There are some things in the Bible that contradict one another, but there is one phrase that hits me, "Judge for yourself". It's amazing how most of us overlooked this short statement! I think Paul refused to give us a solid answer because he probably don't! It is as if he is saying, "I don't know, all I know is this or that... judge for yourself."
If you read the entire chapter carefully, you will see how smoothly Paul had switched from one point to another! I think he skillfully turned us from the man laws into God's grace throughout this chapter. We got to be extra carefully when we read Paul's skillfully letters! In fact, Peter warned us, "There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destriction, as they do the other Scriptures." (2 Peter 3:16)
"Don't, by the way, read too much into the differences here between men and women [that also applies to the young and the old, married and singles, Jews and Gentiles, etc]. Neither man nor woman can go it alone or claim priority. Man was created first, as a beautiful shining reflection of God—that is true. But the head on a woman's body clearly outshines in beauty the head of her "head," her husband. The first woman came from man, true—but ever since then, every man comes from a woman! And since virtually everything comes from God anyway, let's quit going through these "who's first" routines." -1 Cor 11:10-12 MSG
Sometimes we got to stop trying to figure out who's better than one another or who has more authority over one another. We all may forget that Jesus is the head of every man, but He came here to serve (as in under) every man! What does it means to have an authority when one is here to serve? Quit debating about who comes first for we bring division in a Church when we do that. BUT the good news is that God used the division to bring something!
"I hear that there are divisions among you... For there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized."
Jesus is head of every man and woman. YET, Jesus served US! Meaning what? Jesus set example for us, that we can be leaders at same time serve others. That is why the emphasize of being Christian is to serve others, meaning developing relationships with others without setting man's law because we are under God's grace! WOW, good observation, Sister Kari!
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