MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5
1 Corinthians 11:7-12
1 Timothy 2:11-15

“The woman is the glory
of the man.”

REASONS FOR MALE HEADSHIP (I)

Paul proceeded to list three reasons for male headship based on the creation account in the book of Genesis:

First argument: Man is the glory of God, while woman is the glory of man (1 Cor 11:7). Both man and woman are created in the image of God (Gen 1:27). However, man is called the glory of God because he was created first and given the divine mandate to exercise authority and dominion over the earth (Gen 1:28-30). Created from the dust of the ground (Gen 2:7), man is the apex of God’s creation.

On the other hand, the woman is called the glory of man because she was created out of man (Gen 2:21-22) to manifest man’s authority, just as how man was made to manifest God’s authority.

Second argument: The woman is of the man, and not the man of the woman (1 Cor 11:8). God could have created Adam and Eve simultaneously. However, He chose to make Adam first from the dust, and then Eve out of a rib of Adam (Gen 2:18-24). “Without Adam, Eve would not have existed” (Khoo).

Third argument: The woman was created for the man, and not the man for the woman (1 Cor 11:9). The woman was created to be a help meet (i.e. appropriate, suitable) for man. None of the animals were suitable help for man, for only the woman was made in the image of God and out of man’s rib.

Nevertheless, Paul reminded his readers in 1 Corinthians 11:11-12 that man must never view himself as superior over woman. Both man and woman are equal in value in God’s sight. Is not man born out of the womb of a woman? Application: Man ought to love and cherish his wife, and not be a dictator over her!

THOUGHT: I must respect God’s creative order.
PRAYER: Father, may Thy church be ordered in Thy way.