Theological and Philosophical Narratives of the Creation of Woman in Christian Thought — An Analytical and Critical Study

خَلْقُ المَرْأَةِ فِي ضَوْءِ الرِّوَايَاتِ اللَّاهُوتِيَّةِ وَالفَلْسَفِيَّةِ فِي الفِكْرِ المَسِيحِيِّ: دِرَاسَةٌ تَحْلِيلِيَّةٌ نَقْدِيَّةٌ

Abstract

This article critically examines the theological evolution of gender in Christian tradition, focusing on how women have been systematically subordinated through interpretations of creation, sin, and redemption. While the Gospels, particularly Luke and Mark, occasionally reflect a more inclusive view of women—highlighting figures like Mary Magdalene and Jesus’ concern for widows—Pauline and deutero-Pauline texts reassert patriarchal hierarchies that shaped subsequent theological discourse. The study engages with the exegetical positions of Church Fathers and Reformers, including Augustine, Martin Luther, and John Calvin, who, despite nuanced views on women’s spiritual capacities, reinforced the notion of female inferiority by linking it to the Fall and to woman’s creation from man. The paper also analyzes the cultural and symbolic representation of God in male imagery, drawing on feminist critiques such as that of Mary Daly, who argues that the male conception of divinity legitimizes male dominance. It further explores the exclusion of early alternative gospels, like the Gospel of Mary, which offered a more empowered vision of women’s spiritual authority. Through a historical-theological lens, the article reveals how Christian doctrine has privileged moral obligations over rights in defining womanhood, ultimately constructing a theological paradigm that legitimizes the marginalization of women in ecclesiastical and public life.