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Post by Admin on Dec 29, 2014 7:32:19 GMT
A cornerstone of traditional role religionist and complementarian theology is 1 Corinthians 11:3 which reads, “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.” In this passage, most expositors lay a faulty foundation for all other study based upon the verse by confusing headship with lordship. In this chapter, does "head" mean "headship?" Is there any difference between headship and lordship?
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Post by jocelyn andersen on Jan 6, 2015 6:11:59 GMT
The Greek word, aner (Strong's reference "G 435"), translated in 1 Corinthians 11:3 as "man," most often refers to males-- but not always.
There are enough usages of the word in the New Testament referring to persons of both sexes, that it could be argued that the first reference in 1 Corinthians 11:3 could very well be a reference to mankind in general--not just to males.
The verse is clearly referring to Christ as creator, and says he is the head of "every" man [person?].
A brief glance at the following references confirms that the Greek word, aner, must be translated according to context. It does not automatically mean "male."
The Greek word, aner, is used as a generic reference to "people" whether male or female in the following verses:
Matthew 7:24 The wise man [person] builds on the rock (has it ever been suggested that this verse is speaking only to males?)
Matthew 7:26 The foolish man [person] builds on the sand (")
Mathew 12:41 The men [people] of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation...
Luke 11:31 The Queen of the South shall rise up in judgment with the men [people] of this generation...
John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man[kind], G435 but of God.
Acts 3:12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men [people] G435 of Israel, why marvel ye at this?
Acts 19:35 And when the town clerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men [people] G435 of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?
Romans 4:8 Blessed is the man [person] G435 to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
Romans 11:4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men [persons], G435 who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man [an adult], G435 I put away childish things
Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man [? definitely not perfect "male"], G435 unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
1 Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men [people] G435 pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
James 1:8 A double minded man [person] G435 is unstable in all his ways
James 1:12 Blessed is the man [person] G435 that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
James 1:20 For the wrath of man[kind] G435 worketh not the righteousness of God.
James 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man[person] G435 beholding his natural face in a glass:
James 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man[person], G435 and able also to bridle the whole body.
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Post by Greg Hahn on Jan 30, 2015 1:05:17 GMT
That's an interesting idea, Jocelyn. I've never thought of that before. I think that its weakness is with the word gune (Woman- Strongs G1135) present in the same verse. Paul seems to be comparing the aner and the gune- the man and the woman. I think we're on more solid ground if we study the word Kephale - head. There is very solid evidence that Paul did not have authority in mind when he used that word, because the fact is- the Greeks didn't use or understand the word in that way. One has to be careful which lexicon (dictionary) she uses, as many of them unfortunately are tainted with patriarchal bias. Even the revered Bauer-Arndt-Gingrich lexicon shows some of that bias. Here is a blockbuster study on the word Kephale. It shows pretty clearly that "head" in the New Testament almost certainly could not have referred to authority or rule. As to "headship" - I'd say that when people use that word the might mean "lordship" , but the word headship isn't in the Bible so it's difficult to comment on.
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tl
New Member
Posts: 12
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Post by tl on Feb 2, 2015 20:40:09 GMT
I consider both points valid. But yes, the larger problem is viewing kephale as referring to authority which it does not. In fact almost all uses of kephale do NOT refer to authority neither in ancient use in society nor in the NT.
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Post by jocelyn andersen on Feb 24, 2015 17:11:14 GMT
As to "headship" - I'd say that when people use that word the might mean "lordship" , but the word headship isn't in the Bible so it's difficult to comment on. You are so right! And that is one of the difficulties in generating true study and communication on the subject. Complementarians have created a plethora of words, terms, and concepts that are not found in the Bible--in either the Hebrew or the Greek--so we have the added burden of mastering a new, uniquely complementarian, language in order to contend for the faith on this issue.
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Post by Ian Robinson on Feb 27, 2015 14:39:22 GMT
Having thoroughly researched this scripture and the other so-called scriptural authorities for male leadership for a book that I have written, I can categorically state that there are no biblical grounds whatsoever that substantiate this doctrine. Two bishops of Alexandria, Athanasius (296-373) and Cyril (376-444) interpret kephale as 'source' in their expositions on 1 Corinthians 11.3. They were much closer to the original biblical texts and way more fluent in the ancient Greek language than any of the contemporary scholars of today; their interpretation of kephale is far more likely to be the correct one. Also, to interpret kephale metaphorically as 'authority' leads to a very dangerous doctrinal position that declares that women are only led indirectly by Jesus through a man. It adds an extra spiritual authority between them and their Lord, which competes with and usurps God’s place in their lives. Rather than developing their relationship with God and learning to hear His voice in order to be led by Him, this doctrine leads women to become more concerned with the voice of the man who commands her, rather than God. Quite bluntly, men as flawed, mortal human beings will quickly get into control and manipulation of women, and can use the doctrine as a license to do what they please, while the women have 'to put up or shut up'!
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Post by jocelyn andersen on Feb 27, 2015 18:48:33 GMT
Great insight Ian. Thank you for sharing and for registering. I look forward to hearing more from you.
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