The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 11:3 that life works best with Christ in authority over man, a husband in authority over his wife (cf. Ephesians 5:22) and God in authority over Christ. This is the divine order. Now the apostle Paul knew that some of the Corinthians would get the wrong idea about the divine order, so he gave them five illustrations to make his meaning clear. In this post we'll look at his second illustration.
Illustration #2: Creation
In 1 Corinthians 11:7-9 Paul writes, “A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.” When Paul says that man is the glory of God that simply means that Adam came from God (Genesis 2:7). And when Paul says that woman is the glory of man that simply means that Eve came from Adam (Genesis 2:22). Paul is saying that the creation account in Genesis 2 illustrates the divine order that he stated back in verse three. That is, God is in authority over Adam because Adam came from God. In the same way, Adam is in authority over Eve because Eve came from Adam. You could follow his logic by adding that children are under the authority of their parents because children come from their parents. It's as if Paul is saying: You are under the authority of whoever you came from. Adam came from God so Adam is under God's authority. Eve came from Adam so Eve is under Adam's authority.
Illustration #2: Creation
In 1 Corinthians 11:7-9 Paul writes, “A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.” When Paul says that man is the glory of God that simply means that Adam came from God (Genesis 2:7). And when Paul says that woman is the glory of man that simply means that Eve came from Adam (Genesis 2:22). Paul is saying that the creation account in Genesis 2 illustrates the divine order that he stated back in verse three. That is, God is in authority over Adam because Adam came from God. In the same way, Adam is in authority over Eve because Eve came from Adam. You could follow his logic by adding that children are under the authority of their parents because children come from their parents. It's as if Paul is saying: You are under the authority of whoever you came from. Adam came from God so Adam is under God's authority. Eve came from Adam so Eve is under Adam's authority.
Now in referencing the creation account Paul brings to mind another great example of the disastrous consequences that come when husbands and wives rebel against their God ordained roles in the family. Let me explain...We read in Genesis 3:1-6 that "...the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
In this passage Eve shows no respect for her husband as the God appointed leader of the home when she goes ahead and makes an independent decision regarding the eating of the fruit. But Eve isn't the only one to blame. We also observe in this passage a passive Adam who failed to lead his wife and himself in the ways of the Lord. Here we have complete role reversals! Instead of Adam leading Eve in godliness with her supporting him, we find Eve leading Adam in sinfulness with him supporting her! And what are the consequences? Sin enters the world and along with it sickness, suffering and death - for the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
Friends - in keeping with the divine order the husband is to lead his family according to God's will and the wife is to follow him as he follows Christ. When the wife tries to usurp her husband's role as leader (as Eve did) the consequences are disastrous. Look at it this way...
- How many CEO's does a company have?
- How many Lead Pastors does a church have?
- How many Captains does a boat have?
- How many Head Coaches does a sports team have?
- How many Popes does the Catholic church have?
- How many Presidents does a country have?
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