Journal: Priscilla Papers
Volume: PP 19:4 (Autumn 2005)
Article: On Whether 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 Allows an Egalitarian Exegesis
Author: Alexander Bearden

PP 19:4 (Autumn 2005) p. 16

On Whether 1 Corinthians 11:2-16
Allows an Egalitarian Exegesis

Alexander Bearden

ALEXANDER BEARDEN graduated from Bethel University in Saint Paul, MN this past spring (2005) with a double major in Philosophy, and Biblical and Theological Studies, as well as a Greek minor. Currently, he is in the Master of Divinity program at Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, NJ.

An unfortunate history of misinterpretation and abuse has surrounded 1 Corinthians 11:2-16. It has been taken out of context and used to suppress women’s involvement in the ministry of the church. The egalitarian interpretation, however, finally perceives this verse, not as a tool of oppression, but as one with a helpful cross-cultural message. At the outset of my paper I will disclose the three most prominent complementarian objections to an egalitarian interpretation: (1) the hierarchy Paul describes in v. 3 lays out a subordinating chain of command, (2) the word “authority” in verse 10 takes a passive meaning and thereby refers to the husband’s authority over the wife, and (3) that while women do not have to wear head coverings today they still need to pray and prophesy in a manner that is submissive to male leadership in the church.

My desire to separate these objections from the body of my article is for the sake of clarity. The body of the study will focus on the egalitarian interpretation only, which I will demonstrate can be fully justified from the text itself. Although there are certainly disagreements between egalitarians, the thrust of my presentation will consider these rather than attempt to create a dialogue between them and complementarian approaches.

Before coming to the body of the text I make two arguments from authority. First, I note that Galatians 3:27-28 serves to remind us that in Christ distinctions based on gender are irrelevant. The second is a reminder of the evangelical commitment to the infallibility of Scripture. I take Galatians 3:28 as the starting point for all interpretations of passages pertaining to men and women’s relationship. The heart of the article will discuss the world behind the text, first of all, to clarify the author, audience, historical circumstances, and social and cultural considerations. The world of the text, where I will clearly show the egalitarian interpretation, focuses on the literary context, structure, flow of the argument, situational context, main concerns, and key words. Lastly, the world in front of the text helps us clarify how this pericope can be reapplied to our own understanding and faith in light of our own cultural considerations. Thi...