Richard M. Davidson
Genesis 1-2 sets forth God’s original design for human sexuality, and the profound portrayal at the beginning of Scripture encapsulates and lays the foundation for the rest of the biblical treatment of this subject. The biblical understanding of sexuality may be summarized under seven headings.
1. Creation Order. Genesis 1:27 makes clear that human sexual differentiation as male and female is created by God. Compare Matthew 19:4.
2. Heterosexual, monogamous marital form. According to the divine pattern established with the first couple in the Garden (Gen. 2:18-24), the sexual relationship is to be between “a husband … and his wife” (v. 24)—literally, “a man [singular] … and his woman [singular],” which implies a heterosexual monogamous marriage relationship. Compare Matthew 19:5; Mark 10:6-8; 1 Corinthians 7:2.
3. Original Relationship. In Genesis 1, before sin entered the world, both man and woman are given the same dominion over the earth and other living creatures (vv. 26, 28); both participate equally in the image of God. In Genesis 2, the woman is created from a rib taken out of Adam’s side to show that she is to stand by his side as an equal (it also relates to sexuality). She was man’s “helper corresponding to him” (Gen. 2:18), a phrase which in the original language indicates an equal partner.
4. Wholeness. When the man is created, he is incomplete, alone, and this is “not good” (v. 18). He needs one to bring him the mutuality of wholeness. Adam, in effect, exclaims at his first sight of Eve, “At last, I’m whole! Here’s the complement of myself!” (Gen. 2:23). Compare 1 Corinthians 11:11.
5. A multi-dimensional relationship. Genesis 2:24 summarizes the theology of sexuality and marriage. The “leaving” indicates the necessity of exclusiveness: freedom from outside interferences, which would encroach upon the independence of the sexual relationship. The “cleaving” is a covenant term, indicating permanence, the mutual commitment of the couple expressed in a formal marriage covenant. The “one flesh” refers particularly to the act of intimacy in sexual intercourse (see 1 Cor. 6:16), and comes after the marriage covenant, not as pre-marital sex. Compare Matthew 19:5-6 and Ephesians 5:31.
6. Procreation. Procreation is a special added blessing to marriage (Gen. 1:26), but the complete absence of any reference to the propagation of children in Gen. 2:24 underscores the priority of the unitive, and not the procreative, purpose of sexuality. Compare 1 Corinthians 7:3-5.
7. The wholesome beauty and joy of sexuality. God invented sex, and pronounced it “very good” (Gen. 1:31)! The Creator himself officiated at the first wedding (Gen. 2:22). Sexuality within marriage is wholesome and holy because God Himself inaugurated and hallowed (like the Sabbath, Gen. 2:3) it by His presence. Compare Hebrews 13:4.
Genesis 2:25 states that in Eden before the Fall, “the man and his wife were both naked, and were not ashamed”—lit. “they were not ashamed before one another.” God has designed the sexual relationship as an experience of love, pleasure, celebration, and bonding between husband and wife, a blessing to be enjoyed without fear, inhibitions, shame, or embarrassment.
God’s Edenic plan for sexuality is indeed beautiful, joyous, and awesome! Even though we are now in a fallen world, the Bible invites men and women to experience this beautiful plan—as implied in the “therefore” of Genesis 2:24. The divine beauty of sexuality within the context of marriage is modeled in the Song of Solomon, depicting a “return to Eden.” The Song of Songs declares that pure marital love is the very “Flame of Yahweh” (Song 8:6). God is the ultimate author of love, and longs to cause His holy flame to burn ever brighter in every heart and home!