1 Corinthians 11:11-16: a reflection

11Nevertheless, neither is the woman independent of the man, nor the man independent of the woman, in the Lord. 12For as woman came from man, so a man also comes through a woman; but all things are from God. 13Judge for yourselves. Is it appropriate that a woman pray to God unveiled? 14Doesn’t even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? 15But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her, for her hair is given to her for a covering. 16But if any man seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither do God’s assemblies.

In the middle of a passage about customs of dress that were specific to that culture, Paul states a principle that reaches far beyond it: in the Lord, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman; for as woman came from man, so man is now born through woman. And then the phrase that grounds it all: but all things are from God.

Notice the mutual dependence Paul insists on. Neither is independent of the other; each comes, in some way, through the other. He deliberately cuts off any claim to self-sufficiency or superiority on either side. Man and woman need each other, are bound up with each other, come from and through each other. No one stands alone or self-made. And above the whole arrangement stands the truth that levels every pride: all things are from God. Everyone and everything traces back to him.

There is humility built into that vision, and it is worth carrying beyond the specific question Paul was addressing. None of us is independent, self-sufficient, self-made; we come through others and, ultimately, from God. The pride that imagines it owes nothing to anyone, that stands alone, is an illusion. All things are from God, and we are bound to one another in his design. Receive your life, and the people you depend on, as gifts from the God from whom all things come, and let it keep you humble and grateful, dependent by design.

Lord, in the Lord neither is independent of the other, and all things are from you. Cut off my pride that imagines I am self-made and owe nothing to anyone. Remind me that I come through others and ultimately from you, and make me humble, grateful, and glad to be dependent by your design.