The meaning of the Greek word kephalē (most commonly translated ‘head’), in 1 Cor 11:3 has been debated extensively among evangelical commentators for years. However, among professional lexicographers there is no debate. Standard professional lexicons do not include the meaning ‘source, origin’ for kephalē here as understood by some egalitarians, nor do recognized authoritative lexicographers debate whether the word carries a fundamental meaning of ‘source, origin’ or ‘chief, ruler’.
Despite the years of egalitarian arguments and claims of new evidence, none of the standard lexicons has accepted the egalitarian definition of the word kephalē,[1] although a number of the standard professional lexicons have been updated recently with additional lexicographical information derived from additional lexical studies or the discovery of new sources.[2] Furthermore, standard lexicons and dictionaries specifically identify kephalē as having meanings such as ‘first, superior rank, pre-eminent status, leader, master, head’ in the very passage under discussion, 1 Cor 11:3.
[1] An entry in LSJ9 has been cited by egalitarians as evidence for their understanding of kephalē, but the editor of the lexicon has explained that this was not the intended meaning of the entry (which has been misinterpreted), that the entry was badly worded, and that the meaning ‘source’ for kephalē as asserted by egalitarians does not exist.
[2] BDAG, 541; L&N, 1:738; Balz & Schneider, 1:285; Friberg & Miller, 4:229; Kittel, Bromiley & Friedrich, 3:679.
1st Peter: Some New Testament Allusions