I Corinthians 11:2-16: "God's Natural Order"
This section begins another transition in the letter to the Corinthians. Apparently the Corinthians had asked Paul to help them understand the proper role and submission of women in the church. Paul praises them for looking to him for guidance in this area. "Now I praise you because you remember me in everything, and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered them to you". Despite the many issues facing the Corinthian church, they frequently sought Paul's instruction, and in some areas desired to hold firm to what Paul had taught them. The issue in this section is the proper role of women in the church.
Paul begins by stating the principle to be followed. "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". Paul desired for them to grasp and understand the fact that God had divinely set up a natural order to this world. He is saying that just as the man was created to be the head of the woman, so man was created to submit to Christ, just as Christ submitted to God when He came to earth to die for our sins. MacArthur explains, "Head refers to the ruling and sovereign part of the body. In stating the general principle, Paul gives three ways in which headship is manifested. First, Christ is the head of every man. He is uniquely the head of the church as its Savior and Lord (Eph. 1:22-23; 4:15; Col. 1:18; etc) . . . Second, the man is the head of a woman. The principle of subordination and authority applies to all men and all women, not just to husbands and wives . . . Third, God is the head of Christ. Jesus made nothing clearer than the fact that He submitted Himself to His Father's will (John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38; cf. I Cor. 3:23; 15:24-28, etc.) Christ has never been-before, during, or after His incarnation-in any way inferior in essence to the Father. But in HIs incarnation He willingly subordinated Himself to the Father in His role as Savior and Redeemer. He lovingly subjected Himself completely to His Father' s will as an act of humble obedience in fulfilling the divine purpose". What we must understand that this is God's divine plan. We must not question or fight against it. We are the created ones, and because of this we have no right to argue or complain. We must lovingly submit to what God has revealed to us. As man submits and loves Christ, he will lead and love his wife as she will submit and love and care for her husband. Inherently there is nothing better in men than women to deserve to be the head of her. In fact, there may be women who are more knowledgeable or qualified for a job than a man, however, we must all understand that God has set a natural order for a reason. Just as in the business world and on a sports team, it will not properly function if everyone is in charge and fighting for the leadership role. There must be properly delegated roles that each man and woman is willing to submit to for things to run properly.
Paul then uses a cultural application for that time to explain the principle he just stated. "Every man who has something on his head while praying or prophesying, disgraces his head". MacArthur explains, "When Paul said a man disgraces his head if he has something on his head while praying or prophesying, he had to be referring to local Corinthian custom. The phrase 'has something on his head' literally means 'having down from head' and is usually taken to refer to a veil. The context here implies that in Corinth such a head covering would have been completely ridiculous for a man and completely proper for a woman". Paul is using this local Corinthian custom to show a divine principle that it would be disgraceful for a man to pray of prophesy in public with a veil over himself, yet for women this would be completely natural and respectful. This symbolized woman's subordination to man and that if these roles were reversed it would be disgraceful to each. Paul shows this role reversal as disgraceful by stating, "But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying, disgraces her head". By veiling their faces, woman were symbolizing their respectful submission to man and God while praying or prophesying. Apparently, there were issues with women in the local Corinthian church not properly submitting and showed this by being unveiled. Paul continues, "for she is one and the same with her whose head is shaved". MacArthur writes, "For a Corinthian woman to pray or prophesy with her head uncovered disgraced or shamed her and made her the same with her whose head is shaved. If a woman took off her head covering she might as well make the symbol of her role rejection complete by taking off all of her hair, the God-given identifier of her special role as a woman". Paul continues, "For if a woman does not cover her head, let her also have her hair cut off; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, let her cover her head". Although a cultural symbol of that time, the divine principle will always be true. Woman must not try to seek a different role, but rather accept her role as it has been divinely given from God. She must treasure her role and not seek to pervert it.
Paul continues to make his case on this matter, "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". In the same way it was disgraceful for a woman not to wear a veil to symbolize her subordination, it is disgraceful for a man to cover his head as he is the head of the woman, and more specifically the "glory of God". MacArthur writes, "Man was created in the moral, mental, and spiritual image of God. He was created with intellect, will, emotion, knowledge, and holiness, to which he is restored in Jesus Christ (Eph. 4:24)." Man was created by God to rule over the created world and care for all that God had given him. This is not to say that women are not created in God's image, however, the original creation was of Adam from the dust only. Eve was then later created for Adam as a helper. Paul points this out, "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". The very word woman, indicates that she was "taken out of Man" (Gen. 2:9-23). As God's divine plan woman was was created from man and for man. MacArthur also writes, "She is not intellectually, morally, spiritually, or functionally inferior to man. She is unique from him. Her role is to come under the leadership, protection, and care of man, and she is to be 'a helper suitable for him' (Gen. 2:20)". This was what God had chosen to be the natural role of men and women. It does not make one better than the other, it is simply our place to fulfill the roles God has delegated to us. Therefore, because of all this being stated, it goes back to the cultural application that, "the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels". Her covered head symbolized her submission to her role as a woman. The idea of the angels, comes from the fact that these created beings are in perfect submission of God (except those who chose to be submitted to Satan). MacArthur writes, "Throughout Scripture God's holy angles are shown as creatures of great power, but it is always derived power and submissive power . . . these messengers are God's protectors of His church, over which they stand perpetual guard. It is proper for a woman to cover her head as a sing of subordination because of the angels, in order that these most submissive of all creatures will not be offended by nonsubmissiveness".
So that his words might not be misinterpreted, and that man may not abuse his headship role, Paul explains, "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". Men must understand that although they have a leadership role in the male female relationship, they must understand their role is a divinely delegated one. There is nothing man has done to earn or deserve this right, it simply came down from God, who men must understand "all things originate from". MacArthur writes, "In Christ all believers, male and female, are in the Lord, and are alike under the Lord. In His work women are as important as men. Their roles are different in function and relationships, but no in spirituality or importance". For it was God's perfect plan that men and women work together, not independently of one another. They are complementary to one another as God has intended. Man does not run a dictatorship, but rather, because of love, respect, and honor for his submission to God, lovingly leads the woman. Initially the woman originated from the man, but from that point on all men originated from the woman. However, as both must understand, "all things originate from God". With this understanding, both men and women can rightfully fulfill their God given roles, and in doing so, honor God.
Paul finishes this section by asking the Corinthians to judge for themselves what they know to be right. He writes, "Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with head uncovered?" Paul asks them to put aside his apostolic authority, and think about the issue themselves. He asks them to think for themselves if it is proper for a woman to pray to God in a disrespectful way. He shows that even nature itself points this out. Paul continues, "Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her?". It is natural physiology that woman's hair grows faster and longer than mans. This was God's natural process to show distinction between the two. It is only natural to look around and see that in most cases this is the natural state of things, that men keep their hair relatively short compared to women. God used these distinctions to show the different roles that he had given each of us. Paul continues, "For her hair is given to her for a covering". This is her natural covering given to her by God. MacArthur writes, "Her hair is her natural covering or veil, and headwear is a cultural symbolic covering, both representing her subordinate role. Both nature and general custom reflect God's universal principle of man's role of authority and woman's role of subordination". This is a call for men and women to be distinct and to glorify God in their distinctness. Men are not to feminize themselves in dress or appearance, but rather are to show their leadership and respect of God through leading women. Likewise, women are not to desire to become more manly, but rather enjoy their distinctness and be submissive as God had intended. Paul finishes, "But if one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God". As is true today, both men and women were rebelling in the Corinthian church against their natural role as divinely given by God. Paul knew that some would be "inclined to be contentious" and go against what was taught, and for them there was nothing more that can be said. There are no other principles that could be taught that would be accepted within the true church of God. To conclude, MacArthur summarizes Paul's argument, "In summing up his argument, we not that Paul has established that women are to be submissive to men because of the relationship in the Godhead (v.3), the divine design of male and female (v.7), the order of creation (v.8), the role of woman (v.9), the interest of the angels (v.10), and the characteristics of natural physiology (vv.13-15)".
Paul begins by stating the principle to be followed. "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". Paul desired for them to grasp and understand the fact that God had divinely set up a natural order to this world. He is saying that just as the man was created to be the head of the woman, so man was created to submit to Christ, just as Christ submitted to God when He came to earth to die for our sins. MacArthur explains, "Head refers to the ruling and sovereign part of the body. In stating the general principle, Paul gives three ways in which headship is manifested. First, Christ is the head of every man. He is uniquely the head of the church as its Savior and Lord (Eph. 1:22-23; 4:15; Col. 1:18; etc) . . . Second, the man is the head of a woman. The principle of subordination and authority applies to all men and all women, not just to husbands and wives . . . Third, God is the head of Christ. Jesus made nothing clearer than the fact that He submitted Himself to His Father's will (John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38; cf. I Cor. 3:23; 15:24-28, etc.) Christ has never been-before, during, or after His incarnation-in any way inferior in essence to the Father. But in HIs incarnation He willingly subordinated Himself to the Father in His role as Savior and Redeemer. He lovingly subjected Himself completely to His Father' s will as an act of humble obedience in fulfilling the divine purpose". What we must understand that this is God's divine plan. We must not question or fight against it. We are the created ones, and because of this we have no right to argue or complain. We must lovingly submit to what God has revealed to us. As man submits and loves Christ, he will lead and love his wife as she will submit and love and care for her husband. Inherently there is nothing better in men than women to deserve to be the head of her. In fact, there may be women who are more knowledgeable or qualified for a job than a man, however, we must all understand that God has set a natural order for a reason. Just as in the business world and on a sports team, it will not properly function if everyone is in charge and fighting for the leadership role. There must be properly delegated roles that each man and woman is willing to submit to for things to run properly.
Paul then uses a cultural application for that time to explain the principle he just stated. "Every man who has something on his head while praying or prophesying, disgraces his head". MacArthur explains, "When Paul said a man disgraces his head if he has something on his head while praying or prophesying, he had to be referring to local Corinthian custom. The phrase 'has something on his head' literally means 'having down from head' and is usually taken to refer to a veil. The context here implies that in Corinth such a head covering would have been completely ridiculous for a man and completely proper for a woman". Paul is using this local Corinthian custom to show a divine principle that it would be disgraceful for a man to pray of prophesy in public with a veil over himself, yet for women this would be completely natural and respectful. This symbolized woman's subordination to man and that if these roles were reversed it would be disgraceful to each. Paul shows this role reversal as disgraceful by stating, "But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying, disgraces her head". By veiling their faces, woman were symbolizing their respectful submission to man and God while praying or prophesying. Apparently, there were issues with women in the local Corinthian church not properly submitting and showed this by being unveiled. Paul continues, "for she is one and the same with her whose head is shaved". MacArthur writes, "For a Corinthian woman to pray or prophesy with her head uncovered disgraced or shamed her and made her the same with her whose head is shaved. If a woman took off her head covering she might as well make the symbol of her role rejection complete by taking off all of her hair, the God-given identifier of her special role as a woman". Paul continues, "For if a woman does not cover her head, let her also have her hair cut off; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, let her cover her head". Although a cultural symbol of that time, the divine principle will always be true. Woman must not try to seek a different role, but rather accept her role as it has been divinely given from God. She must treasure her role and not seek to pervert it.
Paul continues to make his case on this matter, "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". In the same way it was disgraceful for a woman not to wear a veil to symbolize her subordination, it is disgraceful for a man to cover his head as he is the head of the woman, and more specifically the "glory of God". MacArthur writes, "Man was created in the moral, mental, and spiritual image of God. He was created with intellect, will, emotion, knowledge, and holiness, to which he is restored in Jesus Christ (Eph. 4:24)." Man was created by God to rule over the created world and care for all that God had given him. This is not to say that women are not created in God's image, however, the original creation was of Adam from the dust only. Eve was then later created for Adam as a helper. Paul points this out, "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". The very word woman, indicates that she was "taken out of Man" (Gen. 2:9-23). As God's divine plan woman was was created from man and for man. MacArthur also writes, "She is not intellectually, morally, spiritually, or functionally inferior to man. She is unique from him. Her role is to come under the leadership, protection, and care of man, and she is to be 'a helper suitable for him' (Gen. 2:20)". This was what God had chosen to be the natural role of men and women. It does not make one better than the other, it is simply our place to fulfill the roles God has delegated to us. Therefore, because of all this being stated, it goes back to the cultural application that, "the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels". Her covered head symbolized her submission to her role as a woman. The idea of the angels, comes from the fact that these created beings are in perfect submission of God (except those who chose to be submitted to Satan). MacArthur writes, "Throughout Scripture God's holy angles are shown as creatures of great power, but it is always derived power and submissive power . . . these messengers are God's protectors of His church, over which they stand perpetual guard. It is proper for a woman to cover her head as a sing of subordination because of the angels, in order that these most submissive of all creatures will not be offended by nonsubmissiveness".
So that his words might not be misinterpreted, and that man may not abuse his headship role, Paul explains, "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". Men must understand that although they have a leadership role in the male female relationship, they must understand their role is a divinely delegated one. There is nothing man has done to earn or deserve this right, it simply came down from God, who men must understand "all things originate from". MacArthur writes, "In Christ all believers, male and female, are in the Lord, and are alike under the Lord. In His work women are as important as men. Their roles are different in function and relationships, but no in spirituality or importance". For it was God's perfect plan that men and women work together, not independently of one another. They are complementary to one another as God has intended. Man does not run a dictatorship, but rather, because of love, respect, and honor for his submission to God, lovingly leads the woman. Initially the woman originated from the man, but from that point on all men originated from the woman. However, as both must understand, "all things originate from God". With this understanding, both men and women can rightfully fulfill their God given roles, and in doing so, honor God.
Paul finishes this section by asking the Corinthians to judge for themselves what they know to be right. He writes, "Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with head uncovered?" Paul asks them to put aside his apostolic authority, and think about the issue themselves. He asks them to think for themselves if it is proper for a woman to pray to God in a disrespectful way. He shows that even nature itself points this out. Paul continues, "Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her?". It is natural physiology that woman's hair grows faster and longer than mans. This was God's natural process to show distinction between the two. It is only natural to look around and see that in most cases this is the natural state of things, that men keep their hair relatively short compared to women. God used these distinctions to show the different roles that he had given each of us. Paul continues, "For her hair is given to her for a covering". This is her natural covering given to her by God. MacArthur writes, "Her hair is her natural covering or veil, and headwear is a cultural symbolic covering, both representing her subordinate role. Both nature and general custom reflect God's universal principle of man's role of authority and woman's role of subordination". This is a call for men and women to be distinct and to glorify God in their distinctness. Men are not to feminize themselves in dress or appearance, but rather are to show their leadership and respect of God through leading women. Likewise, women are not to desire to become more manly, but rather enjoy their distinctness and be submissive as God had intended. Paul finishes, "But if one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God". As is true today, both men and women were rebelling in the Corinthian church against their natural role as divinely given by God. Paul knew that some would be "inclined to be contentious" and go against what was taught, and for them there was nothing more that can be said. There are no other principles that could be taught that would be accepted within the true church of God. To conclude, MacArthur summarizes Paul's argument, "In summing up his argument, we not that Paul has established that women are to be submissive to men because of the relationship in the Godhead (v.3), the divine design of male and female (v.7), the order of creation (v.8), the role of woman (v.9), the interest of the angels (v.10), and the characteristics of natural physiology (vv.13-15)".
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