1 Corinthians 11:11-12

Scripture: 1 Cor. 11:11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman;

1 Cor. 11:12 for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God. 

Teaching: Paul is still teaching under the theme of Christian liberty, and giving practical illustrations of how that liberty is lived with respect and honor to God. Continuing with the theme of men and women’s roles in God’s created order, Paul elucidates his previous illustration, that the husband is the head of the wife in the created order (v. 4-10). He begins this section with, “Nevertheless” (showing the connection to these previous verses), and then asserts that woman is not independent of man nor man of woman, citing that just as woman was made from man (in the beginning), so now man is born of woman (from the natural human birth process, as designed by God, as well). Thus, all things are from God. The NASB translation interprets the end of verse 12 better, saying “And all things originate from God.”

God has designed reproduction to require one man and one woman, and both are equally important in the process. So, while a husband has authority in his family and under Christ, Paul says that does not mean that the wife is spiritually inferior nor that she must go through her husband to reach Christ. Thus, the husband authoritative relationship to the wife is not a commentary on a wife’s access or relationship to Christ. 

Takeaway: Paul famously says in Galatians 3:26-28, “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” He means here that there are no distinctions between those with access and relationship to Christ as children of God; all have the same access to Christ as another. Paul echoes that sentiment here in 1 Corinthians 11:11-12. Paul does the same in the book of Philemon, encouraging Philemon to accept back his former slave, Onesimus, as an equal and brother in Christ, as Paul has discipled Onesimus while in prison and now knows him to be a believer in Christ. This concept of equality in Christ is all over the Bible and is worth meditating on regularly, especially when we have disagreements. One application to think on today is this: the Lord does not only speak to the husband to provide counsel — He speaks to the wife, as well. Husbands should not be quick to assert authority without recognizing that his wife has equal access and relationship to Christ.