35 Bible Verses about Headship

What are we then to conclude? It is not that there is injustice in God, is it? Of course not! For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on any man that I choose to have mercy on, and take pity on any man that I choose to take pity on." So one's destiny does not depend on his own willing or strenuous actions but on God's having mercy on him.read more.
For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "I have raised you to your position for this very purpose of displaying my power in dealing with you, of announcing my name all over the earth." So He has mercy on any man that He chooses to, and He hardens any man that He chooses to harden. So you will ask me, "Why does He still find fault? For who can resist His will?" On the contrary, friend, who are you anyway that you would answer back to God? Can the clay that is molded ask the man who molds it, "Why did you make me like this?" Has not the potter the right with his clay to make of the same lump one vessel for ornamental purposes, another for degrading service?

After that comes the end, when He will turn the kingdom over to God His Father, when He will put an end to all other government, authority, and power; for He must continue to be king until He puts all His enemies under His feet. Death is the last enemy to be stopped,read more.
for He has put everything in subjection under His feet. But when He says that everything has been put in subjection to Him, He Himself is evidently excepted who put it all in subjection to Him. And when everything has been put in subjection to Him, then the Son Himself will also become subject to Him who has put everything in subjection to Him, so that God may be everything to everybody.

But I want you to realize the fact that Christ is the Head of every man, that the husband is the head of the wife, and that God is the Head of Christ.

Though He was existing in the nature of God, He did not think His being on an equality with God a thing to be selfishly grasped,

because I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of Him who sent me.

Then He walked on a few steps and threw Himself upon His face, and in this attitude continued to pray, and say, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass by me; and yet, I pray, not what I want but what you want."

and He was saying, "Abba [which means 'Father'], anything is possible for you! Take this cup away from me! Yet, I pray, not what I want but what you want!"

"Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me. Yet, not my will but always yours be done!"

Though He was existing in the nature of God, He did not think His being on an equality with God a thing to be selfishly grasped, but He laid it aside as He took on the nature of a slave and became like other men. Because He was recognized as a man, in reality as well as in outward form, He finally humiliated Himself in obedience so as to die, even to die on a cross.

For during His human life He offered up prayers and entreaties, crying aloud with tears to Him who was always able to save Him out of death, and because of His beautiful spirit of worship His prayer was heard. Although He was a Son, He learned from what He suffered how to obey,

Yes, He is the exact likeness of the unseen God, His first-born Son who existed before any created thing, for it was through Him that everything was created in heaven and on earth, the seen and the unseen, thrones, dominions, principalities, authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. So He existed before all things, and through Him all things are held together.

but in these latter days He has spoken to us through a Son, whom He had appointed lawful owner of everything, and through whom He had made the worlds. He is the reflection of God's glory and the perfect representation of His being, and continues to uphold the universe by His mighty word. After He had procured man's purification from sins, He took His seat at the right hand of God's majesty, thus proving Himself to be as much superior to angels as the title He has inherited is superior to theirs.

when He raised Christ from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in heaven, far above every other government, authority, power, and dominion, yea, far above every other title that can be conferred, not only in this world but in the world to come. And so He has put all things under His feet and made Him the supreme Head of the church,

Yes, He is the exact likeness of the unseen God, His first-born Son who existed before any created thing, for it was through Him that everything was created in heaven and on earth, the seen and the unseen, thrones, dominions, principalities, authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. So He existed before all things, and through Him all things are held together.read more.
Yes, He is the Head of the church as His body. For He is the beginning, the first-born among the dead, so that He alone should stand first in everything.

and through union with Him you too are filled with it. He is the Head of all principalities and dominions.

You have put all things under His feet!" Now when He gave Him authority over everything, He did not leave a single thing that was not put under His authority. But as yet we do not see everything actually under His authority,

But, on the other hand, we shall go on holding to the truth and in love growing up into perfect union with Him, that is, Christ Himself who is the Head. For it is under His direction that the whole body is perfectly adjusted and united by every joint that furnishes its supplies; and by the proper functioning of each particular part there is brought about the growing of the body for its building up in love.

for a husband is the head of his wife, just as Christ is the Head of the church, His body, and Saviour of it.

Yes, He is the Head of the church as His body. For He is the beginning, the first-born among the dead, so that He alone should stand first in everything.

Such a person is not continuing in connection with the Head, from which the whole body, when supplied and united through its joints and sinews, grows with a growth that God produces.

He has made known to us the secret of His will, which is in accordance with His purpose which He planned in Christ, so that, at the coming of the climax of the ages, everything in heaven and on earth should be unified through Christ,

for He must continue to be king until He puts all His enemies under His feet. Death is the last enemy to be stopped, for He has put everything in subjection under His feet. But when He says that everything has been put in subjection to Him, He Himself is evidently excepted who put it all in subjection to Him.

Then I saw heaven thrown open and a white horse appeared. His rider was called Faithful and True, and in justice He passes judgment and wages war. His eyes were like coals of fire. On His head were many diadems, and on Him a name was written which no one knew but Himself. He wore a garment dipped in blood, and His name was the Word of God.read more.
The armies of heaven, wearing pure white linen, followed Him on white horses. From His mouth shot a sharp sword, so that He could smite the nations with it. He will rule them with a scepter of iron, and will tread the wine press of the raging wrath of the Almighty God. On His garment and on His thigh He has this title written: King of kings and Lord of lords.

For it was not to angels that He gave authority over that world to be, of which we are speaking. For someone somewhere has solemnly said: "What is man that you should think of him, or the Son of Man that you should care for Him? You made Him inferior to angels for a little while, yet you have crowned Him with glory and honor, you have set Him over the works of your hands,read more.
You have put all things under His feet!" Now when He gave Him authority over everything, He did not leave a single thing that was not put under His authority. But as yet we do not see everything actually under His authority,

Everybody must obey the civil authorities that are over him, for no authority exists except by God's permission; the existing authorities have been established by Him, so that anyone who resists the authorities sets himself against what God has established, and those who set themselves against Him will get the penalty due them. For civil authorities are not a terror to the man who does right, but they are to the man who does wrong. Do you want to have no dread of the civil authorities? Then practice doing right and you will be commended for it.read more.
For the civil authorities are God's servants to do you good. But if you practice doing wrong, you should dread them, for they do not wield the sword for nothing. Indeed, they are God's servants to inflict punishment upon people who do wrong. Therefore, you must obey them, not only for the sake of escaping punishment, but also for conscience' sake; for this is the reason why you pay your taxes, for the civil authorities are God's official servants faithfully devoting themselves to this very end.

For the Lord's sake submit to all human authority; to the emperor as supreme, and to governors as sent by Him to punish those who do evil and to reward those who do right.

You married women must continue to live in subordination to your husbands, as you do to the Lord, for a husband is the head of his wife, just as Christ is the Head of the church, His body, and Saviour of it. Just as the church is subject to Christ, so the married women in everything must be subject to their husbands.

But I want you to realize the fact that Christ is the Head of every man, that the husband is the head of the wife, and that God is the Head of Christ. Any man who prays or preaches with anything on his head dishonors his head, and any woman who prays or prophesies bareheaded dishonors her head, for it is one and the same thing with having her head shaved.read more.
For if a woman will not wear a veil, let her have her hair cut off too. Now if it is a dishonor for a woman to have her hair cut off, or her head shaved, let her wear a veil. For a man ought not to wear anything on his head, because he is the image and reflected glory of God, but woman is man's reflected glory. For man did not originate from woman, but woman did from man, and man was not created for woman's sake, but woman was for man's sake. This is why woman ought to wear upon her head a symbol of man's authority, especially out of respect to the angels. But from the Lord's point of view woman is not independent of man nor man of woman. For just as woman originated from man, so man is born of woman, and both, with everything else, originated from God. You must judge for yourselves in this matter. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with nothing on her head? Does not nature itself teach you that it is degrading for a man to wear long hair, but that it is a woman's glory to do so? For her hair is given her for a covering. But if anyone is inclined to be contentious about it, I for my part prescribe no other practice than this, and neither do the churches of God.

You married women must continue to live in subordination to your husbands, for this is your Christian duty.

You married women, in the same way, must be submissive to your husbands, so that, if any of them do not believe the message, they may be won over without a word through the living of the wives, when they see how chaste and respectful you are. Your adornments must be not of an external nature, with braids of hair or ornaments of gold, or changes of dress,read more.
but they must be of an internal nature, the character concealed in the heart, in the imperishable quality of a quiet and gentle spirit, which is of great value in the sight of God. For this is the way the pious women of olden times, who set their hope on God, used to adorn themselves. They were submissive to their husbands, as Sarah, for example, obeyed Abraham and called him master. You have become true daughters of hers, if you practice doing right and cease from every fear.

We beg you, brothers, to practice showing respect to those who labor among you, who are your leaders in the Lord's work, and who advise you;

Continue to obey and to be submissive to your leaders, for they are ever watching in defense of your souls, as men who will have to give account of their trust. Treat them in this way, so that they may work with joy and not with grief.

So, as a joint-elder with them, a witness of the suffering borne by Christ, and a sharer of the glory that is to be uncovered, I beg the elders among you, be shepherds of the flock of God that is among you, not as though you had to but of your own free will, not from the motive of personal profit but freely, and not as domineering over those in your charge but proving yourselves models for the flock to imitate;

keep on living in subordination to one another out of reverence to Christ.