Journal: Conspectus
Volume: CONSPECTUS 29:1 (Mar 2020)
Article: Ecclesial Hierarchy And Subordination Between Regenerate Men And Women In Public Worship: A Renewed Look At 1 Corinthians 11:2–16 And 14:33b–36
Author: Daniel T. Lioy

Conspectus 29:1 (March 2020) p. 112

Ecclesial Hierarchy And Subordination Between Regenerate Men And Women In Public Worship: A Renewed Look At 1 Corinthians 11:2–16 And 14:33b–36

Dan Lioy1

Abstract

The role of regenerate men and women in the church remains an ongoing, intensely-debated subject within evangelical faith communities. The preceding also includes the narrower issue of church services involving the dynamic relational tension between the genders centred around ecclesial hierarchy and subordination. Pivotal to the preceding disputation is Paul’s discourse in 1 Corinthians 11:2–16 and 14:33b–36 regarding male and female believers in congregational gatherings. My disquisition takes a renewed look at these two passages to discern what they do and do not teach on the topic mentioned above. A key premise is that when these texts are examined within the context of their first-century AD, Greco-Roman setting, Paul taught Christians to observe common cultural conventions of the time regarding the practice of wearing head coverings and maintaining decorum within public worship. A corresponding premise is that the apostle was not mandating a corporate practice that is directly applicable to 21st-century believers, regardless of whether they reside in the global north or the majority world.

Keywords

Corinth; head coverings; public worship; gender identity; hierarchy; subordination; Greco-Roman culture.

Conspectus 29:1 (March 2020) p. 113

1. Introduction

Among researchers well-versed on Paul’s theology concerning men and women, 1 Corinthians 11:2–16 and 14:33b–36 remain an ongoing source of controversy. The following essay, being aware of the dissonant and competing perspectives on these two disputed passages, seeks to contribute to the dialogue from the perspective of a confessional Lutheran who lives in the global north.2 This includes affirming that God created all people to be equal in dignity and worth, yet distinct as male and female in his sacred presence.

My paper deals with various contextual and exegetical insights on the roles of regenerate husbands and wives (and more generally saved males and females) within the first-century AD church at Corinth. The disquisition takes a renewed look at 1 Corinthians 11:2–16, along with 14:33b–36, t...