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Pathways Through Paul
Daily Devotional
July 27
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Today's Pathway:
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Paul is continuing his discussion of Headship, and dealing with one aspect of that in particular: head coverings. We saw yesterday that Paul wrote that the man is the glory of God and the woman is the glory of the man. In verses 8-9 he explains why,
"For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man".
As we mentioned yesterday, Adam was created from the dust of the earth, but Eve was created from Adam's rib. Therefore, Adam did not come from Eve, but Eve came from Adam. Paul emphasizes this in I Timothy 2:13 where he writes concerning leadership in the church,
"For Adam was first formed, then Eve."
Then in verse 9 Paul adds that Adam was not created for Eve, but Eve was created for Adam. It is obvious that Adam was not created for Eve because she was not around when Adam was created. But in Genesis 2:18 it reads,
"And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him."
Richard Lenski wrote,
"God made 'a woman' for Adam, but not 'a man' for Eve. God could, indeed, have created both man and woman, Adam and Eve, in one undivided act. Today many think and act as though God had really done so. But the fact is otherwise."
Dave Guzik adds,
"Eve was created to be a helper to Adam, meaning that Adam was “head” over Eve, and she was called to share and help his vision and agenda. Genesis 2:22 says, 'He brought her unto the man'. Adam was not brought to Eve, but Eve was brought to Adam—her head. It is an idea offensive to the spirit of our age, but the Bible in this passage clearly teaches that man was not made for the benefit of woman, but woman for the benefit of man."
So, because of the husband's headship, the woman is to cover her head when she is involved in public prayer.
Paul now gives a second reason in verse 10. Angels are being taught as they observe believers. Ephesians 3:10 states,
"To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God."
The church instructs angels, and since the question at hand deals with public prayer in the church, angels are being taught the wisdom of God even by how men and women dress when they pray. John MacArthur wrote,
"It is proper for a woman to cover her head as a sign of subordination because of the angels, in order that these most submissive of all creatures will not be offended by non-submissiveness."
Jack Arnold adds,
"Angels are looking to see if Christian women will acknowledge the leadership and authority of their husbands, having an attitude of subordination and submission."
In verse 11 Paul wants to make sure that the Corinthians understand that "authority and submission" between the husband and the wife does not mean "superiority and inferiority". Though the husband and the wife have different roles, both are necessary, and spiritually equal before God. Galatians 3:28 states,
"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."
Once again John MacArthur comments,
"In His work, women are as important as men. Their roles are different in function and relationships, but not in spirituality or importance. Men and women are complementary in every way in life, but particularly in the Lord’s work do they function together as a divinely ordained team. They serve each other and they serve with each other."
Then in verse 12 Paul reminds both men and women that, while the first woman may have come out of the first man, every man since then has come out of a woman, his mother! So men and women need each other. In the final phrase he notes that everything has come from God. This includes the design of marriage and the relationship between the husband and the wife. God put the family together (Matthew 19:6), and He did it in the way that was best (Genesis 1:31).
We will conclude this section tomorrow.
Pastor Mark J Montgomery
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