Thoughts on Patriarchy

I have received some complaints that my interaction with Phil Ryken (see below, 1/29/07) on patriarchy represents a capitulation on the issue of biblically-mandated male leadership.  My comment on use of the term “patriarchy” was made more or less in passing, so it may be helpful for me to expand a little.

My basic point was that the word “patriarchy” down-loads some ideas that go beyond the biblical warrant for male leadership.  What I meant by that is that Old Testament patriarchy (Abraham, etc.) involved the leadership of the senior man over an extended family, including grandchildren, daughters-in-law, etc.  As I understand things, male leadership properly extends to one’s own family.  When I place one of my daughter’s hand into the arm of some young man in the wedding ceremony, my headship over her ends — it is transferred to her husband.  Likewise, when my sons marry, I do not believe I will have biblical warrant for exercising authority over their families.  I do not know if anyone is advocating such things today, but my point is that the term “patriarchy” invokes (for me at least) some of these social arrangements.