery that we cannot fully comprehend.
In the world we live in, three essential things are given to humans: age, knowledge, and wealth. These are meant for the next world, not for the immediate world we inhabit. These things do not hold lasting value in this life; whether we live long or short; whether we learn or do not learn or whether we are wealthy or poor. What truly matters is what prepares us for the eternal kingdom of heaven. Let us reflect on how we live, as the things of this world are temporary.
Cont’d…