1 Corinthians 11:3

But. would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

'But. would have you know' -'I want you to understand.'(NASV); 'But there is one matter. want to remind you about.' (Tay)

Points to Note:

1. Lenski feels that in reference to the head-covering the Corinthians were in perfect agreement with Paul. This was one "tradition" they were keeping. And that Paul in verses 3-16, simply states the reasons why they should continue in the practice. He believes that the "contentious" ones referred to in 1 Corinthians 11:16..'is the thought that. few contentious voices had been raised in Corinth which either merely questioned the necessity of the women covering their heads or advocated that they leave them uncovered. The congregation and the body of the women in it were not yet disturbed.' (p. 430)

2. Others place quite. bit of emphasis on the first word of 1 Corinthians 11:3, "but" (even though the NIV translates this Greek word, 'now'). Fee says, 'the "but" with which this argument begins suggests that some things are not quite as the Corinthians had portrayed them.' (p. 501)

3. Willis feels.."I suggest that some among the women in Corinthians church had decided that they could cast aside all symbols of subjection to men since 'there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ." (Galatians 3:28)...From what. can gather, the women must have been in the midst of. small women's liberation movement there in Corinth..Thus, the primary thrust of this passage pertains to subjection. To persuade the women not to cast aside their symbol of subjection, Paul made six arguments.' (p. 354)

In support of the view that some women in Corinth misinterpreted "all one in Christ", the following points could be offered: (1) Another problem/misunderstanding or abuse fits into the overall context of the letter. (2) The basic premise that Paul lays down as he starts this section (1 Corinthians 11:3), which includes 'the man is the head of. woman'. (3) The instruction to. certain group of women in 1 Corinthians 14:34-35.

***While we need to discuss various side issues in this section, especially concerning the covering,. hope we won't lose sight of the main points in this section.**** McGuiggan reminds us, 'In this whole section the wearing of. veil is. secondary issue. It becomes important only because at that time and in that place it was related to. foundational and permanent truth: the subjection of woman to man.' (p. 143)***

'that the head of every man is Christ' -

'head' -'Headship stresses leadership, prior authority..It seems clear that the passage is teaching the subordination principle. Men are subordinate to Christ. Women are subordinate to men. Christ is subordinate to his Father. No one is suggesting that the subordination of each one is of exactly the same kind, degree or expression. But surely, we mustn't go so deep into the text so that when we come out we have nothing whatever to say about it.' (McGuiggan p. 146)

'every man' -every man is subject to Christ, whether he recognizes that fact or not. (Ephesians 1:20; 1 Corinthians 15:27; 1 Peter 2:9)

'It is entirely contrary to fact that women should seek to be like men on the supposition that men are independent. The men are not at all independent--their head is Christ.' (Lenski p.433)

Point to Note:

Recently some have tried to argue that the word "head" means "source" or "origin". While Christ is the source of man (John 1:3; Colossians 1:15), and man could be viewed as the source of woman (1 Corinthians 11:8); it would be false teaching to claim that "God is the source/origin of Christ". For Christ is God (John 1:1), and is thereby eternal.

'When. first heard the argument..that the primary meaning of "head"..is source, my immediate reaction was, "If that be true, then, according to 1 Corinthians 11:3. the Son of God is. created being!. [Note:. 'Man is the "Head" of Woman. Gene Frost. Gospel Anchor. July 1993 p. (203) 3. Brother Frost then cites quite. number of Greek authorities that conclusively prove the point, that the Greek word (kephale'), as. metaphor, is consistently defined by lexicographers as meaning "superior rank, supreme, chief, prominent." His article is quite extensive, see Mark if you want. copy.]

Other passages that would reveal that the mere definition of "source" (a definition stripped of any idea of subordination or subjection) is inadequate for the word "head" are: (Ephesians 1:22 '..gave him to be the "head" over all things to the church.'; 1 Corinthians 4:15; 1 Corinthians 5:23 'For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church.') In the last passage, if the word "head" carries absolutely no hint of "leadership", then the Church is simply the product of Christ, but in no way is it "subject" to Christ. Unwittingly then, the feminist movement among religious women has the bible teaching that the church and Christ are equals. You see, any time you tinker with the relationship between husbands and wives, your going to have to (for consistency sake) tinker with the relationship between Christ and the Church, seeing that Paul himself paralleled them for all time. (Ephesians 5:22)

'and the head of the woman is the man' -Christianity didn't dissolve this fact. Neither did it dissolve subjection and authority in the realms of citizenship (Romans 13:1 ff); employment (Ephesians 6:5) or the family (Ephesians 6:1).

While. woman is subject to his own husband (Ephesians 5:23). It is also true that in. more general sense, this subjection applies to other man as well. For example,. woman isn't to teach or exercise authority over. man (1 Timothy 2:12). This truth would apply to single women as well as married, and therefore must also apply to other men besides one's own husband. And this seems to be the crucial issue at the heart of the covering question."There were women..who were dismissing the token of their womanhood (in that society) and denying their place of subjection to men." (McGuiggan p. 145)

Point to Note:"Headship" doesn't imply or demand that the one in subjection is necessarily inferior (Christ isn't inferior to God- John 5:18; John 5:23).

'The principle involves no humiliation, no injustice, no wrong. It recognizes. difference of function and responsibility, but it precludes selfishness, harshness, and unkindness.' (Erdman p. 112)

'and the head of Christ is God' -no inferiority implied. 'The fact that Jesus is subject to God does not deny the deity of Christ anymore than the fact that women is subject to man denies the humanity of woman.' (Willis p. 362) In order to save man, Christ has voluntarily assumed. servants role. (1 Peter 2:6)