1 Corinthians 11:3 (KJV)
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.
A Vital Topic for a Unified Church
The role of women in the church is a vital issue for building a fireproof church that reflects God’s design for unity and order, as explored throughout this book’s exposition of 1 Corinthians. In Chapters 11 and 14, we addressed the Lord’s Supper and orderly worship, touching on Paul’s instructions regarding women in 1 Corinthians 11:1–16 and 14:26–40. These passages, often debated due to their cultural and theological complexity, require careful study to honor God’s Word amidst Corinth’s chaotic context and today’s cultural pressures. This appendix offers a focused exploration of women’s roles, affirming their active participation while upholding the divine order of headship established in creation. By grounding our understanding in Scripture and informed by evangelical scholarship, we aim to foster a church where all members—men and women—contribute to the body’s edification under Christ’s authority.
The Corinthian Context: Order Amid Cultural Chaos
As detailed in Chapter 1, Corinth was a Roman colony steeped in competition and status-seeking, with a culture that valued public displays of prominence (Keener, 1997, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, p. 459). This ethos infiltrated the church, leading to disorderly worship where believers, including women, competed for attention through spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 14:26–33).
Greco-Roman norms often restricted women’s public roles, yet some Corinthian women may have overstepped these boundaries, asserting authority in ways that disrupted worship (Fee, 1987, The First Epistle to the Corinthians, NICNT, p. 699). Paul’s instructions in 1 Corinthians 11 and 14 address this chaos, not to silence women but to ensure worship reflects God’s created order, promoting unity and edification (Carson, 1994, New Bible Commentary, p. 1172).
Women’s Participation in Worship
Paul affirms women’s active role in worship: “But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven” (1 Corinthians 11:5, KJV). Far from prohibiting speech, Paul assumes women will pray and prophesy publicly, provided they do so with a “covering” symbolizing submission to God’s order (Grudem, 2004, Evangelical Feminism and Biblical Truth, p. 223). Prophecy, in the early church, often involved direct revelations, but with the New Testament’s completion, it is now the proclamation of Scripture, a task open to all believers, including women, in appropriate settings (Fee, 1987, p. 589; see Chapter 14). Examples like Priscilla, who instructed Apollos alongside Aquila (Acts 18:26), and Philip’s four daughters, who prophesied under their father’s authority (Acts 21:9), demonstrate women’s significant roles in sharing God’s truth (Keener, 1997, p. 384).
These examples refute any notion that women were excluded from speaking. Rather, Paul’s concern is the manner of their participation, ensuring it aligns with the divine order to avoid the chaos seen in Corinth’s competitive worship (Thiselton, 2000, The First Epistle to the Corinthians, NIGTC, p. 830). Women today can teach and share Scripture in settings like women’s groups or informal discussions, provided they respect the church’s leadership structure, as Priscilla did under Aquila’s partnership.
The Principle of Headship
Paul grounds his teaching in creation: “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” (1 Corinthians 11:3, KJV). The Greek term kephalē (head) denotes both authority and source, reflecting the order in Genesis 2 (Grudem, 1985, JETS 28:3, pp. 275–294). In Genesis 2:7, God forms man from the dust, breathing life into him, and in Genesis 2:21–22, He creates woman from man’s side: “And the man said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man” (Genesis 2:23, KJV).
Woman is man’s equal, a “help meet” (ezer, Genesis 2:18, KJV), designed as a partner to stand shoulder-to-shoulder, yet under man’s leadership in specific contexts (Carson, 1994, p. 1168). This headship is not about superiority but responsibility.
In Genesis 3:6, Adam’s failure to lead allows Eve to be deceived, disrupting God’s order, with Adam compounding the error by blaming her (Genesis 3:12). Paul calls the church to reflect creation’s order in worship, ensuring men and women work together to edify the body. The phrase “because of the angels” (1 Corinthians 11:10, KJV) likely refers to angelic witnesses who observe worship, expecting it to reflect God’s design (Ephesians 3:10; Keener, 1997, p. 473).
Head Coverings: Principle vs. Custom
In Corinth, a head covering symbolized a woman’s submission to her husband or father: “For if 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” (1 Corinthians 11:6, KJV). An uncovered head or shaved hair could signal immodesty or defiance in Corinthian culture, akin to rejecting her role (Fee, 1987, p. 512). Paul’s concern is not the custom of veiling but the principle it represents: submission to God’s created order. He notes mutual dependence: “Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God” (1 Corinthians 11:11–12, KJV), affirming equality in value (Thiselton, 2000, p. 841).
This distinction between principle and custom is key. Just as the “holy kiss” (1 Corinthians 16:20) or wine in communion reflects cultural practices we adapt today (e.g., handshakes, grape juice), head coverings are not mandatory but the principle of submission remains. Women today honor this by respecting church leadership and God’s design, not necessarily by wearing veils (Carson, 1994, p. 1170).
Silence and Submission in Worship
Paul addresses disorderly worship in 1 Corinthians 14: “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for a woman to speak in the church” (1 Corinthians 14:34–35, KJV). This “silence” does not mean total muteness, as 11:5 allows women to pray and prophesy. Rather, it likely addresses disruptive speech, such as interrupting to evaluate prophecies, which was a role reserved for male leaders in Corinth’s context (Fee, 1987, p. 705). The call to ask husbands at home suggests private discussions to maintain order, fostering unity as couples address questions together (Thiselton, 2000, p. 1152).
Paul emphasizes that this principle applies “as in all churches of the saints” (1 Corinthians 14:33b, KJV), indicating a universal standard of order, not a Corinth-specific rule (Grudem, 2004, p. 245). Women are not to exercise authoritative teaching or correction over men in public worship, but they can contribute through prayer, prophecy, or teaching in settings like women’s groups, as seen with Priscilla (Acts 18:26). Submission is a voluntary choice (hupotassō, to submit willingly), not forced oppression, reflecting Christlike humility for the church’s flourishing (Ephesians 5:21; Fee, 1987, p. 708).
Application: Building a Fireproof Church
Paul’s instructions challenge the church to reflect God’s order while valuing women’s contributions. Here are three ways to apply these truths:
- Honor God’s Created Order: Men and women should embrace their roles, with men leading responsibly and women submitting voluntarily, reflecting the unity of Genesis 2:24.
- Encourage Women’s Participation: Welcome women to pray, share Scripture, and teach in appropriate settings, as Priscilla did, ensuring their gifts edify the church under proper authority.
- Pursue Orderly Worship: Conduct services that prioritize edification and peace, as discussed in Chapter 14, with all members contributing in ways that honor God’s design.
Conclusion: A Church That Honors God’s Design
In Corinth’s competitive culture, Paul called the church to worship in a way that reflects God’s created order, balancing women’s active participation with the principle of submission. This fosters a unified, fireproof church where all members work together to glorify Christ. By grounding our practices in Scripture, we build a church that stands firm against cultural pressures, honoring God’s Word as Paul commanded: “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 14:37, KJV).