Torch, Summer 1978

HEADSHIP In Ephesians 5:22 and 23, the husband is shown to be the head of the wife. As a basis for this position, Paul appeals to analogies within the authority of God the Father. This divine headship is seen in relation to His incarnate Son (I Cor. 11:3), and to His creative activity in producing woman from man (I Cor. 11 :3). Reference is also made to Christ's headship over the church (Eph . 5:22,23) . Headship thus designates the authority and power or leadership that a husband exercises by virtue of God's creative order. Emphasis on headship is seen in greater detail in I Corinthians 11 as social structures in God's household are outlined . In verse three, Christ is revealed to be the head of every man . This is because "through Him are all things, and we exist through him" (I Cor. 8:6) . The man is the head of the woman because "man does not originate from woman, but woman from man" (I Cor. 11 :8) . Of course, God is the head of all because "all things originate from God" (I Cor. 11 :12). In summary, headship contains the idea of a creation order including the concepts of source as well as origin . The result is a biblical teaching of creation to indicate the relation which a husband should sustain in regard to a wife. In correspondence to the husband's headship is the biblical teaching concerning the wife's submission (Eph . 5:22) . The basic mean ing of the word submission is "placing one's self under the authority of another." The wife is, therefore, in some sense, a follower or respecter who is subject to her husband (Eph . 5:22; Col. 3:18). Further, the New Testament word for subjection indicates "that which is ordered, ranked, or placed in rows ." The Scriptures reveal that God is the originator of all rank and order. All of the "orders" of time and creation have their source in Him (Rom. 13 :1) . There are six types of subjection mentioned in Scripture which confirm this important concept : 1. Citizens are to be subject to civil authorities (Rom. 13:1; Titus 3:1) . 2. Employees are to be subject to their employers (Titus 2:9) . 3. Church members are to be subject to their leaders and to one another (I Cor. 16 :16; Eph. 5:21) . 4. Children are to be subject to their parents (I Tim . 3:4). 5. The church is to be subject to Christ (Eph . 5:24) . 6. Wives are to be subject to their husbands (Eph . 5:22; Col. 3:18) . All of these "over and under" relationships are designed by God to preserve an orderly society in which mankind may function . The New Testament instruction for the wife to place or rank herself under her husband is included . She is to recognize his headship position and submit to it. 5 However, the Bible presents headship and submission as the outworking of the sovereign wisdom of God. He designed roles as well as relationships (Rom. 13:1,2). Consequently, it is profitable to explore headship and submission as they relate to one another. Rfl.ATIONSHIP As the husband and wife function in their God -given roles, they are to maintain proper attitudes and interpersonal relationships. The Scriptures outline the authority patterns for men and women . However, the Bible warns against using that authority improperly (Eph . 5:22ff; Col. 3:18,19; I Pet. 3:1-7) . Several passages give the emphatic command for husbands to love as Christ loved the church, not to be bitter, and to honor their wives . Wives are inst ructed to respect their husbands. They are to submit "as to the Lord" and as the church submits to Christ. The husband's tendency, because he is affected by sin, is to exert authority in a callous and over-bearing manner, disregarding the person and feelings of the one who is under his authority. But the New Testament says to husbands, " . .. live with your wives in an . understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman; and grant her honor as a fellow-heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered" (I Pet. 3:7, NASB).