1 Corinthians 11:3
But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.
The apostle Paul comments here on the natural authority that he has established between God and a married couple. It’s worth noting that this section of 1 Corinthians is directed towards husbands and wives, not men and women in general. From the beginning of chapter 11 through to verse 16 he is only referring to husbands and wives; so it wouldn’t be wise to apply this passage to all men and women in general.
He says that the “head” of every man is Christ, meaning Jesus Christ is the authority over a married man. Jesus ranks above him, as a head is above the rest of the body.
Then, in marriage, the husband has authority over the wife. Even Jesus Christ has someone in authority over him, God the Father. But before we dismiss this whole notion as absurdly authoritarian and closed-minded, let’s recognize that Jesus is equal to God in deity (John 1:1), but not in the roles they play. Jesus affirmed over and over again that God the Father had authority over him, yet he claimed that they were “one” (John 10:30), that they shared some kind of equality and their relationship was fair and filled with joy. Paul mentions the Son and the Father to draw a picture of this kind of authority, where there is equality, but also a certain order of authority.
The contention with this verse and with this idea shouldn’t be that it is unnatural or bad, but that men and women have been unsuccessful in making it work the way it was intended to. If husbands exercised the authority they have over their wives in the way God the Father exercises his authority over his Son, Jesus, marriages across the world would be fair and filled with joy, and we would all glorify God through the beautiful picture of marriage. Sadly, this just doesn’t happen. We’re fallen. No matter how hard we try, we wrong one another and use authority improperly.
Let’s touch on head coverings for a moment. In Paul’s day, Roman custom had married women wear a sort of covering on their heads. Whether it was some kind of veil, or scarf, or shawl, or hair design, or a fancy hat, I’m not sure. What I know is that Paul is talking about the cultural practice that shows the marital status of women. This is not the same practice that we have in 21st century America to publicly display marital status. If Paul were writing this letter to a church in North America, 2012 (which, in a way, he certainly did; but anyway…) he probably wouldn’t talk about head coverings, but would instead say that if a woman chooses not to wear her wedding ring in public she disgraces her husband and scorns the authority he has over her. The principle of male leadership in marriage remains, but the cultural expressions of how we identify married couples will vary and change across cultures and time.
Paul continues to unpack this argument, saying in verse 7 that “a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man.” This term “glory” is better understood as “one who shows the excellence of” (ESV Study Bible). So verse 7 is best understood by saying, “(man) is the image of God and shows the excellence of God, but woman shows the excellence of man.” Paul is not denying that women are also made in the image of God, and he’s not saying that women don’t reflect God’s glory; again, let’s keep it in the context of marriage. Basically, if a marriage is operating the way it was designed to, people will see the wife and in her God-honoring lifestyle she will show the world that her husband has an excellence (or glory) to him that she respects and loves. Then, people should look to the husband and by the way he fairly leads his wife and worships God, he will show the world that God is excellent and glorious through the way he leads them both in marriage.
It really gets me looking at my own life and asking myself, “What am I doing with the authority God has given me as a husband?”, “Do I put Christ in his rightful place as the authority over me and my life?”, “Is my wife happy to speak well of me and bring me honor because of the way I lead her?”
Tough, challenging questions!
Lord, give me the eyes to see my life honestly and to adjust it courageously, not defending my flaws and weaknesses or covering up my sins. Show me what must change, and may I be found faithful to your word.
