Q&A Home > S > Sex / Sexuality

How would one refute the claim made against the Holy Bible as being sexist in creating Eve as a 'helper' to Adam? In their argument such people refer to Genesis 2 where God says that it is not good that man should be alone. So God made woman as a "helper suitable for him."

The New Unger's Bible dictionary defined the word helper as 'a help as his counterpart. An aid 'suitable for him', such as the man stood in need of (Gen 2:18).

Different versions of the Holy Bible have different translations for "helper suitable for him". The New King James Version reads 'helper comparable to him', the King James Version reads 'a help meet for him' and the Revised Standard Version reads 'a helper fit for him. None of those imply that a woman is any less than a man, but comparable. So the term cannot mean that women have a subservient role.

God did not make Eve from Adam's head, in order not to be superior to him  nor from his feet in order not to be subservient to him. He created her from Adam's side in order for her to be equal to him; under his arm to be protected by him; and near his heart to be loved by him.

St. Paul calls men to love their wives sacrificially and selflessly just as our Lord Jesus Christ loves the Church.

The site you quoted http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/sexism.html#03 gives actually a good answer to your question. Many Old Testament women had great roles in history. For example, Deborah the prophetess and judge, Esther the brave queen who saved all her people, Judith and others.

The New Testament talks about the great service Priscilla offered to the church with her husband. St. Paul calls Phoebe "I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also" (Rom 16:1,2).