This is a very important question.

From Strong's Concordance, the word translated "help meet" in the KJV comes from the Hebrew "ezer" (as in Eleazar - El "god" is my azar "helper") meaning "aid" or "helper".

From the SDA Bible Commentary, commenting on Genesis 2:18 (Vol. 1, p. 225) "Appropriate, that is, to his needs; to cpmplement him.

From the Hebrew/Greek Interlinear(Hendrickson, 1985) "And said Jehovah God, not it is good being of the man alone; I will make for him a helper corresponding to him."

To my reading, none of these commentaries specifically implies an inferior status for the woman. Nor does it rule it out.

However, inferior status is specifically stated as a consequence of the fall.

Cedric,

You are correct in that no inferior status existed prior to the Fall, however, a functional working relationship in regards to submissiveness existed between Adam and Eve before the Fall, as it existed and still exists between the Godhead who are equal to one another.

Though equal, for example, the Son was submissive to the Father in their functional relationship.

Though equal, Eve was submissive to Adam as Adam's helpmate.

But equals do have their respective role functions such as the role of the Son to the Father, etc.

Perhaps role functions are the better words.

I will check out the equal and the submissive aspect when I have more time.

From Gen. 3:6 alone, (and remember; the Bible is the final authority in all spiritual matters for the Christian) it is clear that Adam was there with Eve. "her husband with her" doesn't mean that he was in another part of the garden. If Ellen White had never spoken of Eve wandering away from her husband, no one would have ever come to that conclusion.

Read "Seventh-day Adventists Believe..." page 227 for an explanation of the relation between the Bible and Ellen White's writings.

Let us not twist the Scriptures to agree with Ellen White! The Bible is always first in authority.

Bill, nobody's twisting anything. The phrase "her husband with her" is not to be used to overturn all of the other Bible evidence given here.

Genesis 3:6 says, "she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat." All that means is that Adam was with Eve when she gave him of the fruit to eat it; which is obvious. She couldn't give him the fruit if he wasn't with her at the moment she gave it to him. But that by no means indicates that he was with her at the tree. Bible scholars who have never heard of Ellen White, and who lived centuries before she ever was born, have agreed on that.

By the way, it's not possible to "twist the Scriptures to agree with Ellen White." The Holy Spirit gave both sets of writings, and He doesn't contradict Himself. If anyone twists the Scriptures, they will then contradict Ellen White.

Actually, there are some who do think things are being twisted.

quote:

---

Originally posted by John:
Bible scholars who have never heard of Ellen White, and who lived centuries before she ever was born, have agreed on that.

---

This may be the case; if so, please cite references indicating who these Bible scholars are and just what they say about this passage.

quote:

---

By the way, it's not possible to "twist the Scriptures to agree with Ellen White." The Holy Spirit gave both sets of writings, and He doesn't contradict Himself. If anyone twists the Scriptures, they will then contradict Ellen White.

---

I believe this is a whole 'nuther thread.

Matthew Henry Commentary on Genesis 3:6

II. The steps of the transgression, not steps upward, but downward towards the pit--steps that take hold on hell....

4. She gave also to her husband with her. It is probable that he was not with her when she was tempted (surely, if he had, he would have interposed to prevent the sin), but came to her when she had eaten, and was prevailed upon by her to eat likewise; for it is easier to learn that which is bad than to teach that which is good.

http://studylight.org/com/mhc-com/view.cgi?book=ge&chapter=3&verse=6#Ge3_6

John Wesley Commentary on Genesis 3:6

She gave also to her husband with her - 'Tis likely he was not with her when she was tempted; surely if he had, he would have interposed to prevent the sin; but he came to her when she had eaten, and was prevailed with by her to eat likewise.

http://studylight.org/com/wen/view.cgi?book=ge&chapter=3&verse=6#Ge3_6

Now that we have what a couple of Bible scholars have written with links provided, what thinkest thou now?

They clearly feel that the Bible clearly implies that Adam wasn't with Eve during the conversation between the serpent and Eve.

Also note that they came to their conclusions without any reference to what EGW wrote about it.

In reading this discussion, the one question that keep coming back to me is, "Why?" Why is this point of any particular importance? Why is it important to know if Adam was right by Eve's side at the tree or somewhere else in the garden? Does it make any difference in how we view the origins of sin? Does it make any difference in terms of the plan of salvation?

Tom