Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. For man is not from woman, but woman from man. Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God. Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? (1 Co 11:2–13)
Paul commends the Corinthians.
In this passage, Paul gives a shout-out to the Corinthians for keeping up with the traditions he taught them. That begs the question, what exactly are those traditions? As we go through this epistle, we note that Paul is laying the building blocks of Christian life and behavior. We can picture it as a mix of Jesus' teachings, practical advice on how to live out your faith, and guidelines for church gatherings and this because more apparent in the following chapters. Going forward, Paul lays down the dos and don'ts for church meetings, like handling prayers, communion, and spiritual gifts. And most of all, the importance of keeping the peace and sticking together as a church family, which Paul always seems to be hammering home. Now let's jump into the text.
A hierarchy of authority:
In 1 Corinthians chapter 11, the Greek word "kephalē," translated as "head" in English, carries various meanings depending on context. In ancient Greek literature, "kephalē" typically denotes the physical head of a body but can also symbolize concepts like "source," "origin," "authority," or "leader." In the context of 1 Corinthians 11, where Paul discusses the relationships among God, Christ, man, and woman, "head" is understood metaphorically as "authority" or "leader."
Paul's statement, "God is the head of Christ," prompts theological inquiry, particularly concerning the doctrine of the Trinity. Throughout the New Testament, there are instances of the Father sending the Son and submitting to the will of the Father and Jesus frequently spoke of obeying the Father's commands and doing His will. Paul likely synthesizes these teachings into the concept of God's authority over Christ.
Considering Jesus as both divine and human, some qualifications may seem necessary. This is because Jesus, before His incarnation, existed in a pre-incarnate state described as "the Word." Upon His birth, Jesus took on human form, humbling Himself to the level of humanity. He limited Himself, not even assuming an angelic nature but rather that of the seed of Abraham. In this form, Jesus willingly subjected Himself to the authority of God the Father.
This humbling allowed Jesus to experience temptation and vulnerability as humans do, although God, to whom Jesus submitted, cannot be tempted. Jesus, while divine, did not possess attributes like omniscience or omnipotence during His earthly life. Gospel accounts reveal moments when Jesus couldn't perform miracles due to people's lack of faith. Thus, Jesus, in His incarnate form, did not exhibit the omnipresence, omniscience, and omnipotence commonly attributed to Yahweh in the Old Testament. Instead, according to Paul in another passage:
"But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons." (Galatians 4:4-5, NKJV)
So, let's break this down. Jesus, in His earthly life, humbled Himself by being born as a human baby to a woman, Mary, and lived under the law. As the sinless and perfect Son of God, He fulfilled the commandment to honor His mother and father (Exodus 20:12). This commandment is significant because it's among the first that teaches respect and obedience to authority, akin to loving God above all else (Matthew 22:37-38).
Jesus indeed humbled Himself by being born as a human baby to Mary and living under the law (Galatians 4:4). As the sinless and perfect Son of God, He fulfilled the commandment to honor His mother and father (Exodus 20:12).
Jesus indeed humbled Himself by being born as a human baby to Mary and living under the law (Galatians 4:4). As the sinless and perfect Son of God, He fulfilled the commandment to honor His mother and father (Exodus 20:12).
During His earthly ministry, Jesus submitted to God the Father and followed His will obediently (John 5:30). After His resurrection, Christ is described as seated at the right hand of God (Mark 16:19), signifying a position of honor and authority, not inferiority.
In the book of Revelation, we see Christ receiving authority and power from God the Father (Revelation 5:6-14), but this doesn't diminish His divinity or equality with God. Christ's submission of everything to the Father reflects the unity and harmony within the Godhead, not a hierarchy of inferiority (1 Corinthians 15:28).
So, in essence, while Jesus lived on earth, He humbly submitted to God's authority, and even after His resurrection and exaltation, He remained fully divine and equal with the Father, demonstrating the unity and sovereignty of the Triune God.
Christ is the head of man.
Paul's assertion that Christ is the head of man can be found in various New Testament passages that speak about Christ's lordship and authority over believers. For instance, in Ephesians 1:22, Paul describes Christ as "head over all things to the church." Additionally, Jesus taught his disciples to follow him and abide by his teachings, indicating his authority over them.
Man is the head of woman:
Paul’s assertions in 1 Corinthians 11:2-3, where he affirms that "the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man," might present challenges for modern-day Christians due to evolving societal norms and interpretations of gender equality. In today's context, male headship over women may conflict with contemporary understandings of gender equality and mutual respect within marriages and communities.
However, Paul's words are direct and unambiguous. He articulates his understanding of hierarchical relationships between God, Christ, man, and woman. While these statements conflict with modern perspectives or preferences, there is no question that Paul intended to convey his theological beliefs as he did based on his interpretation of Scripture and cultural context and any attempts to rephrase or reinterpret Paul's statements to fit modern sensibilities risk distorting his original meaning. Paul's words, whether famous or not in today's society, were plainly stated according to his understanding of Christian doctrine and practice. As such, they remain a significant aspect of biblical teaching, prompting ongoing reflection, discussion, and interpretation among contemporary Christians.
Paul's teachings here extend beyond mere assertions of authority. In Ephesians 5:25-33, Paul elaborates on the relationship between husbands and wives, emphasizing sacrificial love and mutual respect rather than dominance:
"25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband." (NKJV)
In this passage, Paul parallels Christ's sacrificial love for the church and the love husbands are called to demonstrate toward their wives. This illustrates that Paul's vision of marital relationships extends beyond mere authority to encompass selflessness, care, and unity.
Paul's interpretation of the Genesis narrative also underscores the idea that both man and woman share responsibility, albeit in different ways. In 1 Timothy 2:14, Paul writes:
"And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression." (NKJV)
Here, Paul attributes the introduction of sin into the world to Adam's disobedience rather than Eve's deception, highlighting the shared responsibility of both man and woman in the fall.
While Paul acknowledges distinct roles and responsibilities between man and woman, his teachings emphasize mutual love, respect, and accountability within relationships, rather than one-sided authority.