¹¹Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. ¹²For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.

11:11

Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman,

Here is a warning to men against abuse of authority. Verses 10 and 11 emphasize mutuality and interdependence between the sexes. There is always a tendency to over-interpret or under-interpret Scripture. Although women are subject to men, they are not inferior to men. Leadership does not indicate superiority over or slavery to men. Some men may deem that they are autonomous and have no need for women. Chauvinism is a violation of roles between men and women. Feminism is also a violation of roles. Although men and women differ in God’s organizational roles, this does not mean that they go independent of each other. They are interdependent because they complement each other. They mutually depend on each other because a woman needs masculinity and a man needs femininity.

nor woman independent of man, in the Lord.

Oneness completes a marriage. Autonomous individuality undermines unity in marriage. Nowhere does the Bible say that a man has authority because he is superior to the woman intellectually, spiritually, or in leadership. Men and women are codependent on each other. It is “very difficult” for a child to be born to one parent! God made men masculine (initiative) and women feminine (responders).

11:12

For as woman came from man,

Eve came from (literally, out of, from the source of) Adam because God created Adam first.

even so man also comes through woman;

Since Adam, every male has come from a female. There is an equality of worth in male and female.

but all things are from God.

Whether male came from female or female came from a male, all came from God and are subordinate to Him. The woman is not an inferior being to the male but placed strategically in God’s administrative order, just as the Holy Spirit is under the Son, and the Son is under the Father in the administrative order of the Trinity (11:3; Jn 16:7). Women and men mutually depend on each other, and both depend on the Lord.

Ga 3:26, There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

PRINCIPLE: 

God created the roles of men and women to complement each other.

APPLICATION: 

A woman has authority in her own right by virtue of creation, but she should not leave her role in femininity to reject the headship of males. It is only as we accept authority that we possess authority. Authority does not preclude equality. Jesus was a man under authority.

Authority comes from being under authority. Submission of the woman to her husband’s authority gives her authority. As soon as a woman resents her husband’s authority, all her femininity is lost. A woman who plays a man’s role will lose her femininity and develop masculine characteristics going against her nature. When she goes against her nature, she will become miserable and develop further bitterness against her husband.