History will look back on our day as the age of confusion. Terms no longer mean what they once meant. What is a woman? Individuals are free to choose their own sex. Marriage is optional. The early Church also lived in an age of confusion. In Paul’s letter to the Corinthian believers, he addressed this confusion. In chapters 10 and 11 of 1 Corinthians, Paul emphasized principles he taught before:

  1. Do all to the glory of God. v. 10:31.
  2. Give no offense to anyone. v. 10:32.
  3. Seek the profit of many. v. 10:33

Notice the order: God first, then others, then self. This was the order given by God at creation. Paul was confident enough in what he taught to say, Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.

He then repeats these three principles in reverse order:

  1. Christ is the head of every man. v. 11:3a
  2. Man is the head of a woman. v. 11:3b
  3. God is the head of Christ. v. 11:3c

In v. 11:3a, he refers to every man (pantos andros). In v. 11:3b, it is the man (ho andros) and a woman (gunaikos). This clearly refers to the relationship of one man to one woman—marriage.

Last week, we compared this context with a previous letter Paul wrote to the Galatian churches. (Gal 3:26-4:7) The title was Neither Male nor Female (arsen kai thelu). (see) The Galatians passage declares that both male and female are sons of God (huioi theou). (Gal 3:26) It does not refer to physical gender but to our equality before our heavenly Father. The Corinthian passage refers to the relationship between a husband and wife, a relationship of subordination. There is no contradiction.

In creation, God created man in His own image… male and female (Gen 1:27, 31; cf. Matt 19:5-6). The purpose of this one flesh relationship was to glorify our Creator. (Gen 1:31a) As God said in Gen 3:16b, sin would alter every relationship under the sun, especially the relationship between a husband and wife.

This one flesh relationship was explained when Paul, writing his Church Epistle, compared the concept of the Church to that of marriage. (Eph 5:22-33) The Church and marriage should reflect the image of God. As the Godhead is One, the marriage should be one, and the Church should be one. As the Godhead reflects equality with subordination, so should marriage and the Church. This is the essence of what our Lord prayed in His High Priestly prayer:

I do not ask in behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me. “And the glory which Thou hast given Me I have given to them; that they may be one, just as We are one; (John 17:20-23)