Corruption of God's Design for Biblical Headship and Submission
The biblical concept of headship and submission, particularly in the context of human relationships, is understood to have been corrupted by the Fall [1]. Before the Fall, humanity existed in a state of innocence, but through disobedience, sin entered the world, leading to a corruption of human nature [10]. This corruption affected not only individual human beings but also their relationships and societal structures.
The Fall, initiated by the temptation of the devil, led to Adam and Eve's disobedience [1, 6]. This act of unbelief was rooted in ambition and pride, as they desired to exalt themselves against God [5]. As a result, humanity became "born in sin," with an evil heart, blinded understanding, and corrupt ways [1]. This inherent depravity means that humans are prone to evil desires and actions [1, 3].
In the context of headship, the original design involved a natural order where the man was considered the head, and the woman was in submission, a concept rooted in the creation narrative where the woman was made from the man [9]. However, the Fall introduced distortions into this relationship. Instead of a harmonious order, sin brought about struggles for dominance and control, as well as resistance to rightful authority. The "mystery of iniquity" is seen as a counter-work to godliness, indicating an ongoing spiritual battle against God's intended order [8].
The corruption of human nature means that individuals often struggle with submission, even to God's will [2]. This is evident in the complaints and murmuring against God that arise from the suffering caused by sin [10]. The desire for personal gain and the dictation of evil desires by those in power further illustrate this corruption [3].
Despite this corruption, the Bible also offers the promise of restoration and sanctification through faith [4]. Through God's promises, believers can become "partakers of the divine nature," which has a sanctifying effect, assimilating them to God [4]. This process involves a turning away from impure ways and a return to a "pure language," symbolizing a renewed relationship with God and a restoration of His intended order [7].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Fall of Man, The — By the disobedience of Adam -- Ge 3:6,11,12; Ro 5:12,15,19. Through temptation of the devil -- Ge 3:1-5; 2Co 11:3; 1Ti 2:14. Man in consequence of Made in the image of Adam. -- Ge 5:3; 1Co 15:48,49. Born in sin. -- Job 15:14; 25:4; Ps 51:5; Isa 48:8; Joh 3:6. A child of wrath. -- Eph 2:3. Evil in heart. -- Ge 6:5; 8:21; Jer 16:12; Mt 15:19. Blinded in heart. -- Eph 4:18. Corrupt and perverse in his ways. -- Ge 6:12; Ps 10:5; Ro 3:12-16. Depraved in mind. -- Ro 8:5-7; Eph 4:17; Col 1:21; Tit 1:15. Without understanding. -- Ps 14:2,3; Ro 3:11; 1:31. ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Resignation — Christ set and example of -- Mt 26:39-44; Joh 12:27; 18:11. Commanded -- Ps 37:7; 46:10. Should be exhibited in Submission to the will of God. -- 2Sa 15:26; Ps 42:5,11; Mt 6:10. Submission to the sovereignty of God in his purposes. -- Ro 9:20,21. The prospect of death. -- Ac 21:13; 2Co 4:16-5:1. Loss of goods. -- Job 1:15,16,21. Loss of children. -- Job 1:18,19,21. Chastisements. -- Heb 12:9. Bodily suffering. -- Job 2:8-10. The wicked are devoid of -- Pr 19:3. Exhortation to -- Ps 37:1-11. Motives to God's greatness. -- Ps 46:10. God's love. -- Heb 12:”
- Micah “Their hands are on that which is evil to do it diligently. The ruler and judge ask for a bribe; and the powerful man dictates the evil desire of his soul. Thus they conspire together. -- Micah 7:3”
- 2 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Peter 1:4: Whereby, &c.--By His glory and virtue: His glory making the "promises" to be exceeding great; His virtue making them "precious" [BENGEL]. Precious promises are the object of precious faith. given--The promises themselves are a gift: for God's promises are as sure as if they were fulfilled. by these--promises. They are the object of faith, and even now have a sanctifying effect on the believer, assimilating him to God. Still more so, when they shall be fulfilled. might, &c.--Greek, "that ye MAY become partakers of the divine nature," even now in p”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 7.18: impunity in contempt of this word, yet arrogate to themselves a chief rank among the worshippers of God. But as God does not manifest himself to men otherwise than through the word, so neither is his majesty maintained, nor does his worship remain secure among us any longer than while we obey his word. Therefore, unbelief was the root of defection; just as faith alone unites us to God. Hence flowed ambition and pride, so that the woman first, and then her husband, desired to exalt themselves against God. For truly they did exalt t”
- Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 3 (introduction): THE TEMPTATION. (Gen 3:1-5) the serpent--The fall of man was effected by the seductions of a serpent. That it was a real serpent is evident from the plain and artless style of the history and from the many allusions made to it in the New Testament. But the material serpent was the instrument or tool of a higher agent, Satan or the devil, to whom the sacred writers apply from this incident the reproachful name of "the dragon, that old serpent" [Rev 20:2]. Though Moses makes no mention of this wicked spirit--giving only the history of the ”
- Zephaniah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Zephaniah 3:9: For--The blessed things promised in this and Zep 3:10 are the immediate results of the punishment inflicted on the nations, mentioned in Zep 3:8 (compare Zep 3:19). turn to the people a pure language--that is, changing their impure language I will give to them again a pure language (literally, "lip"). Compare for this Hebrew idiom, Sa1 10:9, Margin. The confusion of languages was of the penalty sin, probably idolatry at Babel (Gen 11:1-6, Margin, where also "lip" expresses language, and perhaps also religion; Zep 3:4, "a tower whose top may reach u”
- 2 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Thessalonians 2:7: the mystery of iniquity--the counterwork to "the mystery of godliness" (Ti1 3:16). Anti-Christianity latently working, as distinguished from its final open manifestation. "Mystery" in Scripture means, not what remains always a secret, but that which is for a while hidden, but in due time manifested (compare Eph 3:4-5). Satan will resort to a mode of opposition more conformed to the then imminent "appearing" and "presence" of the Saviour, and will anticipate Him with a last effort to maintain the dominion of the world [DE BURGH], just as at His ”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on 1 & 2 Corinthians: And the same thing likewise one may say regarding the woman. For to her also is it a reproach, the not having the symbols of her subjection. “But the woman is the glory of the man.” Therefore the rule of the man is natural. [5.] Then, having affirmed his point, he states again other reasons and causes also, leading thee to the first creation, and saying thus: Ver. 8 . “For the man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man.” But if to be of any one, is a glory to him of whom one is, much more the being an image of him. Ver. 9 . “For neither wa”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 7.7: corruption of human nature; to teach us that Adam was not created to those multiplied miseries under which all his posterity suffer, but that he fell into them by his own fault. In reflecting on the number and nature of those evils to which they are obnoxious, men will often be unable to restrain themselves from raging and murmuring against God, whom they rashly censure for the just punishment of their sin. These are their well-known complaints that God has acted more mercifully to swine and dogs than to them. Whence is this, but t”