1 Corinthians 11:3

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 11:3

The hierarchy. Before entering upon particular counsels with regard to the attire of the two sexes respectively in the Christian assemblies, St. Paul lays down a great general principle, from which, rather than from custom or from experience, he deduces the special duties devolving upon the members of Christ's Church. The case upon which he was consulted, and upon which he gave his advice, has lost all practical interest, and is to us merely an antiquarian curiosity; but the great... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 11:3

The headship of Christ. "The head of every man is Christ." It may be of the man as distinct from the woman that the apostle here speaks, but the truth asserted is one in which all human beings, without regard to sexual or any other distinctions, are alike interested. The relation in which we each and all stand to Christ, or rather in which Christ stands to us, is one that surmounts and absorbs into itself every other relationship. As the vault of heaven surrounds the world, and the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 11:3-16

The man and the woman. "But I would have you know," etc. Although there are some things in these verses that perhaps no one can rightly interpret, and that may have been written as personal opinion rather than as Divine inspiration, there are two or three points in relation to man and woman interesting and noteworthy. I. THERE IS BETWEEN THEM A SUBORDINATION IN NATURAL RELATIONSHIP . "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 11:3

But I would have you know - “I invite your attention particularly to the following considerations, in order to form a correct opinion on this subject.” Paul does not at once answer the inquiry, and determine what ought to be done; but he invites their attention to a series of remarks on the subject, which led them to draw the conclusion which he wished to establish. The phrase here is designed to call the attention to the subject, like that used so often in the New Testament, “he that hath ears... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Corinthians 11:2-3

1 Corinthians 11:2-3. Now I praise you, brethren That is, the greater part of you; that you remember me That you bear in mind all my directions; and keep the ordinances Observe the rules of public worship in most points; as I delivered them to you Formerly. But I would have you know As if he had said, Yet I must further inform you respecting some things wherein you are defective in your attention to these rules. Consider, in particular, the subordination of persons appointed by God... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 11:2-16

11:2-34 ORDER IN PUBLIC WORSHIPWhen women pray or prophesy (11:2-16)Paul had heard from the visitors from Corinth of disorder in the public worship of the church. To start with, some of the Corinthian women were speaking in the church services without the veil over their heads. This was shameful by current social standards in that part of the world. Paul argues that Christians do not have to show their new-found freedom by rejecting the local customs of politeness and etiquette. In fact, these... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Corinthians 11:3

would . App-102 . have you = that you should. know . App-132 . Compare 1 Corinthians 10:1 . In the rest of the verse are the Figures of speech Anaphora and Climax. App-6 . man . App-123 . woman . In this clause woman means wife, and man husband. Compare Ephesians 5:23 . God . App-98 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 11:3

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 the threefold step from woman to man to Christ to God, it may appear surprising that Paul began with the center stop; but there seems to have been a design in this. Paul, who was about to speak of the subordination of woman to her husband, would first speak to man with a reminder that he himself is subordinated to Christ the Lord. In Ephesians 5:22-33, Paul made... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Corinthians 11:3

1 Corinthians 11:3. And the head of Christ is God— When God is said to be the head of Christ, it relates to office constitution; and we can no more infer thence, that they are not partakers of the same divine nature, than that man and woman are not of the same human nature, when the man is said to be the head of the woman: but as there is a difference in order and authority between the man and the woman; so there is between God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ, in that constitution, by which... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 11:3

3. The Corinthian women, on the ground of the abolition of distinction of sexes in Christ, claimed equality with the male sex, and, overstepping the bounds of propriety, came forward to pray and prophesy without the customary head-covering of females. The Gospel, doubtless, did raise women from the degradation in which they had been sunk, especially in the East. Yet, while on a level with males as to the offer of, and standing in grace (Galatians 3:28), their subjection in point of order,... read more

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