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No.2.
Man, Woman and Equality.
pp. 103 - 108
It has so far been observed that in considering the God-ordained positions of man and
woman, the most basic truth to be kept in mind is the thought of order. God, in His
wisdom, has determined overall arrangement, and it behoves all to both know what that
place is, and then to live in obedience to it. Such order is the basis for determining the
right relationship between man and woman, as they both obviously have a part in it,
according to God's present economy. To ignore or rebel against God's order is to court
disaster and dishonour Him.
The "arrangement revealed in Scripture.
To pretend to know where every part of God's creation fits into His purposes would
be to go beyond what Scripture has revealed, but enough has been written to "know in
part".
Angels are seen to be messengers and ministers of God, in a passage which contrasts
the superior position of the Son (Heb. 1: 6-8 quoting Psa. 104: 4). They are particularly
associated with Israel in Scripture, being present at the giving of the law (Acts 7: 53;
Gal. 3: 19), figuring prominently in the Second Coming of Christ to that same people
(Matt. 16: 27) and mentioned frequently in those parts of Scripture where Israel's hope is
dominant (e.g. Hebrews, Revelation, Acts. cp. also Dan. 12: 1).
Principalities and powers are seen in their relationship to Christ as Head over all
things; He being "far above all principality and power . . . . ." and "the Head of all
principality and power" (Eph. 1: 20-23; Col. 2: 10). These beings are associated with
heavenly places (Eph. 3: 10).
Mankind, in relation to the earth, were given:
". . . . . dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every
living thing that moveth upon the earth" (Gen. 1: 28; Psa. 8: 4-8).
Something of the responsibility and authority of mankind can be felt from the
command given them to "subdue" the earth; a word (Heb. kabash) translated in
II Chron. 28: 10 "to keep under", and perhaps suggesting the possibility that were
mankind not to exercise their responsibility, then disorder would ensue.
The Apostle Paul, in I Cor. 11: 3, brings together three aspects of God's order, in a
passage in which the relationship between man and woman is touched upon:
"But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the
woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God."