Man and woman were equal in identity and in mission: “So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth’” (Gen 1:27-28). In other words, as image bearers of God, man and woman share the same royal status and intrinsic value as human beings, and they are both commissioned the same basic calling to be stewards of all the resources in the world entrusted to their care.

By the victory of Christ over death in resurrection, the equality of man and woman in identity and in mission upon creation is restored, as affirmed by the New Testament text: “There is no longer…male and female; for you are one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:28). Man and woman’s equality in mission is further testified by Christ’s command for His male and female disciples to be His ambassadors: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses…to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8), and by the gifts of the Holy Spirit to man and woman for His kingdom ministry: “The gifts He gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ (Eph 4:7, 11-12). As evident also from the other two major passages on spiritual gifts (Rom 12:6-8; 1 Cor 12:7-11, 28), no gifts are given based on gender, but are allotted “to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses” (1 Cor 12:11).