Further discussion:  Genesis 1:27: God created man in his image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Genesis 5:1,2: In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; Male and female created he them;

The following passage is an inspired commentary on the two preceding Genesis passages. 1 Corinthians 11:7: 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. Together, these Scriptures succinctly show that the Creator made the "them" male and female, but only the "him" in the image of God.

Genesis chapters 1 through 5 plainly show us that when God was finished creating the man in the "image of God" that Adam and only Adam was there. The woman did not yet exist. Then, God made the woman, Eve, to be a "help meet" (a helper exactly suited) for the man. He did NOT create her to be another image of God. If the woman is the image and glory of God also, then she should not cover her head either! But, the passage teaches that she should be covered in certain circumstances.

The word "image" should not be regarded as a technical term. It simply means a likeness. Like an image in a mirror or a photograph. But, mere similarity does not always mean Imagery. Although a woman is a personal, rational, and tripartite being, this does not make her the image of God, because she lacks masculine nature which is an inherent, intrinsic, aspect of God's person and being. 

To diminish or slight manhood or to confuse it with womanhood is an insult to, and a smear against God himself. Deuteronomy 22:5 warns us against confusing the sexes even in respect to clothing.

Deuteronomy 22:5: The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment; for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God. Isaiah 3:12, in context, God regards it a national dishonor to have women in leadership positions.

Why? Because the man IS God's image. Isaiah 3:12: As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. Ephesians 5:33 says a woman is to have "fear" or "reverence" toward her husband as toward God. This is appropriate because he is the "image of God." She is showing her true reverence for God himself.

Furthermore, this fits the context as it makes the comparison with Christ and his Church. Ephesians 5:33: Nevertheless, let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife, see that she reverence her husband.

Note: Modern versions falsify this and other passages.  They wrongly use "respect" in place of "reverence."  A wife's reverence is due the image of God the man bears. In passing, note carefully the differential and complementary nature of God's commands for the two sexes.

The man's deep, and sincere love encourages his wife's obedience, while her wholehearted obedience inspires her husband to an even deeper and more intimate love for her. So, God's instructions are differential and complementary, and will produce harmony.

In 1 Timothy 2:12 Paul speaking, as an apostle, and under the direct commission of Jesus Christ, states that he does not allow a woman to be in a place of authority over a man because of God's deliberate order in creation, nor to teach, because of a greater or more general proneness to deception on the part of women.

The old English word "suffer" meaning to allow. 1 Timothy 2:12-15: I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman, being deceived, was in the transgression. Notwithstanding, she shall be saved in childbearing.

Observe that the context does not limit itself to religious situations only. Paul bases his teaching on the very nature and purpose of God's creative act, and on events in the Garden of Eden. The King James word "usurp" correctly connotes the illegitimate nature of this kind of situation. This is the only place in the Bible it is used.

Let the reader note, also, from chapter one of Matthew that the royal bloodline of Jesus Christ, heir to the throne of Israel, passes from King David, generation to generation, only through male persons. There were no legitimate female monarchs on the throne of Israel.

1 Corinthians 14:34-37: Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But why is it a shame? Why should she ask her husband at home? 

The "image of God" a man bears, is far more important than other considerations. For the woman to speak, would be as though she presumed to teach God himself. It also openly demonstrates independence from, and insubordination to her "head," the man, and thus to God himself. The reader may also review I Corinthians 11, and Ephesians 5.

Does the woman's subordination imply that she is inferior? Many people equate these two words, but God does not! God the Son, Jesus Christ, is perfectly subordinate to God the Father. AND EQUAL!

John 5:17-18: But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. John 10:30: I and my father are one.

Hebrews 1:8-10: But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, 0 God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: Here in Hebrews 1 we find God the Father directly addressing God the Son as "O God" and as "Lord." Hebrews 5:8: Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.

None of us has anything that he has not been given. So, there is no justification for pride or aire of superiority.  God takes his "image" very seriously. He prescribes capital punishment for murderers. Why? Genesis 9:6: Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the Image of God made he man. Murder of a man ISan attack against God Himself. Murder of women is wrong with God too (1 Timothy 1:9 and other passages).

A great aspect of this "image of God" is prominent in human fatherhood. In the lovely and well-known "Lord's Prayer" --- in Matthew 6:9-15, Jesus teaches us that we should begin our prayers with Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.  My children will come to know this invisible, infinite, holy, Lord God primarily from me, their earthly father. A solemn responsibility of a father is to faithfully represent God the Heavenly Father, to his child's young mind. In dealing with our children, we should ask himself, "how does God deal with me as one of his own children?"

A human father bears the image of God the Father to his children, and provides the experiential basis for their concept of God. I recall hearing a very sad story from a man who used to minister in the California prison system. As he would begin to pray with some of the men, "Our Father.. .etc.," he found that some of these men were loath to view God as their "father." For many of these men, the only father they had ever known had been a horrible man who came home drunk, and beat them, beat their mothers, and deserted them. We see how tragically God's image was hurt. We can only imagine how handicapped these men must have been in their early conception of God.

This doctrine I am teaching is by no means hung on the interpretation of a few Bible passages. Throughout the entire Bible, God is "he" and Israel is "she." Likewise, Jesus, "God the Son," is "he," and the Church, the bride of Christ, is "she."

God the Father and God the Son are totally masculine as are any Father and Son. There is no part of either one that is feminine. The same is true of God the Holy Spirit although that is harder to demonstrate. The great love stories of God the Father and God the Son for their respective women (Israel, Church) occupy huge portions of the Bible.

They give us great insight into God's purpose in the institution of manhood, womanhood, marriage, and family relationships. They provide the Biblical context in which every unclear passage dealing with men and women's gender roles must be correctly interpreted.

I am convinced that the woman surely plays a most crucial role in this representation of God the Father and his great purposes. It is her contrasting, complementary, life of true womanhood that gives visibility to, and perfects God's image. An artist employs the principle of contrast in colors and shades to project his great thoughts to the canvas.

Similarly, the playwright employs the contrast and interaction of his created characters to introduce his great ideas. And, the Creator, himself, employs the contrast of two distinctly, publicly, different, kinds of lives to perfect his purposes. If these proper gender roles be neglected or perverted, then the Creator's special purposes may be damaged or subverted. Our dear God is the consummate artist and master playwright.

As previously noted, the Bible states, In the image of God created He Him. Then almost immediately: Genesis 2:18: It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him. Genesis 2:21-23: And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

This tells us something rather intimate about God Himself, and explains his own pursuit of an appropriate "her." The woman is fashioned from the man's rib, a place very near and dear to his heart, and an item indispensable if he is to be complete, happy and whole.

She is, in a sense, the image of the missing rib in the side of God. She represents, that is, true womanhood represents, that precious and special being that God himself could fall in love with and marry. The "Pearl of Great Price" in Matthew 13, takes on new meaning. John 3:16, and a myriad other passages assume so much greater significance.

Matthew 13:45,46: Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

We may begin to understand the reason for, or nature of, this deep love, by contemplating the significance of this missing rib. The woman completes the image of God; She is the missing rib. Throughout the Bible are verses that hint of this great significance. Example: 1 Peter 3:4: The ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price. Surely womanhood embodies that which God, being the masculine person, treasures in his "her."

What a very high calling and great privilege for the man to be the image of the Living God. And likewise, what a very high calling and great privilege for a woman to be the complement, the "helpmeet," and to reflect this precious "missing rib" aspect of God's Holy character. How vile and dark the unisex philosophy and lifestyle which refuses and rejects these beautiful callings, and mocks at God's perfect, holy, and lovely ways. May God give us the will, and grant us the courage to use every opportunity to speak out for his most precious truth.