Kephalē
The meaning of “head” in 1 Corinthians 11 is controversial. After all, the entire passage is replete with difficulties.
In First Century Greek, “head” can refer to the highest or most prominent part of something, to the beginning, to the extremities or ends of something, or to life.
And, of course, Paul was free to coin his own metaphors, discernible from context.
Kephalē in Ephesians
In Ephesians, written many years after 1 Corinthians, we see Paul using “head” to refer to the relationship of Christ to “all things” —
(Eph 1:22-23 ESV) 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Jesus is “head over all things” The NET Bible translators helpfully translate —
(Eph 1:22 NET) And God put all things under Christ’s feet, and he gave him to the church as head over all things.
The two phrases are a Hebraic parallel. That is, “God put all things under Christ’s feet” parallels “gave him to the church as head over all things.” Paul is repeating his image from Eph 1, where he pictures Christ on his heavenly throne, with all rule, dominion, power, authority, and rule under his feet, and with the church seated on the throne with Christ, as his body.
“Head” certainly refers to authority, but the emphasis in on Christ’s authority over all who opposed him for the sake of the church. That doesn’t mean that Jesus isn’t Lord over the church — he is! — but Paul is making a different point.
Obviously enough, if Jesus has been placed over all rule, dominion, power, and authority, his reign must be contrasted with the reign of those defeated by God and placed under his feet. The point isn’t that Jesus has greater rule, dominion, power, and authority, but that the cross defeats its antitypes, that submission and service overcome worldly power.
Unity with God and Christ
In Ephesians, we’re repeatedly told to imitate Christ, so that we might enjoy a spiritual unity with Christ.
(Eph 4:13 ESV) 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
The goal is unity and knowledge of Christ, maturity that brings us to become like Christ — in full measure.
(Eph 4:15-16 ESV) 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
We are to “grow up … into him who is the head, into Christ … [who] makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” We are to become more united with Christ, the head, as Christ builds us up.
(Eph 4:20-24 ESV) 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ! — 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
We are to “put on the new self” that has been “created after the likeness of God” (a reference to Genesis 1:26-28), so that we are like the true righteousness and holiness of God himself.
(Eph 4:30-32 ESV) 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
We are to forgive us as Jesus forgave us. We are to become like Jesus.
(Eph 5:1-2 ESV) Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
We should imitate God, just as earthly children imitate their earthly fathers. And we are to imitate Christ — by becoming like him in his sacrifice to God.
We become like God by becoming like Jesus by learning to sacrifice ourselves as Jesus sacrificed himself. That is, Jesus most truly reveals the nature of God in his self-sacrifice, and in this respect, we are to imitate him.
(Eph 5:18-21 ESV) 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
We should allow God’s Spirit to fill us. If we do, the Spirit will produce in us singing, thanksgiving, and submission — because it is the nature of Christ to submit and to acknowledge God’s gifts in all things.
(Eph 5:25-27 ESV) 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
Christ’s purpose is to present the church to Christ as his bride in splendor — a splendor acquired by Jesus’ sacrifice for her, so that she might be holy. The bride of Christ gains her holiness by the cross.
(Eph 5:28-30 ESV) 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body.
The church is the very body of Christ, beloved by Christ as his bride, and so he nourishes and cherishes the church.
(Eph 6:5-8 ESV) 5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.
We are to obey Christ from the heart, rendering service in good will, because we know that Christ rewards those who do good.
Submission
Is there submission in our relationship with Christ? Well, yes, there is. But it is not a relationship of power built on fear or punishment. Rather, it’s about being transformed to become like Jesus.
It’s not merely obedience, but being changed to be united with him. Hence, while we imitate God and follow the example of Jesus, they strengthen and empower us by the Spirit, who fills us and empowers us.
Nothing could be more unlike earthly power relationships. It’s not about getting my way but having my way conformed to the way of God. It’s not about being under power, authority, dominion, and rule, but defeating those things by the cross and grace.
Therefore, whether we are discussing Ephesians or 1 Corinthians, when we are told that Jesus is the “Head,” the point is never merely that he is king and we are his servants. It is that he is the ultimate Servant, and we follow him as servants.
But it’s also that he is King and that we follow him as kings. [to be continued]
Jay said,
“Is there submission in our relationship with Christ? Well, yes, there is. But it is not a relationship of power built on fear or punishment. Rather, it’s about being transformed to become like Jesus.”
I’m not disagreeing with you here, nor am I suggesting you’re getting this wrong. However, there’s an implication here that seems a contradiction to me. And by seems, I’m referring to the total of Biblical text on the idea of authority/head.
Regarding a relationship of power built on fear or punishment, I would suggest that a successful military actually reveres, loves and submits to their “superiors in rank,” not because they are afraid of them, but because they respect and trust them and follow them because they work in concert of a common objective. I don’t “fear” Jesus because of the terrible things he might do to me if I fail, but rather because of His loving sacrifice, His crucifixion, His teachings, His forgiveness.
Is it not possible for someone to possess full authority, including a controlling responsibility, but at the same time be the source of sustaining? Why must these two concepts be in opposition? I see them as complementary and both required by the proper understanding of the word “head.” Has the average reader of Scripture gotten this wrong since Genesis was written?
I’m not a Biblical scholar as many are who comment here might be. But, it seems to this non-scholar that the discussion is trying to wordsmith the word “head” and playing too much semantics with it. Given the fact that regular guys like me reading the NASB or the NIV don’t have extensive training in Greek and Hebrew, is this discussion that far beyond my comprehension that I simply am unable to understand all the nuances of the Greek word “kephale?” Must I be taught the correct meaning of the word by a Greek scholar or can the Scriptures supply that understanding without external aid of an academic interpreter? If I do require guidance from a scholar on this to get this right, then why should I not just quit studying for myself ANY of Scripture because if this problem exists, surely there are myriads of others and it is simply not possible for me to understand Scripture as a “layman.” Should I just rely on those in “authority” who teach like the early church did before NT Scripture was available or as it was during the Middle Ages when most people could neither read nor write?
I’m not yet convinced by the arguments made so far that “head” meaning authority/hierarchy of responsibility are not the correct definition of the term. However, I’m also convinced that “head” does also mean sustainer and caregiver, just as it would in how I would see the general or commander of an army.
I understand the purpose of Jay’s posts here is ultimately to determine whether women can serve in positions of “authority” such as a minister, evangelist or elder/pastor. Does the answer to that question rely solely on the understanding of the meaning of “kephale” cannot mean authority or hierarchy order of control?