1 Corinthians 11:2-16
1 Corinthians 11:2-16
Corbin Randall
The passage of 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 has caused great division in the church. What is the word “head” suppose to mean in this context?Are women to wear head covers? In what way is the head of man Christ? And why does Paul go into detail on creation? These are all questions that anyone might ask concerning this passage. From a personal examination, I would have to say that I agree with the main point of the complimentary perspective. In the body of Christ, gender differences assign males to a hierarchal authoritative position. That being said, the two sexes have different roles with the body of Christ. [1]So while the male may have the leading position, in no way is he superior in essence. At the same time though, all of the obligations given to women through this passage should be for everybody. Just like women shouldn’t dress in a way which leads men to stumble, men should be mindful of how they dress as well. In this case, I would be taking the Egalitarian position, arguing that this passage is for everyone to be mindful of how they reflect themselves, and their family. Christians have argued that the word “head” being used in verses 2-16 of 1 Corinthians 11 is used to either mean “authority” or “source”. [2]In viewing the “head” as the source, Gordon D. Fee argues that the Greeks would use the term in a many number of ways. While he admits that the Jewish community would use “head” in reference to a leader, the Greeks would see the word “out of their anatomical understanding of the relationship of the head to the body...” So in other words, Egalitarians believe that Paul understands the head to be the source of all of the body’s abilities.[3]In addition, Richard S. Cervin argues that the word “head” is used to refer to the Tearus River’s sources of water. So this non-biblical passage about the Tearus River gives an example of the word “head” being used to also mean source in Greek literature. [4]On the other side of
Corbin Randall
The passage of 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 has caused great division in the church. What is the word “head” suppose to mean in this context?Are women to wear head covers? In what way is the head of man Christ? And why does Paul go into detail on creation? These are all questions that anyone might ask concerning this passage. From a personal examination, I would have to say that I agree with the main point of the complimentary perspective. In the body of Christ, gender differences assign males to a hierarchal authoritative position. That being said, the two sexes have different roles with the body of Christ. [1]So while the male may have the leading position, in no way is he superior in essence. At the same time though, all of the obligations given to women through this passage should be for everybody. Just like women shouldn’t dress in a way which leads men to stumble, men should be mindful of how they dress as well. In this case, I would be taking the Egalitarian position, arguing that this passage is for everyone to be mindful of how they reflect themselves, and their family. Christians have argued that the word “head” being used in verses 2-16 of 1 Corinthians 11 is used to either mean “authority” or “source”. [2]In viewing the “head” as the source, Gordon D. Fee argues that the Greeks would use the term in a many number of ways. While he admits that the Jewish community would use “head” in reference to a leader, the Greeks would see the word “out of their anatomical understanding of the relationship of the head to the body...” So in other words, Egalitarians believe that Paul understands the head to be the source of all of the body’s abilities.[3]In addition, Richard S. Cervin argues that the word “head” is used to refer to the Tearus River’s sources of water. So this non-biblical passage about the Tearus River gives an example of the word “head” being used to also mean source in Greek literature. [4]On the other side of