1 Corinthians 11

This can be a sensitive subject..........However, there should be an understanding and belief about God’s Word that is so solid that whatever is taught or revealed in Scripture is to be understood and believed to be inspired by God through His Holy Spirit. With that being the case, it is our authority!

This teaching of Paul’s is about issues in this particular church that are not known specifically but evidently was at issue.

In it’s basic, simple, short understanding it is about the Divine design of the role of men and women. This practical design creates a structure within the family and the church that is powerful in the world.

Satan is feverishly involved in upsetting the divine order any way he possibly can. And it’s clear, as you study the Bible, that God has a divine order in society related to man and woman. And of course that is manifest in marriage, it’s manifest in the Church, and it’s manifest in every dimension of human life. And God’s basic pattern is there are two factors in society: authority and submission. And God has designed that men be given the position of authority, and women the position of submission.

Like that or not.....it is God’s Divine order and you can take it or leave it but it is what is best for society and the life of a marriage , church, and community!

Of course this Divine order of men in position of authority and women in a position of submission has been abused, throughout the years!

It doesn’t mean that men abuse their authority.........The idea is that men be leaders, leading their family, church, community into a better way!

There are many examples of this and I have witnessed some.

There have been many over the years think that the church is stupid for teaching this Divine order, because some have abused their “authority”.........

Those would and have used Scriptures like Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Also, they use 1 Peter 3:7 “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”

From these verses they promote the fact that there is no such thing as authority and submission between men and women either in marriage, in the church, in business, in education, or any other dimension.

In fact, there are many people who definitely and strongly feel that Paul was nothing but a male chauvinist.

That is true.........however, while I live in Christ there are roles for the individuals and that is how Paul starts this chapter off.....

We still must live in this world until we are called out and there must be a Divine order of living for God through Christ.

Again, some folks have negative opinions about the apostle Paul, some (“Christians”) even believe that he was not inspired by God. Just shooting off his mouth.

1 Corinthians 14:37 “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.”

So, either he is a liar or he is not......you must choose!

I state most emphatically that he is inspired.......not because I like this particular teaching, but of verse 1.........Paul was being an imitator of Jesus Christ, a true follower!

Verse 2.......Some say Paul speaks sarcastically here......he has before about the Corinthian church, but others believe that he is finding something that he can truly praise them about, to begin a rebuke.

Basically, praising them for trusting him in asking him these questions....also, trusting in the Divine order of things.

Verse 3.......This is the basic order of life, as we live it today.....this is the hierarchy of living.....

God is the Head of Christ

Christ is the Head of man

Man is the head of Christ

The phrase is basically stating who the submissive is under, as far as authority or basically who they follow.

John 6:38–40 “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Jesus also gives great detail in the hierarchy in John 4:34 “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.”

Submitting to the Father’s will.

John 5:30 “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”

This is the truest statement and practical understanding of being the submissive!

“My judgement is just, because he does not seek His own will, but the will of the Father, Who sent Him in the first place”

These verses are from the example that we follow........God is the top of authority, Christ follows God because He is God the Son.....However, we see God the Son doing everything that the Father sent Him to do........Why does Jesus fulfill the Father’s will?

Because, it is the just/right way! The way that is best for all!

Men are the next in line, mind you these are with the understanding that the man is following Christ.........if not then the man’s hierarchy is not legitimate! I believe that is why we have had issues with this in the church and in society.

Christ and the man are a submissive, as well, everybody has their role and those roles are important, but the grand design in the order is strength......

Keep in mind this leadership/authority should be spiritual, now that will also guide us in worldly matters to as well.

I like what I heard said about the founding father’s idea of freedom of religion......They did not want the church to run the country, but for Godly men to come from their worship of God and their submission to Christ and lead the country.

That is the epitome of how the Divine order works.

Ephesians 5:23 “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.”

This is an example of marriage but this is the example of being the “Head of” and that example is Christ being the “Head” of the body just as He is the Savior of the body.

A preacher stated it this way.......... “Now, listen, it’s simple. Think of it this way: if Christ does not submit to the Father, then redemption is not accomplished. Man is lost; he is doomed; and God is at war with Himself if the Son does not submit..................

If man, on the other hand, does not submit to Christ, then man is lost. His destiny is denied, and judgment falls on him.

If woman does not submit to man in the family, the family is shattered, and society is wrecked.

So, God is saying, “These are the principles, everybody. There is a submission principle between man and man, between man and God, between God and God. It pervades everything.

Verse 4-16.......Before we finish out this section let me try and set up some historical things.....One preacher wrote that apparently the Corinthian church were not clear on this hierarchy/Divine Order. There must have been a “women’s liberation” movement going or something of the effect.

The preacher went on to say: “Now, we don’t know how involved it was, and there’s been a lot of discussion and studying history to try to figure out how far it had gone in Corinth. But at least it hadn’t gone so far that they were smug and indifferent about it. At least they’re asking the question here in chapter 11. They had asked Paul to answer this question, undoubtedly, because this is the section of 1 Corinthians where he is answering the questions they asked in the letter to them – to him I should say. So, at least they’re open. And we don’t know how far – but apparently, they had at least had to – some kind of a Christian feminist movement.”