Biblical Masculinity

Before digging into the duties of husbands towards wives, it is apparent, that one must first come to know what a man is; after all, only a man can be husband, and that means we must know what a man is according to the Scriptures. A foundational Biblical perspective into the distinctness of men over against women is found in 1 Corinthians 11:7 where Paul says the man bears the image and glory of God and women do not; instead, they bear the glory of man. Reformed commentators have argued that Paul is not denying that women bear the image of God since Genesis 1:27 so clearly asserts that they do; what they have argued however, is that men bear the image and glory of God in a particular respect in which women do not, and that specific respect is that man has been given the mandate to rule and conquer the earth as God's representative. This point of clarification represents an inspired, apostolic interpretation of Genesis 1:26-28, and provides a key to help unlock multiple passages of Scripture which apply the principles of the dominion mandate of Genes 1 and at the same time assists in acquiring an understanding the meaning of masculinity according to the Bible.