Biblical Masculinity #2: A Definition

A few years ago I became intrigued when I saw John Eldridge's ridiculous statement about men, in the wildly popular Wild at Heart, that unlike Eve, Adam was created outside the Garden and so men are called to life in the wilderness.  The one benefit I gained from this classic abuse of the Bible was to reflect on the significance of what Genesis 2 really says about gender and creation.  It turns out that Gen. 2:15 not only defines Adam's labor as being in the Garden, but also provides the basic summary of what a man is called to do in this world: "The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it."  God created men not to engage in Eldridge's "quest for authentic masculinity," but to fruitful, sacrificial labor.  "Work" and "Keep" -- avad and shamar -- define the male role in this life.