#1686 1 Corinthians 11 Part 3 How Are You Inclined?

 

7 For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God, but the woman is the glory of man. 8 For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man. 9 For indeed man was not created for the woman’s sake, but woman for the man’s sake. 10 Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12 For as the woman originates from the man, so also the man has his birth through the woman, but all things originate from God. 13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 But if one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God. 1 Corinthians 11: 7-16 LSB

1 Corinthians 11: 7-16

…26Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.” 27So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth.”… Genesis 1: 26-28

In the description of the creation of man above we also get one of the first and very strong witnesses to the triune nature of God. "Let us make man in Our image", the Our is not left to our imagination, the Maker is identified, "So God created man in His own image." 

…5You made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor. 6You made him ruler of the works of Your hands; You have placed everything under his feet: 7all sheep and oxen, and even the beasts of the field,… Psalm 8: 5-7

V. 7 But the woman is the glory of man - We both belong to man kind, but this again goes back to the created order, and God never does anything without purpose. 

MacDonald makes a good point that in Paul's referring to Creation "This should forever lay to rest any idea that his teaching about women’s covering was what was culturally suitable in his day but not applicable to us today. The headship of man and the subjection of woman have been God’s order from the very beginning." (Believer's Bible Commentary) - PA

Zodhiates writes that " the woman is the true recognition of the man. Generally speaking, when we see whom a man has chosen for his wife, we will understand what he is.

MacArthur - though woman is fully in the image of God she is not directly the glory of God. She is directly the glory of man, the indirect outshining of man’s glory of God. Her role in the world is to submit to the direction of man, to whom is given the divine dominion. (Ibid)

Dr Wayne Grudem - When in 1 Corinthians 11:7 Paul says, “A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man,” he is not denying that woman was created in the image of God (ED: SEE Ge 1:27). He is simply saying that there are abiding differences between men and women that should be reflected in the way they dress and act in the assembled congregation. One of those differences is that man in relationship to woman has a particular role of representing God or showing what He is like, and woman in that relationship shows the excellence of the man from whom she was created. Yet in both cases Paul goes on to emphasize their interdependence (see 1 Cor 11:11–12). Our equality as persons before God, reflecting the equality of persons in the Trinity, should lead naturally to men and women giving honor to one another. Proverbs 31 is a beautiful picture of the honor given to a godly woman. (read Pr 31:10, 28–30) (Systematic Theology). - PA

V. 8 For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man - Again an appeal to God's order in creation, because ever after it is a joint effort, every individual comes from the union of a man's DNA to a Woman's, and everyone is birthed from a woman. Christ is the only deviation from this, in that the Holy Spirit placed Him inside of Mary, bypassing the role of a man. This is why we call Him the second Adam. 

…18The LORD God also said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make for him a suitable helper.” 19And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and He brought them to the man to see what he would name each one. And whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20The man gave names to all the livestock, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found.…

…21So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, and while he slept, He took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the area with flesh. 22And from the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man, He made a woman and brought her to him. 23And the man said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for out of man she was taken.”… Genesis 2: 18-23

Vs. 9-10 But woman for the man's sake - We see above in Genesis that she was created as a help mate for Adam. To see it as derogatory is blasphemous since we see One eternal Being, One God, as pertaining to the Trinity, yet 3 persons, same in essence and worth, yet having distinctly different roles. Ultimately the claims against headship are claims against God. The Church has Christ, the First born over all Creation, born after Adam but without a sin nature. He is the Head of the Church. In healthy, Biblical, human relations, this is the order that Paul notes, Christ the Head of every man, man the head of the woman. Because of the angels is an interesting statement here. Paul doesn't go into the why, but if we look at the word it is Messenger, and we always see them as ministering spirits, the Bible describing them as waiting upon the Lord. As Christ is to the Father, seeking "to do the will of Him Who sent Me", so God gives His messengers wings, and Angels are at the ready for every mission. It is a sobering thing to also recall that all angels were created, and they were spiritual being created to glorify and serve God, but a third of them stepped out from this in order to follow another angel, who wanted to be like God, to step outside of his designed role. Eve went after the same creature's proposal, to doubt God and to say that she could be like God. Adam followed her. The elect angels must have been taken back a bit, to see similar play out again on earth. 

…23And the man said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for out of man she was taken.” 24For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. 25And the man and his wife were both naked, and they were not ashamed.… Genesis 2: 23-25

MacArthur - It is proper for a woman to cover her head as a sign of subordination because of the angels, in order that these most submissive of all creatures will not be offended by non-submissiveness. (Ibid)

J Vernon McGee is honest on Because of the angels- Now here is a reference to angels that I don’t understand. I am of the opinion that we are being observed by God’s created intelligences. We are on a stage in this little world, and all God’s created intelligences are watching us. They are finding out about the love of God, because they know we are not worthy of the love of God. They probably think God would have done well to have gotten rid of us because we are rebellious creatures in His universe. But He didn’t! He loves us! That display of His love is in His grace to save us. The angels probably marvel at His grace and patience with little man.

Gotquestions has a very reasonable thought - Why is that important to angels? The relationship of God with men is something that angels watch and learn from (1 Peter 1:12). Therefore, a woman’s submission to God’s delegated authority over her is an example to angels. The holy angels, who are in perfect and total submission to God, expect that we, as followers of Christ, be the same. - PA

…13Yet to which of the angels did God ever say: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet”? 14Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? Hebrews 1: 13-14

…3laying the beams of His chambers in the waters above, making the clouds His chariot, walking on the wings of the wind. 4He makes the winds His messengers, flames of fire His servants. 5He set the earth on its foundations, never to be moved.… Psalm 104: 3-5

…6And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all God’s angels worship Him.” 7Now about the angels He says: “He makes His angels winds, His servants flames of fire.” 8But about the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever, and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom.… Hebrews 1: 6-8

…11trying to determine the time and setting to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. 12It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, when they foretold the things now announced by those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. 13Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober-minded. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.… 1 Peter 1: 11-13

Vs. 11-12 So also the man has his birth through the woman - We are interdependent beings, not existing without the other. In our relation to God neither is greater spiritually, but one can be considered more mature to the degree that they follow God's command in design.  

The fact that and all things originate from God emphasizes His sovereignty and leaves no room for complaint or contention. As MacDonald says "Not only were these relationships created by God, but the purpose of them all is to glorify Him. All of this should make the man humble and the woman content." (Believer's Bible Commentary)

MacArthur - Men and women have different roles but not different importance. Women are equal to men in the world, in the church, and before God. That is God’s wise and gracious harmony and balance—difference in roles but equality in nature, personhood, work, and spirit. He created both for His glorious purposes. (Ibid) - PA

…6just as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. And you are her children if you do what is right and refuse to give way to fear. 7 Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. 8Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble.… 1 Peter 3: 6-8

…27For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.… Galatians 3: 27-29

Vs. 13-14 Does not even nature itself teach you - I've heard people try to place this upon animals, but in the animal kingdom it is the male lions with the great manes, but there it does apply as a distinction, we know for certain it is a male lion if it has a glorious mane. It is the same with Peacocks, and so on, but the application here is distinction itself, that certainly in this culture women had the long hair. So, if a man didn't want to confuse anyone, as to his acceptance of his nature, he wouldn't wear a covering, and since a woman's hair was her natural God given covering, she wouldn't shave it off, and the man wouldn't grow out a covering. There are other interesting things about the difference between a man a woman's hair at the biological level, like the effects of testosterone, but I am rabbit trailing. 

NET NOTE - Paul does not mean nature in the sense of “the natural world” or “Mother Nature.” It denotes “the way things are” because of God’s design.

Robertson (ICC) - Even if the internal feeling should not arise, does not even nature by itself show that, while doubtless man, being short-haired, is by Divine order unveiled, woman, being long-haired, is by Divine order veiled? At this period, civilized men, whether Jews, Greeks, or Romans, wore their hair short. - PA

V. 15 Her hair is given to her as a covering - She has a natural God given sign of her womanhood. She doesn't need a hat as some have come to practice, the hair is her crown. 

MacArthur - Beautifully dressed hair is a glory to a woman, God’s special gift to show the softness and tenderness of a woman. The Greek word (komē) for long hair can mean both long hair and a neat hairdo....Both nature and general custom reflect God’s universal principle of man’s role of authority and woman’s role of subordination. The unique beauty of a woman is gloriously manifest in the distinctive femininity portrayed by her hair and her attendance to feminine customs. There should be no confusion about male and female identities, because God has made the sexes distinct—physiologically and in roles and relationships. He wants men to be masculine, to be responsibly and lovingly authoritative. He wants women to be feminine, to be responsibly and lovingly submissive. (Ibid) - PA

V. 16 We have no other practice, nor have the churches of God - Paul has not left this as open as the modern liberal church movements would have you believe. If someone wants to step from one role to another it is against God's design, and they are considered contentious. 

3If anyone teaches another doctrine and disagrees with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with godly teaching, 4he is conceited and understands nothing. Instead, he has an unhealthy interest in controversies and semantics, out of which come envy, strife, abusive talk, evil suspicions, 5and constant friction between men of depraved mind who are devoid of the truth. These men regard godliness as a means of gain.… 1 Timothy 6: 3-5

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#1685 1 Corinthians 11 Part 2 Covered

 

4 Every man who has something on his head while praying or prophesying, shames his head. 5 But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying, shames her head, for she is one and the same as the woman whose head is shaved. 6 For if a woman does not cover her head, let her also have her hair cut short. But if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut short or her head shaved, let her cover her head. 1 Corinthians 11: 4-6 LSB

1 Corinthians 11: 4-6

V. 4 Shames his head - Why is that, we ask? Well, there is another important question, who is Paul talking to? In this part of the world a sign of submission was for a woman to wear a veil. It was a sign of modesty, a sign that I am with my husband, I do not wish to be looked at as other, I am not selling me, I do not need your attention. To show you how this applies even more, it was a custom among Jewish men at a time to cover their faces in imitation of Moses, who covered his face when coming back to the people after being before the Lord, but not during his communion with God, there he was unveiled. In the present culture a covering was something for women, so for a man to be covered would be a stumbling block for the people of Corinth as well. It would make him seem effeminate, or as belonging to those men who went before other gods and covered themselves to appear pious or humble. 

ESV Study Bible on on his head - The Greek phrase (kata kephalēs) literally means “down from the head” and may refer either to long hair that hangs loose (vv. 14–15), or to a veil that covers the face, or to a piece of cloth pulled over the head (like a modern shawl or scarf) that leaves the face revealed. As background for understanding Paul’s point in this verse, Roman men sometimes practiced the custom of pulling the loose folds of their toga over their head as an act of piety in the worship of pagan gods. Paul thus draws on the example of this pagan custom (which everyone in the Corinthian church would have thought absurd) to make the point that men should not dishonor Christ by praying according to pagan custom (8:4). He then uses the idea to prepare the way for his argument that it is equally absurd for wives to pray or prophesy in public with their heads uncovered (11:5, 11).

As an aside it is interesting that Jewish men began a custom of covering their heads when praying in the fourth century AD.

J Vernon McGee - The rabbis of that day taught that a man was to cover his head. Paul says that they actually misinterpreted Moses and the reason for the veil. “And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished” (2 Cor. 3:13). This refers to an experience Moses had when he came down from the mount where he had communed with God. When he first came down, the skin of his face shone, but after awhile that glory began to disappear. Therefore, he covered his face so they wouldn’t discover the glory was disappearing (see Exod. 34:33–35). Paul is saying to the men that they ought not to cover their heads. A man created in the image of God, who is in Christ by redemption, is to have his head uncovered as a symbol of dignity and of liberty. He is not to be covered when he prays or when he prophesies. When he is praying, he is speaking for man to God, making intercession. When he is prophesying, he is speaking for God to man. Whenever he is standing in these two sacred, holy positions he is to have his head uncovered. - Precept Austin

…33When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. 34But whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with Him, he would remove the veil until he came out. And when he came out, he would tell the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35and the Israelites would see that the face of Moses was radiant. So Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the LORD.… 1 Corinthians 11: 33-35

V. 5 Who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying - While Paul forbids for a woman to be the head shepherd as the order previously discussed implies, Christ the head of the man, the man the head of the woman, yet in the context here of the church women did take part in public prayer and proclaiming the gospel. So I don't leave this too open here and someone think this is purely my opinion, let's put forth the boundaries and definitions of each according to Scripture. So we will jump ahead. What is a woman's role in the congregation if she is subordinate to men, if the man is the head?

Wiersbe on head uncovered suggests that "Some of the women flaunted their “freedom” in the public meetings by refusing to cover their heads when they participated." (Bible Exposition Commentary)

Disgraces her head - Who is her "head?" Her husband according to 1 Cor 11:3. So if a wife has nothing on her head, this would bring shame to her husband.

Jack Arnold- By symbol, she is denying the headship of her husband, which is an act of insubordination. Praying and prophesying refers to praying publicly and giving spontaneous words of encouragement in an official way to others. - PA

…11A woman must learn in quietness and full submissiveness. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; she is to remain quiet. 13For Adam was formed first, and then Eve.…

…14And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman who was deceived and fell into transgression. 1 Timothy 2: 11-14

…33For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace—as in all the churches of the saints. 34 Women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. 35If they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church.…

…36Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached? 37If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command. 38But if anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored.… 1 Corinthians 14: 33-38

If you look at 1 Timothy above you will see a definite boundary if you did not understand it from the previous discussion of Created order and headship. "I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man." This would disqualify women as elders, because elders have authority in the church and must be able to teach the assembly. 

1This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task. 2An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money.… 1 Timothy 3: 1-3

…23But reject foolish and ignorant speculation, for you know that it breeds quarreling. 24And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing. 25He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.… 2 Timothy 2: 23-25

4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. 5Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “ God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.… 1 Peter 5: 4-6

Then he moves to, "for Adam was formed first then Eve," Paul's own invoking of the created order, and so some today say that Paul was a chauvinist, implying that he didn't have apostolic authority in stating this, that this was merely his opinion and uninspired by the Holy Spirit, though when he did speak in such a manner he pointed it out, but on this topic he states in 1 Corinthians 14, "let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord's command." 

Imagine if they and we would have listened. This would have silenced many false teachers, your Paula Whites, Beth Moore, Katherine Kuhlman, those whose doctrine is bad like all those I just mentioned, and it would have also been one more way for the church to discern those men who did not acknowledge this as the Lord's command. 

…19I know your deeds—your love, your faith, your service, your perseverance—and your latter deeds are greater than your first. 20But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads My servants to be sexually immoral and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21Even though I have given her time to repent of her immorality, she is unwilling.… Revelation 2: 19-21

In 1 Corinthians 14 it says, "if they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home." Here is the great dilemma for women, their husbands typically don't know anything, and having the title, as always, doesn't make what comes out of your mouth sound. So here is the dilemma for men, you have to study, you have to seek to understand God's word, come back from Never Never Land, and lead your wife and children in reading of the Bible, teaching the gospel, reinforcing the great doctrines of Scripture, like justification by faith or Sola fide, Who is Christ, what is the condition of man, or as some would refer to it, Total Depravity, the reason why it must be by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone for the glory of God alone. Men don't want to do this, I know, I was like that and still struggle with my own laziness in everything, but it is rejecting God's order in the hopes of not making waves, it is being an Ahab, it is insubordination to Christ. 

Priscilla and Aquila are a good model for us in the way women prophesied. Priscilla does it with her covering, her husband, together they explain the way of God more accurately to Apollos. Notice too that they took him aside, and take note also that this is the greatest sermon your neighbors will ever hear, even if they won't listen to your words, they cannot help but notice your life, that you as a husband love your wife, serve her, and that she joyfully reciprocates. There is another great principle here, and that is the avoidance of any appearance of evil. I do not want to counsel a woman alone, and I don't have to because I know I can confidently turn to my wife and have her graciously answer the woman's questions. We will dive into all of this more in chapter 14.

…24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her 26to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,… Ephesians 5: 24-26

Women are not off the hook either, they too have to study and know the word, be devoted to prayer and the teaching of their children. Elders and deacons are also measured by their wives and children, who can become disqualifiers as to their own fitness for the ministry. 

More on elders

More on elders and deacons

The first deacons

…3Older women, likewise, are to be reverent in their behavior, not slanderers or addicted to much wine, but teachers of good. 4In this way they can train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5to be self-controlled, pure, managers of their households, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be discredited.… Titus 2: 3-5

…9A widow should be enrolled if she is at least sixty years old, the wife of one man, 10and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work. 11But refuse to enroll younger widows. For when their passions draw them away from Christ, they will want to marry,… 1 Timothy 5: 9-11

…24Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, well versed in the Scriptures. 25He had been instructed in the way of the Lord and was fervent in spirit. He spoke and taught accurately about Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him in and explained to him the way of God more accurately.… Acts 18: 24-26

More on Acts 18

V. 6 For if a woman does not cover her head, let her also have her hair cut short - He works it all the way out to the extreme, the stumbling block. In this society women who had their hair cut short were typically prostitutes. This let men know who they were, and that they were not under the headship of a husband. They were available for hire. There were also things that distinguished men from women in what they wore, and the Bible has spoken clearly about men dressing like women and vice versa. Remember also this is in a time when men wore tunics, and today, in our modern culture it is typically women that wear things that look like dresses, except at the Scottish games where we call it a kilt. Mostly if you see a man in a dress today it would let you know that there is something mentally wrong, that he is trying to be fringe or effeminate. Paul is saying, "look, don't abuse your freedom, and most assuredly don't bring some crazy feminist movement into the church. In all ages, however people dress now, if you are a woman don't try to look like a man, be modest, not sensual, and don't be a stumbling block."

5A woman must not wear men’s clothing, and a man must not wear women’s clothing, for whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD your God. Deuteronomy 22: 5

More on Deuteronomy 22

Zodhiates - The goddess Aphrodite had a temple dedicated to her at Corinth. Her devotees were called hieródouloi, temple slaves. In actuality, they were nothing but prostitutes. They had their heads shaven for easy distinction. They were also called hetaírai (the feminine of hetaíros [2083], comrade), a name that stood in contrast to a lawful wife. They were comrades or companions for money. Such was the rampant immoral climate of Corinth.

Wiersbe - The Corinthian women who appeared in the assembly without the head-covering were actually putting themselves on the low level of the temple prostitutes. The prostitutes wore their hair very short, and they did not wear a head-covering in public. Their hairstyle and manner announced to others just what they were and what they were offering. “If you are going to abandon the covering,” wrote Paul, “then why not go all the way and cut your hair?” (Ibid)

Eliezer Gonzalez - Within Roman culture, for a woman to have her head shaved (1 Cor 11:5) was the same as removing the marriage veil. Indeed, Dio Chrysostom (ca. 347 – 14 Sept 407) informs us that, “a woman guilty of adultery shall have her hair cut off according to the law and play the prostitute.” A shaved head was therefore by law associated with the shame of adultery and prostitution. Indeed, Winter (Roman Wives) notes that a prostitute, by implication, “could no longer wear the traditional mantle to signify marriage and hence pull it over the top of her head in public.” (J Adventist Theological Society 22, 2011)

Jack Arnold - In Corinth, a woman who was not covered was either a prostitute (of which there were ten thousand in that city) or a slave who was used at times as a harlot. Also the priestesses in the Temple of Aphrodite ministered in the temple with their heads uncovered. Therefore, no respectable woman in Corinth would think of going out without a head covering. It would be disgraceful and shameful for Christian women to appear in any public place, pray in church or give encouraging words to others in church without the sign of acknowledgment of the principle of headship in her life. - Precept Austin

…3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes, 4but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight. 5For this is how the holy women of the past adorned themselves. They put their hope in God and were submissive to their husbands,… 1 Peter 3: 3-5

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#1684 1 Corinthians 11 Part 1 By Design

 

11 Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.

2 Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered them to you. 3 But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11: 1-3 LSB

1 Corinthians 11: 1-3 LSB

V. 1 Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ - That is the caveat, follow me, imitate me, "as I follow or imitate Christ". There is otherwise no reason. 

16Nevertheless, we must live up to what we have already attained. 17Join one another in following my example, brothers, and carefully observe those who walk according to the pattern we set for you. 18For as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.… Philippians 3: 16-18

1Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children, 2and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God. 3But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed.… Ephesians 5: 1-3

…7which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse! 9As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be under a curse!… Galatians 1: 7-9

V. 2 Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions - Imagine this after the first 10 chapters, "wait, we did something right?" Clearly some have reached out to him about various issues in the church, some of which involved the dealing with unrepentant sin, and their willingness to let it go on, as if they were somehow kinder than God. They remembered their teacher and he has provided some much needed correction, not because he is mean, but because he wants them to live up to their calling, to be imitators of Christ, not a smear upon that great name. He also commends them for holding firmly to the traditions, and as some Bible scholars point out, this would be the gospel and the doctrines according. To the Romans he writes about Justification by faith, to the Galatians he writes warning them against leaving the pure gospel of faith for one of works. This is a wonderful commendation from Paul that they had recorded and remembered sound doctrine according to the faith. It does raise a concern that one could be doctrinally sound but lack the Spirit of love, or that our lives may not match our doctrine. 

Traditions (3862) paradosis from paradidomi = deliver in teaching) means literally to give from the presence of, thus to give personally. Tradition means properly nothing more than what is delivered or handed over. It signifies an act of transmission or that which is transmitted and thus refers to that which is handed down or transmitted from generation to generation; injunction delivered or from one to another. It was used to refer to the Pharisaic traditions which had been engrafted on the Mosaic Law (Mt 15:2, 6; Mk 7:3, 13). Paradosis "means literally “to give from the presence of,” thus “to give personally.” It signifies an act of transmission or that which is transmitted. In the New Testament it is used in the latter sense, without indicating the method of transmission or implying any lapse of time such as is usually associated with the English word tradition." (Wuest)(Wuest Word Studies - Eerdman Publishing Company Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3 - used by permission) - PA

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith? 3Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh?… Galatians 3: 1-3

…15Be diligent in these matters and absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. 16Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you. 1 Timothy 4: 15-16

V. 3 Christ is the head of every man - Paul is starting with the Head of the Church, which is Christ. This is also a reference to the natural, God ordained order of Creation. 

…22And God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church, 23which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1: 22-23

…17He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence. 19For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him,… Colossians 1: 17-19

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.… John 1: 1-3

Then Paul says that men have authority over women and notice he does not restrict this to just husbands and wives. Paul is simply describing the way God created mankind to assure that there was order and not disorder. It is critical to emphasize that even in establishing this pattern of order, Paul is absolutely not saying one sex is superior to the other sex. To read that into this text is to make it say something Paul did not say! The principle is simply that of submission to authority and to make his point crystal clear, Paul points out that even Jesus was subordinate to His Father. Is Christ inferior to the Father? Of course not (See Trinity below). And by the same token, the woman is in NO WAY inferior to the man! Neither does he say the husband is be her master or dictator.

Ryrie - This teaching is based on Ge 3:16, and Paul makes it the basis for the wearing of a covering. The man is not superior to the woman, as God is not superior to Christ, being of the same essence. However, as there is divine order in the relative functions of the three persons of the Trinity, so it was appropriate for God to ordain a divine order in the functions of the family (husband, wife, children). God established this pattern in the very beginning when Adam was first formed, then Eve (1Ti 2:13), and then the children (Ge 1:28). - Precept Austin

V. 3b The man is the head of a woman - Go back to Genesis, man was created first, and then the woman from man, not to be his slave, but his equal in substance with a different role. Our world today struggles with this concept on so many levels, but this confusion comes from not accepting God's ordained order from the beginning. Rather than celebrating God's intentional differences in design, that neither is without the other, that we are made complimentary beings, as woman was made for man, all men come out of women and are raised by them. In demeaning the roles, in saying there is something inherently wicked in headship at it's core, denies it's original intent, denies that sin is the real issue, that Adam sinned by following his wife, choosing her over what God had said. Eve stepped out from the headship of her husband and Adam stepped out from the headship of Christ. Now people show disdain for masculinity, deny the need of fathers in the lives of children, can't define what a woman is, play down the role of motherhood and all it's formative significance for the family. It is interesting listening to a John Macarthur sermon from 1976 and hearing about the women's lib movement back then, and consider the sacrifice that was made to this in 1973, where we legalized the killing of our young in the name of women's rights. We went from God's command to bring up your children in the way that they should go, to pretending they aren't human, to realizing that they are human and living, but  we don't want the responsibility, we think the calling of self is higher than the calling of the Creator. So where does this leave men as the head? For the most part he is still following Eve, and as J Mac pointed out in 1976, speculating, there will probably eventually be a men's movement, seeking to regain some of their "rights", and if you look around there are all sorts of men's movements, but most are godless and appeal to lust and domination, to getting even. Right now we have groups of men called incels or "involuntary celibates" who want romantic relationships, mostly sexual, with women, but feel left out like the socialist who wants the millionaires money. I have known groups of men who want some of the women they are close to to be loyal, but they don't want to be themselves, and call all women “bitches and whores” when they don't fulfill their hypocritical fantasy. The west has answered Islam's knock upon the door, and liberal women have gone so far as to elect their future abusers. This religion is attractive to incels because it dominates women, women are more like property under Shariah law, and we have seen women in Iran beat for things so simple as protesting their government or showing their hair. And that is an important distinction here with what Paul is teaching, it is the difference between loving submission and slavery, between equal persons with different roles and rule by force. When it comes to being protectors, being the leaders that God commands men to be, well, we said abortion is a woman's issue. We turned away from true masculinity, from study of the Word, from doing our work as unto the Lord, from teaching our families, to making it more about watching football and having a beer with the boys, bragging about our sexual conquests or what kind of toys we own. We have replaced Christ with Peter Pan, and our world is suffering from it. It is not iron sharpening iron, but dumb fueling dumber.

…12I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; she is to remain quiet. 13For Adam was formed first, and then Eve. 14And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman who was deceived and fell into transgression.… 1 Timothy 2: 12-14

V. 3 C And God is the head of Christ - This is the most brutal point. How is it, that Christ, the eternally begotten of the Father, equal in substance, can handle being subordinate, yet we deem it a detestable thing? He even says, "I and the Father are One, and if you have seen Me you have seen the Father", look at John 1: 1-3 above again. Christ in no way sees this as making Him lesser, but it is part of this Holy and eternal communion between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. So here it is, we are looking at Christians in Corinth, and they are asking Paul for the practical implications of the doctrines which they hold as members of the faith. I have been looking into their culture some, what was it like outside of the church, and what were the relationships between men and women based on there? It only looks slightly different than today, just different clothes and customs, but the same overall issue, that things in the culture that are contrary to God's design have been brought into the church. Sound familiar? 

Question: "How can there be subordination / hierarchy in the Trinity?"

Answer: It may sound strange to speak of subordination within the Trinity. After all, Jesus and the Father are “one” (John 10:30). Subordination makes us think of a lower rank or a subservient position. To understand how there can be subordination in the Trinity, it is important to understand that there are different types of subordination. The biblical or orthodox view of the triune nature of God acknowledges an economic subordination in the Trinity but denies the heretical view of an ontological subordination.

What does this mean? Simply that all three Persons of the Godhead are equal in nature. God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit all have the same divine nature and divine attributes. Contrary to the teaching of many cults, there is no ontological subordination (no difference in the nature of the three Persons of the Godhead). This means that the Trinity is not comprised of greater and lesser gods; rather, there is one God existing eternally in three co-equal Persons.

What the Bible does teach is an economic (or relational) subordination within the Trinity. The three Persons of the triune Godhead voluntarily submit to each other respecting the roles They perform in creation and salvation. So, the Father sent the Son into the world (1 John 4:10). These roles are never reversed in Scripture: the Son never sends the Father. Likewise, the Holy Spirit is sent by Jesus and “proceeds from the Father” to testify of Christ (John 14:26; 15:26). And Jesus perfectly submitted His will to the Father’s (Luke 22:42; Hebrews 10:7).

Economic or relational subordination is simply a term to describe the relationship that exists among God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Essentially, economic subordination within the Trinity refers to what God does while ontological subordination refers to who God is.

Biblically, all three Persons of the Trinity have the same essence, nature, and glory, but each One has different roles or activities when it comes to how God relates to the world. For example, our salvation is based on the Father’s power and love (John 3:16; 10:29), the Son’s death and resurrection (1 John 2:2; Ephesians 2:6), and the Spirit’s regeneration and seal (Ephesians 4:30; Titus 3:5). The different tasks that we see the Father, Son, and Spirit perform are the result of the eternal relationship that exists among the Persons of the Trinity.

The issue of subordination within the Trinity is nuanced, and the distinction between ontological and economic subordination is fine indeed. Theologians within Christian orthodoxy continue to debate the limits of subordination and its relation to the Incarnation of Christ. Such discussions are profitable as we study the Scriptures and think through the truth about the nature of God. GotQuestions.org - PA

…29My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30I and the Father are one.” 31At this, the Jews again picked up stones to stone Him.… John 10: 29-31

…41And He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, where He knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.” 43Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him.… Luke 22: 41-43

…3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:…

…6Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.… Philippians 2: 3-8

 

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