For 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 was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.

1 Corinthians 11:2-16

For 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 was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 1 Corinthians 11:7-9

I continue my study of 1 Corinthians, moving on to an assisted review of 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary volume for this book.  From the commentary for this text:

Main idea: "God’s instructions, not past experiences, must govern Christian worship if it is to be pleasing to him."

Key excerpts from the introduction:

• Based on a view of man and woman as "complementary" - see John Piper on this topic; the commentary quotes The Danvers Statement and the Nashville Statement: 
• Both Adam and Eve were created in God’s image, equal before God as persons and distinct in their manhood and womanhood (“Danvers”). 
• Distinctions in masculine and feminine roles are ordained by God as part of the created order (“Danvers”).  
• WE AFFIRM that divinely ordained differences between male and female reflect God’s original creation design and are meant for human good and human flourishing. WE DENY that such differences are a result of the Fall or are a tragedy to be overcome (“Nashville,”article 4).
• The Old Testament, as well as the New Testament, manifests the equally high value and dignity which God attached to the roles of both men and women (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:18; Galatians. 3:28). 
• Both Old and New Testaments also affirm the principle of male headship in the family and in the covenant community (Genesis 2:18; Ephesians 5:21-33; Colossians 3:18-19; 1 Timothy 2:11-15) (“Danvers”). 
• Redemption in Christ aims at removing the distortions introduced by the curse. 
• In the family, husbands should forsake harsh or selfish leadership and grow in love and care for their wives; wives should forsake resistance to their husbands’ authority and grow in willing, joyful submission to their husbands’ leadership (Ephesians 5:21-33; Colossians 3:18-19; Titus 2:3-5; 1 Peter 3:1-7) (“Danvers”). 
• In the church, redemption in Christ gives men and women an equal share in the blessings of salvation; nevertheless, some governing and teaching roles within the church are restricted to men (Galatians 3:28; 1 Corinthians 11:2-16; 1 Timothy 2:11-15). (“Danvers”). 
• WE AFFIRM our duty to speak the truth in love at all times [Ephesians. 4:15], including when we speak to or about one another as male or female. WE DENY any obligation to speak in such ways that dishonor God’s design of his image-bearers as male and female (“Nashville,” article 11).
• Such statements sound countercultural (and they are!) in a society awash in so much confusion about gender and sexuality.
• First Corinthians 11:2-16 beautifully complements these principles as it provides a Trinitarian lesson for the proper roles of men and women in corporate worship. Seven principles are set forth for our instruction.  

Major divisions:

1. We Must Honor the Principle of Divinely Ordained Authority (11:2-3): Paul begins on an encouraging note to affirm a basic principle of the gospel as he seeks to correct errant Corinthians' views on Biblical manhood and womanhood. "The basics of the gospel were not Paul’s creation. He passed on, as we must, the good news he had received. Paul then, in verse 3, lays down the basic theological truth that will serve as the foundation for the remainder of this section[.]"  We are also referred to Ephesians 5:23. "The issue of male headship is taught to apply to the home and church, yet Scripture nowhere teaches male headship in general with application to the whole of society. And the issue is one of function, not essence. It is an issue of assignment, not nature. We know this because men and women, husbands and wives, equally bear the image of God. They are equal in essence and essential being. Further, and more importantly, Christ the Son is equal in essence and essential being to God the Father. This is classic and biblical Trinitarianism.  Now, there is one caveat. Christ, as Son of God, is essentially superior to man (husbands) as well as superior in spiritual authority over him. That truth is also taught throughout the whole of inerrant and infallible Scripture. So, to summarize our foundation verse by way of paraphrase, this is what Paul is saying: We must understand that the spiritual authority over every man is Christ, the spiritual authority for a wife is her husband (or a father for an unmarried daughter), and the spiritual authority of Christ (God the Son) is God (the Father). There is no inferiority in submitting to one’s divinely ordained head. It is for humanity’s good and the glory of the triune God."  
   
2. We Must Honor the Principle of Proper Social Expectations (11:4-6): "These verses address the specific topic that demands Paul’s attention: proper adornment in public worship....The Corinthians consistently blended together elements of the Christian faith with practices from their pagan past....Confused interpretation influenced by their pagan background likely influenced the practice addressed in 1 Corinthians 11 as well.  By interpreting Christian claims against their own pagan background, they perverted and distorted the Christian faith [on gender roles]."
   
3. We Must Honor the Principles of Glory, Creation, and Purpose (11:7-9): "The greatest thing in all of creation that brings glory to God is man (humanity). Similarly, the greatest and most magnificent thing that ever came out of a man is his female counterpart....Further, as Genesis 2:18 teaches, God made the woman as “a helper corresponding to [the man],” someone that perfectly fits and complements him. Again, all of this points to the essential Christocentric nature of authentic worship." 
   
4. We Must Honor the Principles of Angelic Observation and Submission (11:10): "First, angels, like us, were created to glorify God (Ps 148:2). Second, angels delight in worshiping and serving God (Rev 7:11-12). Third, angels gladly submit to the authority of God in all things (Ps 103:20). Fourth, angels attend our worship services and observe what is going on (Rev 1:20). Fifth, they celebrate when we worship properly and are disappointed when we don’t (Acts 12:23). Therefore, we should be sure to worship in a God-glorifying way because our fellow servants, the angels who minister to us (Heb 1:14), want to join us in humble, proper worship that focuses on Christ and honors and glorifies our heavenly Father (cf. Isa 6:2-3)."
   
5. We Must Honor the Principle of Interdependency (11:11-12): "There is no superiority of men over women or women over men. There is a divine design of both complementarity and interdependence."
   
6. We Must Honor the Principle of Nature (11:13-15): "The point, however, is clear. Men should look like and be easily recognized as men, and women should look like and be easily recognized as women. There should be no gender blurring or gender confusion."
7. We Must Honor the Principle of Common Practice (11:16).

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves and gave me my wife Lisa in marriage as an interdependent helper to raise Godly children - thank You Jesus!  I am blessed.  Yet I have fallen down and continue to fall down in my role as spiritual leader of the household.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.