Abstract
Paul's reception of the promise of Gen. 2.24. 'The two shall become one flesh', aims to describe the mystery of the community, the one body of Christ. He finds words to speak of fellowship with Christ and reconciliation in the community. This article studies Paul's reception of Gen. 2.24 in the context of church discussions about lifestyles. Whereas official church positions employ Gen. 2.24 to assert that gender polarity and marriage-fellowship are something ordained by God, the Pauline reception of Gen. 2.24 liberates women and men from gender polarity. In Christ, 'male and female' become one body independently of the traditional relationships between the genders.
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