from his last post<\/a><\/strong>, this one will allow us to get into more detail about the Greek word usage. \u00a0Just remember when we discuss and debate with Mark that we are to treat him with respect and deal with the argument itself. \u00a0This is not the place for an attack on the person, but for a passionate debate on the issues.<\/p>\nI have purposely left this article of Mark\u2019s to be the second one on line since I firmly believe that any issue of word meaning is always dependent on the particular context. \u00a0However it is good to talk about meanings and so this will be the discussion on this post.<\/p>\n
The following is from Mark the complementarian from Australia and interaction with Mark will be in the comment section.<\/p>\n
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<\/p>\n
by Mark the complementarian from Australia<\/p>\n
Preface:<\/em><\/strong> What I hope to address in this short post is the question of whether or not \u2018kephale\u2019 would have been used by Paul in the New Testament to denote a position of authority over another. If it was a possibility was it then Paul\u2019s intended meaning in using this word in 1 Corinthians 11 and Ephesians 5. The interpretation of this word is vital for both the Egal and Comp position to \u2018prove\u2019 their theological standpoint.<\/p>\n1. Let\u2019s first address the Lexicon.<\/em><\/strong> As helpful as dictionaries may be to give a meaning to a word, ultimately it is the context that plays the determining factor. The most accurate and helpful Lexicon which covers the New Testament period, both biblical and non-biblical works, is the Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian Literature by Bauer, Arndt and Gindrich. Let me again note that this is the most accurate Lexicon for the NT period, as its focus is on this specific period. I\u2019m aware that other Lexicons have \u2018source\u2019 as a translation but no other Lexicon focuses primarily on the NT period. Let\u2019s see its entry for \u2018kephale\u2019<\/p>\n\u201c2.fig.-a. In the case of living beings, to denote superior rank\u2026head of the husband in relation to his wife 1 Cor 11:3b; Eph 5:23a. Of Christ in relation to the church Eph 4:15; 5:23b. But Christ is not only of the church, but of the universe as a whole: Eph 1:21 and of every cosmic power: Col 2:10. The divine influence on the world results in the series: God the k. Of Christ, Christ the k. Of the man, the man the k. Of the woman 1 Cor 11:3 c, a, b.\u201d<\/p>\n
So convincingly the Lexicon that deals with NT texts and the NT period does see \u2018kephale\u2019 \u201cto denote superior rank\u201d. Interestingly it does not see \u2018source\u2019 as an acceptable translation for \u2018kephale\u2019 during this period of Greek literature. Also note although some other Lexicons (although not dealing exclusively with the NT period) do see \u2018source\u2019 as \u00a0a possible translation, not one of them has ever listed \u2018source\u2019 as a metaphorical meaning for kephale when applied to persons. When \u2018kephale\u2019 is used in relation to people, the accepted meaning is always one has superiority over another.<\/p>\n
2. One of the most helpful texts<\/em><\/strong> for determining Greek meanings is found in the Greek translation of the OT- LXX. But the question must be asked, does the LXX even have \u2018kephale\u2019 in it and if so, is it used to support either a translation for \u2018source\u2019 or of \u2018superior rank\u2019. Also note the LXX was translated somewhere in the 3rd Century BC. Many scholars on both sides of the debate have recognised that the LXX does use kephale to denote a position in superior rank, even if its usage is limited. For example-<\/p>\n2 Samuel 22:44- You shall keep me as the head of the Gentiles: a people which I knew not served me.<\/p>\n
Psalm 18:43- You shall keep me as the head of the Gentiles: a people whom I knew not served me.<\/p>\n
Isaiah 7:9- The head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah<\/p>\n
There are many others which are debated due to \u2018variant readings\u2019 (Judges 10:18, Judges 11:8, Judges 11:9, Judges 11:11, Isaiah 7:8) so I will not attach them to this post. But none the less it must be concluded that the translators for the LXX saw \u2018kephale\u2019 to denote some sort of authority. That means that Paul\u2019s \u2018bible\u2019 used \u2018kephale\u2019 in this way. Please also note, not once is \u2018kephale\u2019 ever able to be translated as \u2018source\u2019 in the LXX.<\/p>\n
3.<\/span><\/span> Other ancient non-biblical literature<\/em><\/strong>\u2013<\/p>\nHermas Similitudes 7.3- \u201cCannot be punished in any other way than if you, the head of the house, be afflicted.\u201d<\/p>\n
Plutarch, Galba 4.3- \u201cVindex\u2026wrote to Galba inviting him to assume the imperial power, and thus to serve what was a vigorous body in need of a head.\u201d<\/p>\n
Plutarch, Cicero 14.4- \u201c There are two bodies, one lean and wasted, but with a head, and the other headless but strong and large. What am I doing wrong if I myself become a head for this?\u201d<\/p>\n
Post script:<\/em><\/strong> Again there are many more which I could contribute here but the debates over these texts have stemmed for decades now and there is no point repeating them here. The fact is, \u2018kephale\u2019 was used and understood by other ancient Greek writers to denote an authority.<\/p>\nSo whether one looks at Lexicons, The LXX or other ancient literature, it is evidently clear that \u201csuperior rank\u201d was a possible meaning for \u2018kephale\u2019 in the New Testament. Not to mention the ease at which such a definition fits into the biblical framework. Paul was familiar with the LXX as a Jewish Rabbi and could easily have used \u2018kephale\u2019 in this context.<\/p>\n
Let me finish with a challenge for everybody else. At this point I strongly agree with Mr Grudem<\/p>\n
Where is even one clear example of kephale used of a person to mean \u2018source\u2019 in all of Greek literature before or during the time of the New Testament? Is there even one example that is unambiguous?<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s be honest about things. One cannot say they are not closed to what the Bible teaches but yet ignore the bombardment of evidence to support \u2018kephale\u2019 authoritatively. If one chooses to be realistic about the evidence, they will see the error in attempting to understand 1 Cor 11 and Eph 5 as \u2018source\u2019- it is not only wrong, but a distortion of the truth of the bible.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00a0 This post is the second part in a \u201cfirst\u201d for Women in Ministry blog. \u00a0I have never before taken the writing of a complementarian and posted it on my blog. \u00a0 However in order to facilitate dialog, I have agreed to post Mark\u2019s articles so that we can have a jolly good discussion\/debate with those who care to participate on the issue of what \u201chead\u201d means. \u00a0The first part of Mark\u2019s article dealing with the context of 1 Corinthians…<\/p>\n
Read More Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2,22,38,52],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1628","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-1-corinthians-11","category-challenges","category-guest-post","category-opposing-viewpoints"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\nGuest post: Does head mean authority over? - Women in Ministry<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/strivetoenter.com\/wim\/2009\/11\/12\/mark-head-as-authority\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Guest post: Does head mean authority over? - Women in Ministry\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u00a0 This post is the second part in a \u201cfirst\u201d for Women in Ministry blog. \u00a0I have never before taken the writing of a complementarian and posted it on my blog. \u00a0 However in order to facilitate dialog, I have agreed to post Mark\u2019s articles so that we can have a jolly good discussion\/debate with those who care to participate on the issue of what \u201chead\u201d means. \u00a0The first part of Mark\u2019s article dealing with the context of 1 Corinthians... 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<\/p>\n