EVERY PERSON HAS A HEAD

1 Corinthians 11:1-3 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. 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.

Paul ended the previous chapter of this letter to the church at Corinth by saying, Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved (Vss. 32-33). As a servant of Jesus Christ, and God, His Father, Paul assumed the responsibility of proclaiming God's word, as far as possible, throughout the known world, to all people, both Jew and Gentile. This he accomplished through inoffensive teaching and an exemplary manner of life. By doing so, he was able to write, be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Like Paul, members of the church of Christ at Corinth, as well as all Christians today, are to follow his example. Why? Because he is following Christ, and, thus, they should also be following Christ. In doing so, they would not be seeking to please themselves, but their conduct of life would be bringing the hope of salvation to all they could possibly influence, by the things they say and do. As Paul followed the inspired instructions of Christ, so all Christians should follow Paul's example.

As was his manner of teaching the word of God, Paul praised the congregation at Corinth, then, afterwards admonished them with strong words designed to reunify the membership that appeared to be divided over many issues. This he did through his preaching in their presence, and, when absent from them, through the inspired letters sent to them that corrected misunderstandings and exposed false teaching. These were the things, Paul said, they were to remember. These were the ordinances they were to keep as I delivered them to you. This is God's will, and His will can only be obeyed when all understand, and accept, the "head" that, by God's design, is over them. Paul gives the hierarchy of this headship in verse three of the lesson text. As use here, "head" means a master - one having the final authority.

Other definitions could be ruler, chief, or director. However, master seems to be the broader, more all-inclusive concept, and the better definition. Here, Paul says, 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. Although this teaching has universal application, it is evident that Paul, in the context of this letter, was using it to teach the line of authority within the kingdom of God, His church. First of all, the entire letter was written to instruct Christians that made up the church at Corinth. And, secondly, the body of this letter, both before, and after the lesson text, was written by Paul to correct a number of errors that were causing division within the church in this city.

Without a doubt, Paul says that God is head over all. Within this hierarchy, God is the only one mentioned that was never a human being - only heavenly. With the exception of Adam and Eve being created by God, all others were earthly beings - people born of women - people that inhabited the earth. Under God, we have His Son, Jesus Christ; under Christ is all mankind; within mankind, woman is under man. Thus, Every person has a head. From the beginning of time, this was the design of God, our Creator, who is the ultimate Head of the hierarchy of all life. This line of authority, duty, and responsibility appeared to be a problem with the church at Corinth. And, here, Paul was correcting any misunderstanding that may have existed. It was a problem that existed then, and it is a problem that exists today, throughout the world.

God and Jesus are Father and Son. The New Testament, including the words of Jesus (See John 5:19-47), attest to this fact. This alone establishes God as the Head of Christ. Indeed, God has given Christ authority over all creation, and, in doing so, Christ became the Head of all principality and power (Col. 2:8-10). God put all things under His feet, but God specifically gave Him (Christ) to be the Head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all (See Eph. 1:19-23). Human authority over the church was given to husbands, married men, in the form of elders (See 1 Tim. 3:1-7, Tit. 1:7-9). And finally, the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church (See Eph 5:22-24). Within the body of Christ the application is not limited to wives, but to all women. Adult Christian men are responsible for teaching and conducting worship services of the church. Women are to learn in silence with all subjection, (they are not) ...to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence (1 Tim. 2:11-12). Within the church of Christ, every person has a head!