1 CORINTHIANS 1: 1 - 16
THE ROLE OF THE MAN AND THE WOMAN
1) Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
2) Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
3) But I 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.
4) Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head.
5) But every woman that prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven
6) For is the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
7) For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
8) For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man.
9) Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
10) For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
11) Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither is the woman without the man, in the Lord.
12) For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.
13) Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
14) Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
15) But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
16) But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
COMMENTARY
This is certainly something that you don't hear preached at church on Sundays. This is the Apostle Paul writing to his church in Corinth, where he poured himself into teaching this congregation. Here, he is talking about the accepted order according to God: the role of men and women in preaching and praying in church.
Verse 3) God the Father has authority over Jesus and Jesus submitted to The Father's will, thus buying our salvation. Jesus has authority over man, whether saved or lost, every knee will bow to Jesus; man has authority over woman; parents have authority over children. This is God's will, His plan. This scripture does not say women are illiterate, ignorant, without faith. What it says is that when women obey God, they submit to the position of man out of love for God, as Jesus submitted to The Father, although He is fully God!
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Verses 4, 5) Women were allowed to pray and prophesy(teach) in some settings, but there needed to be a distinction between the authority of the praying and teaching. They were not men, so the women needed to wear the head covering. If the women wanted to demand equality to man in these activities, they disgraced themselves and their husbands. Likewise, men who wore a covering disgraced Jesus, Who is the head of man.
Verse 6) In those days, prostitutes shaved their heads. Apostle Paul was saying it would be as a prostitute in a position of authority praying and prophesying.
Verse 7) Here is God's design: man is not to wear a hat (head covering) in church or when he is praying or prophesying. Man was made in the image and glory of God. Woman was made in the image of God, also, but for the glory of man. Man was not made for woman, but woman was made for man. The angels were present at creation, so they know God's unique design for man and woman. So it would be an insult to the angels, who have great strength and power and submit to God's plan, when the woman doesn't.
Verses 8, 9) Here is the bottom line on the headdress: the covering was a symbol of submissiveness. Man was created in the image of God but also to be the glory of God. His power and authority comes directly from God. Man was created first and was given dominion over all that was created (Genesis 2:7). Woman was created in the image of God, also, but for the glory of man. She was made "for the man's sake". Her role is to come under the leadership, protection, and care of man; to be his helpmate (Genesis 2:20 - 22).
Verses 11, 12) All things were created for God's good pleasure. Man and woman have the same value to Him. Woman originates from man and man is born from woman. All begins with God. Man has no innate superiority over woman; likewise, woman has no innate superiority over man. We are created for different roles and to work together for the glory of God.
Verse 16) After citing accepted cultural practices and nature, there wasn't much more to argue about. Apostle Paul ended this discourse by saying, basically, that the apostles and churches were going to honor God by the man not having his head covered while praying and prophesying and the woman having her head covered, even if her covering was just with her long hair.
Dr. MacArthur tells us in another commentary, of which I will have to locate again, that had Adam and Eve conducted themselves in this proper manner, we would have been able to live as God had originally intended, rather than living under the curse of sin. Had Eve referred to Adam regarding eating the fruit, surely he would have declined the offer. It's food for thought: when God's order is breached, turmoil ensues. Man is the head of the household and is RESPONSIBLE for it in every way. Woman is to support him. Be careful who you marry.
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