20160726 Tuesday, July 26 2016
1 Corinthians 11: The Battle Of The Sexes

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it ... I speak concerning Christ and the church"

The apostle Paul is often a favorite target of today's-world feminists (female and male) because they misinterpret his greater view of women as merely the age-old "battle of the sexes" that was instigated by Satan in the Garden of Eden (see also How Did Adam And Eve Sin Differently?). Satan has since even further advanced his "battle of the sexes" to include mock "marriage" between a man and a man, or a woman and a woman (that even atheists can recognize as anti-nature - it has nothing to do with "religion") - a defective psychological spirit of confusion that those suffering from will one day be joyously liberated (see The Cure For Confusion).

In reality, Paul had great respect for women, including the many women who were prominent servants of the LORD with Paul (see What Did The Apostle Paul Really Think Of Women?).

Moreover, Paul's teachings about marriage and women were based upon the ultimate view, not only as a matter of the opportunity for personal salvation for women that is identical to that of men ("3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 3:28 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. 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" Galatians 3:26-29 KJV), but why the Church, the people of the LORD, who are referred to as a "woman" (see the Fact Finder question below) are subject to the authority of the LORD - because He created everyone, that has ever existed, for the purpose of their Salvation (see The Birth Of The Bride).

So why did Paul say what he did? Because Paul wasn't merely talking about anyone's temporary physical existence.

"5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church." (Ephesians 5:25-32 KJV)

"11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

11:2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.

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. 11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 11:5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. 11:6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. 11:7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. 11:8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. 11:9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 11:10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.

11:11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. 11:12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. 11:13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. 11:16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God." (1 Corinthians 11:1-16 KJV)

So too the observance of Passover that has been mocked and perverted in so many ways (see What Really Happened At Passover? and The Days Of Passover: Why Observe The True Christian Holy Days?).

"11:17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. 11:18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. 11:19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. 11:20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. 11:21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. 11:22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.

11:23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 11:24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 11:25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

11:27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 11:29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 11:30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

11:33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. 11:34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation.

And the rest will I set in order when I come." (1 Corinthians 11:17-34 KJV)

Fact Finder: What does "church" actually mean? Why does the LORD refer to the Church as a "woman"?
See the series of studies (the links to all are in each one) beginning with The Church In The Garden