Man, insofar that the headship is vested in him, stands in a position of precedence in

the man-woman relationship for the present economy (this not being mistaken with the

idea that he himself has any precedence, there being no respect of persons with God).

This position involves him in certain responsibilities and authority which woman is

expected to recognize under the term "subjection" (I Cor. 14: 34; Eph. 5: 22-24;

Colossians 3: 18; Titus 2: 5; I Pet. 3: 1-6).  (The word "obedience" in the Authorized

Version of I Cor. 14: 34 and Titus 2: 5 is the same Greek hupotasso as in the other

passages.) For either man to fail to take this position allotted to him (Adam's failure), or

woman to usurp it (Eve's failure), can only mean a dishonouring both of the Word and

the Lord Himself. This is especially serious in the light of the fact that the relationship

between husband and wife is used in Scripture as a picture (perhaps a pale one) of that

between Christ and the church:

The meaning of man's headship in specific terms will be interpreted in the lives of

those who seek the Lord's honour according to their understanding of their respective

positions before Him.  Husband and wife will conduct their lives "as unto the Lord",

"in the fear of Christ" (Eph. 5: 21, 22 R.V.), and the knowledge that their relationship in

`one flesh' is a picture of Christ and the church, should add to the carefulness of their

With regard to the unmarried, difficulties have already been expressed concerning the

fulfillment of the positions of man and woman in their relationship to each other. Again

specific walk will be determined as before the Lord, and no godly man or woman will

have any desire to do anything which seems to detract from God's original intention in

creating "male and female" and allotting to them particular positions in His good