Egalitarian claim 3.1: CREATED EQUAL: In Genesis 1, Adam and Eve were created equal; therefore, there could be no difference in role or authority between them. (103)
Answer 3.1a: We must distinguish different senses of “equal.” It is true that Adam and Eve were created equal in several ways, but equal value does not imply sameness in authority or roles. (104)
Answer 3.1b: Many relationships among people involve equal value but difference in roles and authority. (104)

Egalitarian claim 3.2: AUTHORITY DENIES EQUALITY: If there was male authority before the fall, then the male would be superior to the female and they could not be equal. (105)
Answer 3.2a: This blurs the discussion by using “equal” and “superior” in a vague, undefined way. (106)
Answer 3.2b: This argument assumes that difference in authority implies difference in value, but we know that is not true in human relationships. (106)
Answer 3.2c: We also know that difference in authority does not imply difference in value among the members of the Trinity. (106)

Egalitarian claim 3.3: BOTH TOLD TO RULE: Adam and Eve were both told to rule over the creation. Therefore there was no difference in role or authority between them. (106)
Answer 3.3a: This claim takes something the Bible does say and adds to it something the Bible does not say. (107)
Answer 3.3b: The Bible does not teach everything in Genesis 1. The statements in Genesis 2 are also true. (107)
Answer 3.3c: In other parts of Scripture, commands given to groups do not deny the authority and leadership patterns that exist within those groups. (108)

Egalitarian claim 3.4: MALE HEADSHIP A RESULT OF THE FALL: In Genesis 1–3, male headship did not come about until after the fall and is therefore a product of sin. (108)
Answer 3.4a: There are at least ten arguments that prove there was male headship before the fall. (109)
Answer 3.4b: It is true that oppressive male rule did not come about until after the fall, but male headship and unique male authority in marriage did exist before the fall. (109)
Answer 3.4c: Some egalitarians deny the truth and purity of the words of the Bible in order to deny male leadership before there was sin in the world. (110)

Egalitarian claim 3.5: PATRIARCHAL LANGUAGE: The Hebrew language of the Old Testament was “an expression of patriarchal culture.” (110)
Answer 3.5a: All the meanings of the statements of Scripture are from God. (110)

Egalitarian claim 3.6: ANDROGYNOUS ADAM: Adam was not male until Eve was created, but was rather just “a sexually undifferentiated human.” (111)
Answer 3.6a: If Adam was not male, then Eve would not have been created as female. (111)
Answer 3.6b: If Adam was not male or female, he could not be human. (111)
Answer 3.6c: If Adam was not male, he could not have represented us. (112)
Answer 3.6d: The Bible gives no support to this idea: (112)
Answer 3.6e: Is this view an indication of deeper egalitarian hostility toward human sexuality? (113)

Egalitarian claim 3.7: GENESIS 1–2 NOT HISTORICALLY ACCURATE: The elements of male leadership or “patriarchy” seen in Genesis 1–2 do not actually portray the facts of the original creation, but are a literary device that the author inserted into the Genesis story. (113)
Answer 3.7a: This argument assumes that several facts reported in Genesis 2 are not true. (115)
Answer 3.7b: This egalitarian argument has to deny the historical truthfulness of a major section of Genesis 2. (116)

Egalitarian claim 3.8: HELPER IMPLIES EQUALITY: The word helper, which is applied to Eve, implies that Eve is equal in status or even superior to Adam. (117)
Answer 3.8a: The word helper (Hebrew ‘ezer) is used of God, so the role of helper is an honorable one. (117)
Answer 3.8b: The word helper (Hebrew ‘ezer) cannot settle the question of superior or inferior authority or rank. (118)
Answer 3.8c: Eve’s creation as a “helper ...for him” indicates a created role as helper who would bring benefit to Adam. (118)

Egalitarian claim 3.9: SUITABLE IMPLIES SUPERIORITY: The word suitable in the phrase “a helper suitable for him” (Gen. 2:18) actually implies that Eve is “in front of” or even superior to Adam. (119)
Answer 3.9a: It true that some kind of equality is implied in this expression. (119)
Answer 3.9b: But the word does not signify “equality...in all respects” or superiority. (120)

Egalitarian claim 3.10: CREATION FROM ADAM’S SIDE: Eve’s creation from Adam’s side implies that they were equal, and there was no unique authority that Adam had over Eve. (121)
Answer 3.10a: Paul’s thinks this is important. (121)
Answer 3.10b: Equality does not disprove differences. (121)

Egalitarian claim 3.11: PRIOR CREATION AND ANIMAL RULE: If prior creation gave authority to Adam, then the same logic would require that the animals rule over us, since they were created first. (122)
Answer 3.11a: Authority relationships among human beings apply only to human beings. (122)
Answer 3.11b: Paul views Adam’s prior creation as important for the relationship between men and women. (122)

Egalitarian claim 3.12: ADAM’S FIRST CREATION INSIGNIFICANT: The fact that Adam was created before Eve implies nothing about male leadership in the home or the church. (123)
Answer 3.12a: These objections assume in various ways that Paul was wrong. (124)
Answer 3.12b: This objection removes the reason Paul does give and replaces it with a reason Paul does not give. (125)

Egalitarian claim 3.13: MAN LEAVES FATHER AND MOTHER: The fact that a man leaves his father and mother shows there is no patriarchal system in view in Genesis 1–2. (126)
Answer 3.13a: Arguments against an extended patriarchal clan are “straw man” arguments. (126)
Answer 3.13b: This text shows that marriage establishes a new household and a new family. (127)
Answer 3.13c: This text shows that man takes the initiative in establishing a new family. (127)
Answer 3.13d: This text says nothing that argues against male leadership in marriage, unless foreign ideas are imported into the text. (127)

Egalitarian claim 3.14: THE SERPENT’S STRATEGY: The fact that the serpent approached Eve first rather than Adam implies that Adam did not have authority over Eve. (127)
Answer 3.14a: This argument wrongly assumes that Satan has to attack the strongest person. (128)
Answer 3.14b: This argument wrongly assumes that Satan would respect God’s creation order. (128)