Man and Woman in Christian Perspective

by Werner Neuer, Gordon J. Wenham (Translator)

Written with pastoral concern, this book challenges us to embrace God's design for men and women -- that they are of equal value, yet fundamentally distinct.

Genres: Sexuality, Theology

228 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Peter Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poor man's Stephen Clark with short, but good exegesis of the key Scripture passages as well as using nature and the sciences to back up his claims that men and women are different and made for different tasks. Someone needs to write a newer book like this one where exegesis and scientific research meet to prove that God made men and women different for different purposes.

[Jake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't bother to read many books on manhood and womanhood because, frankly, they are typically not worth the time. There is so much ignorance and cowardice on this subject that I think we have to mine earlier works to recover a rich theology of the sexes. Even many of those who have been at the forefront of the "masculinity" movement over the last few years indicate that they are only a year or two removed from having learned what they are teaching. We are dreadfully lost on this topic, and I think our richest resources are going to be older.

Though much of this work is concerned with answering the objections of feminism (and Neuer does this better than most today), the small parts of the book that focus on a positive portrayal of the sexes are where the meat is. In chapters 2–4, for instance, Neuer argues, from the integral unity of the person, that the physical (body) part of man prefigures and expresses visibly the psychological (mental) part of man. He writes:

"Because the human body and soul constitute a unity, it follows that the intellectual life of a person is expressed through their bodily appearance." (32)

In this chapter, he examines various physiological, intellectual, and psychological differences between the sexes, with copious citations. For instance, the differences in the male and female skeletons, bone structures, musculature, and sex organs not only express differences between the sexes, but serve as mirrors for their psychological differences. He summarizes the cognitive differences between the sexes by demonstrating the verbal superiority of women (expressed in things like linguistics and in music), and the superiority of men in spatial conceptualization and abstract thinking. He also examines sexual intercourse and how the action of physical union mirrors God's creation and design for intellectual and psychological union.

One of the fruits of this discussion is that it accurately demonstrates the beauty of God's design. That is to say, both men and women will take pride in the way they have been fashioned, and be led to admiration in God's fashioning of the opposite sex.

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Men and women are different. And it's good. This book is relatively short, very clear, and is not in the least degree bombastic or unhinged. Sober-minded and useful.

Read on the recommendation of Tim Bayly on the Bayly Blog.

[Jeremy]

Recommendation here.

[Marcas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really, really good in parts and horrid in others. Some of his points about fatherhood and motherhood are powerfully prescient, especially today and he's helped me understanding the Jordan Peterson phenomenon more- enabling me to view his work more deeply; the same with Chris Lasch- however, there are absolutist statements made where there shouldn't be. He fails to provide a suitably complex exegesis of St Paul, I find and if we are to take his absolutism seriously that would create problems, vis the role of slavery, etc.
There is a much good on sexuality but he fails to give it it's proper eschatological place, mistakenly viewing sex as only/primarily for procreation.

Some of his views are way off the Bible's picture. Women can be teachers in un-ordained circumstances no problem and are more than mothers. They can have jobs without succumbing to 'the spirit of the age', he does not make this clear and it's too simplistic, worse it's un-Biblical. He also misuses the term man, where human, or something like 'Divine Image' would do- these are some of the major errors but once this isn't your first read on the topic and one can place it in context then it's very useful; indeed valuable.
See also- Richard M Davidson's book, Jordan Peterson, Richard B Hays, N.T Wright, et al.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is highly recommended by Zachary Garris and Michael Foster, and it lived up to its billing. It is fairly short, very readable, not overly technical, and it does a wonderful job attacking the issue of feminism and the androgyny that came into the church in the 20th century. The author cited a lot of scientific research to back up his extra-biblical claims (such as a woman having more sensitive skin than men, reflecting their more sensitive nature) and worked through all of the major biblical texts on the subject to construct the biblical calling for men and women. I thought it was a nice balance of sociology, psychology, and theology. He did make space for the historic position of deaconess, but he basically acknowledged that a) we don't know exactly what this position was and b) that it was not a formal church office of ordination, citing what amounts to Titus 2 examples. He did flirt with EFS at one point when discussing submission in marriage, but it was far from the main argument of the book. It's somewhat depressing how accurately he described the logical end of feminism being that of androgyny, which we've seen even more fully realized in the rise of transgenderism.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Passionate Defense of Complementarity

Werner Neuer's book, Man and Woman in Christian Perspective, is translated from German by Old Testament scholar, Gordan Wenham. Consequently, you get a European perspective on the controversial issue of male/female roles. Neuer's great concern is that the visibility of the Christian perspective be visible in the life of the church. His approach is thoughtful and insightful at many points.

Nevertheless, Neuer is far more "broad" in applying complementarity to the local church than most in the States. He states:

The biblical ordering of male and female must be visibly accepted at every level of church life. In practice this means that in all mixed Christian groups and circles the headship of the male should be expressed, that men assume the task of leadership and direction. This principle is also valid in housegroups (176).

Neuer is a good read on this topic regardless of how one may differ with him regarding scope of application. (less)

[Jon Fiala · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and very thick with helpful exegesis and application. A must read for Christians molded in the androgyny of the West.

[Logan Thune · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good.