you were deficient, yet I praise you that you remember me.' The Corinthians, although backward in following the self- denial and conciliatory conduct of the apostle, were neverthe- less in general mindful of the ordinances or rules which he had delivered to them. The word (TrapaSoo-ts) tradition^ here ren- dered ordinance^ is used not only for instructions orally trans- mitted from generation to generation, as in Matt. 15, 2. 3. 6, but for any instruction, whether relating to faith or practice, and whether delivered orally or in writing. 2 Thess. 2, 15. 3, 6. In reference to the rule of faith it is never used in the New Testament, except for the immediate instructions of in- spired men. When used in the modern sense of the word tror dition^ it is always in reference to what is human and untrust- worthy. Gal. 1, 14. Col. 2, 8, and frequently in the gospels of the traditions of the elders.
3. 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.
Though the apostle praised the Corinthians for their gen- eral obedience to his prescriptions, yet there were many things in which they were deserving of censure. Before mentioning the thing which he intended first to condemn, he states the principle on which that condemnation rested ; so that, by as- senting to the principle, they could not fail to assent to the conclusion to which it necessarily led. That principle is, that order ^nd subordination pervade the whole universe, and is essential to its being. The head of the man is Christ ; the head of the woman is the man ; the head of Christ is God. If this concatenation be disturbed in any of its parts, ruin must be the result. The head is that on which the body is depend- ent, and to which it is subordinate. The obvious meaning of this passage is, that the woman is subordinate to the man, the man is subordinate to Christ, and Christ is subordinate to God. It is further evident, that this subordination is very difierent in its nature in the several cases mentioned. The subordina- tion of the woman to the man is something entirely different from that of the man to Christ ; and that again is at an infinite degree more complete than the subordination of Christ to God. And still further, as the subordination of the woman to the man is perfectly consistent with their identity as to nature, so is the subordination of Christ to God consistent with his being