November 21, 2024
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Numbers and 1 Corinthians? Here’s today’s reading:
1 Corinthians 11 (NIV)
1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
On Covering the Head in Worship
2 I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you. 3 But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.……Continue Reading
Again we are discussing headship and chain of authority and that God is the head of man and man the head of woman. The idea of proper authority is important to God. But I think we see something important in verses 11 &12…
“Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.”
This is the reminder that God is first and love should be the tie that binds these relationships preventing abuse or misuse of power and allowing women to still have a voice within relationships.
Certainly remembering what Jesus did for ALL of us on the cross at the end of this chapter should impress upon us the importance of His example and the need to follow the way He approached authority, relationship, and all other matters to be sure we are doing what’s right.
Has to be looked at in the context of Corinth. Head covering for women had become a discussion causing division. Jewish women wore head covering in worship. Greek women no. So Paul ends the discussion. It’s proper for all women to wear head covering. This chapter is all about proper attitudes in worship. Men with long hair in Corinth were looked at as male prostitutes. Therefore get a hair cut. Communion obviously had become a time of eating and drinking. Had lost its meaning. Can’t imagine getting drunk and then receiving communion. Yikes!! Not easy for Paul dealing with all he had going on
well said, Mark.
Although cultural norms may have changed that would cause head coverings/length of hair to not mean the same and therefore not be required, the principles of authority are still relevant. It is once again interesting that we see the same principles here that are expressed in Numbers. And although men and women have the same value in Christ (the point made in verse 11), when it comes to the order of authority in the church, men are over women. It is something God established in creation and women teach the angels a lesson when they respect the role of a man when some of the angels defied God Himself. It is not something we press and it is far better when women operate with this understanding as opposed to being told to, because it is ultimately about how we regard the authority Christ has over all of us and that He can be trusted for what He has established. Men and women should be built up and benefited in these roles as opposed to being put down or taken advantage of.
And there was certainly no place for people to be minimized in the celebration of communion as well. They had used the Lord’s supper to highlight their economic and social differences when the whole point of the message and life of Jesus was the great equalizer and how all are the same before Him and all are the same as far as what we are made by Him. May we honor Him in the way we treat each other and the unity we have in His salvation and the power of the Spirit. And I believe taking communion unworthily has more to do with how we are regarding the body of Christ, the church, than regarding Jesus Himself. Although the teaching in no way encourages us to be flippant about that as well. We should honor Jesus and His church in how we celebrate communion.
I have always wondered about this verse and its application to the modern day. Some use it to mandate head coverings for women and to admonish men with long/longer hair. I would say that the current societal norms dictate current practices. Was this direction from Paul specifically meant for the situation with the church at Corinth?
No, I think it was the standard laid out for churches in the Greek/roman world because they would all be aware of the societal norms of that day.
1 Corinthians 11
1 Corinthians 11
Makes me think of the women today who are shaving their heads in protest to their husbands for who they voted for. It’s disrespectful and belligerent. Let us have unity in the church, loving and accepting one another despite our differences. It is important that we take the time to examine ourselves before we partake in communion. Reflecting upon our own sin, how Jesus took the punishment for it, and being thankful for his ultimate sacrifice for our salvation. God’s grace and mercy is so amazing, a sure sign of his love for us.
”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.“
I Corinthians 11:11-12 NKJV
I am reading a book at my daughter’s behest about the roles of women. The more I think and read about the issues we have with men’s and women’s roles, the more I think the contentious nature is part of our culture. EVERYONE submits to someone or some entity – the law, government, experts, God, a boss, a road sign, a doctor… why do we take issue with God establishing this “order”? I believe that is really what it is about, order. Things run much more smoothly when done Gods way. And if a man screws it up, there is recourse given: church discipline, divorce for marital unfaithfulness, Matthew 18:15-17 if your brother sins against you…. God understands and gives primarily the church the role to stand up for women/wives (and I think we should be better at that.)