Here is an excerpt from Dr. Joy Fleming's Introduction to her book Man and Woman in Biblical Unity, Theology from Genesis 2-3.

The human race was and is God's delight. This early part of Genesis tells of two human beings, each specially "handmade" by God. It speaks of how they related to their Creator's care and command. Because two people were created, societal interplay is observed between them. And because they were responsible for their own actions, the Creator deals with each one individually.

In Genesis we discover that both persons share equally in

• the image of God (Gn. 1:26-27);
• the charge to be fruitful and multiply (Gn. 1:28);
• the mandate to rule over the world God created (Gn. 1:26-31);
• the enjoyment of God's gracious bounty in the Garden (Gn. 2);
• and even in the name "Adam" (Gn. 5:2).

Neither person of either gender has greater intrinsic value than the other. They are partners in the grace of life. The text of Genesis 2 and 3 tells us of the Creator who graciously reaches out to the two sinners, and how the first couple experiences God's love as well as the consequence of sin.

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