After revealing the nature of the problem at the church at Corinth, Paul then provides the second reason that Christians act unchristian when men and women act in confusion. We see this in 1 Corinthians 11:7-10:
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. For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man; for indeed man was not created for the woman's sake, but woman for the man's sake. Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.
Really? What exactly is Paul talking about here? I mean what is his point? It is important to understand that Paul is not simply providing his own opinion as a male chauvinist pig, as many have accused him of being. Instead Paul is bringing the members of the church at Corinth back to the creation of man and woman in Genesis 2.
In Genesis 2 we read that God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. God then gave Adam a job to tend the garden and name the animals and just one command to follow; don’t eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But, as Adam named all the animals, he did not find a helper suitable for him and we read the first time that God said that something was not good; it is not good for man to be alone. So God caused Adam to fall to sleep and took one of his ribs and formed Eve, the first woman.
Paul’s point is that as a result of God’s work in creation, Adam is the glory of God, in other words Adam represents and reflects God’s authority and leadership in his creation as the first among equals who was given the responsibility of leadership over the creation. Eve, on the other hand, is the glory of man. In other words, Eve reflects the radiance of Adam, as she was created from Adam.
Paul further unpacks this by revealing the reality that God’s creation shows that as the first among equals, Adam was given the responsibility to lovingly leading, providing, and protecting women in ways that are appropriate to their relationship.
And because of God’s work in creation, Paul explains that in the same way, women ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. But what is Paul talking about here?
It is important to understand that in the language that this was originally written, verse 10 literally states therefore the women ought to have authority on her head, because of the angels. And while Paul could be talking about a nice hat, most likely Paul here is referring to women coming under the authority and leadership of the male leadership of the church during their corporate worship gatherings. But what does Paul mean when he states that they are to be under leadership and authority of men because of the angels? We see the answer in another letter in our Bibles, Ephesians 3:10:
so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.
Paul’s point is that because God uses the church to reveal His multidimensional wisdom to the angels and demons, Paul is calling the church at Corinth, and us here today to follow the wisdom by which He created us to relate to one another. As Christians, however, men and women can act in confusion when we fail to follow God’s pattern from creation.
But why do men and women fail to follow God’s wisdom as seen in creation? Why do we push back on this so hard? We push back on this so hard just as our first parents pushed back on this truth. In Genesis 3, we see Adam fail to fulfill his responsibility to lovingly, lead, protect, and provide for his wife and instead allowed her to lead their relationship. The result was disobeying God’s command and sin entered the world and corrupted God’s design and creation.
And as a result of our first parent’s sin, men tend to abdicate their leadership responsibilities and instead function as either cowards or chauvinists. And women tend to desire to rebel against God’s design in creation by seeking to rule over men. And we see this in churches today: either we see men who are either cowards who fail to take responsibility for their lives and the leadership of their families or the church. Or we see men who misuse Paul’s words here like a sledge hammer to advocate the mindless submission and servanthood of women. God, anticipating this problem, addresses it for us in verse 11-12:
However, in the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as the woman originates from the man, so also the man has his birth through the woman; and all things originate from God.
In these verses, Paul explains that God designed us not as independent beings but as interdependent beings. And when men and women function according to the roles and in relationship as God designed and created those relationships to be, the result is that men and women compliment and complete one another. Paul then provides the practical application of this reality by reminding the members of the church that while Eve originally came into being through Adam, the rest of humanity comes into being through women. Paul then reminds the church that ultimately everything comes from God, who is the ultimate authority.
So, do you believe that God's pattern should impact how we relate to one another as men and women? Why or why not?
Tomorrow, we will look at a third reason that Christians act unchristian when men and women act in confusion.
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