The New Creation (Studies in the Scriptures, Series VI), “Man and Woman in the Divine Order / Man's Headship Not a Tyranny”
“When we read in Genesis, as a part of the curse or sentence upon mother Eve, and indirectly upon all of her daughters, the words, “Thou shalt have desire unto thy husband, and he shall rule over thee,” and then look to see how this rule has been exercised throughout the world, we find that in many instances it has been a rule of tyranny, and that the strength of mind and of nature of the fallen man has not infrequently been exercised to the injury, instead of to the comfort and advantage of the wife and children. All good, noble men and women must deprecate such a condition of things; nor can we suppose that such an abuse of power is anything but offensive and ignominious in the sight of the Creator.”
A later chapter of the same book sets out the headship teaching from 1 Corinthians 11:3 and, on p. 491, denies any suggestion ‘that man is a master and woman his slave’; the sub-heading ‘MAN’S HEADSHIP NOT A TYRANNY’ stands on that page. The chapter condemns husbands who misuse their position, and on p. 497 tells husbands to seek a wife’s views while reserving the decision to the husband: ‘This does not mean that seeking the wife’s counsel means in all cases obedience to her views: it is for the husband to weigh, to consider, to balance, to decide.’
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Provenance and verification note for The New Creation (Studies in the Scriptures, Series VI), Man and Woman in the Divine Order / Man's Headship Not a Tyranny
Confidence note. Read in the Internet Archive scan on 19 September 2026, leaf by leaf. The page was fixed from the running heads printed on the leaves themselves: the quoted sentences fall between the head ‘492 The New Creation.’ and the head ‘Marital and Other Privileges and Obligations. 493’, so they sit wholly on p. 492. The quotation begins at the start of its own sentence, so nothing is cut from its head. The context and notes passages were read on the leaves whose heads read ‘Marital and Other Privileges and Obligations. 491’, ‘496 The New Creation.’ and ‘Marital and Other Privileges and Obligations. 497’, and the pages field has been widened from 491-493 to match what this record actually quotes.
Scan provenance. Same Internet Archive scan of the '364,000 Edition' printing.
Corroborated by. src-wom-nc-1904-womans-province
Notes. The same volume states on p. 496: ‘no woman should marry a man beneath her in character and talents’ and ‘no man should marry a woman his superior’.
Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-wom-nc-1904-headship-not-tyranny