Letter Series | 1st Corinthians | Interdependence, Glory and Authority (Ch 11 pt 1)
Description
Chapter 11 begins Paul’s second major attack on personal ambition. In 5-10 Paul argues against liberty (or authority) which dominates our discernment and judgment, and he demonstrates the damage it does to the body. He ends with a call to do all things in such a manner that we are fellow partakers in the life of the Gospel. Now he establishes order in the church by placing restrictions on the body. While they have authority, it must be at times set aside because not all things are good for building up the body as a whole, which he established as a priority in the church in the prior section.
Paul’s polemic has been to take various connected and unconnected illustrations (created order, local customs) to discourage division among the sexes, to tamper out paganization of the worship service and to call for orderly practices that edify one another. He believes that men and women play equal but distinct roles in that. Each of us exists because of the other and to have a truly complete worship both are necessary. Both are the image of God, rely on the other, reflect the glory of the other and see the glory of the other.
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