As a Christian, baptized in 1987, I've noticed there are topics in Scripture which I've left untouched, not exactly knowing how to handle them.
One of these topics is "the headcovering of women" as can be read in 1 Corinthians 11.
When I started my (Dutch) blog in August 2008 I knew I had to write an article on this topic. Now, more than two years later, it was brought to my attention once more. Whatever the consequences may be: here are my findings on 1 Corinthians 11.
Let's take a look at the beginning of the first letter for the Corinthians:
“Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:1-3 King James 21st Century)
This letter was not written for the Corinthians exclusively, but for all Christians, wherever they may be, no matter what culture or moment in time. The inspiring Holy Spirit knew (and knows) that these words were at least to be read until the return of our Saviour. This is important to realize when we study Chapter 11. Although this topic is only mentioned once in the New Testament, like the topic of handling "speaking in tongues" in Chapter 14, we have to handle this topic seriously. After all, we do desire to hear our Lord say:
“...‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Thou hast been faithful over a few things; I will make thee ruler over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy lord.’” (Matthew 25:21 KJ21)
Before we continue, let's not forget that for almost two thousand years women did, and still do, wear headcoverings during mass or church service.
Over the centuries, the church of Christ has obeyed Scripture regarding this topic.
Can it be that feminism and women emancipation are cause of the fact that many women stopped wearing long hair and/or headcoverings?
Let's start with Chapter 11:
“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things and keep the ordinances as I have delivered them to you.” (1 Corinthians 11:1-2 KJ21)
Paul asks the church in Corinth, including Jews and Greeks, to follow his example, just as he follows Christ. At the same time he praises them regarding the keeping of the doctrines.
Then in verse 3 the apostle brings to their (and our) attention:
“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.” (1 Corinthians 11:3 KJ21)
No matter how hard we try to come up with deviating arguments, perhaps based upon modern thinking: the hierarchy, ordered by the Almighty, cannot be denied and has to be abided.
That being said, we now encounter the actual topic:
“Every man who prayeth or prophesieth, having his head covered, dishonoreth his head. But every woman who prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoreth her head, for that is one and the same as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, inasmuch as he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of the man.” (1 Corinthians 11:4-7 KJ21)
Ouch, aren't these harsh words?
A man is not allowed to cover his head during prayer or prophesy. Why not?
"as he is the image and glory of God"
A woman, on the contrary, must cover her head otherwise she will dishonour her head and will be compared with a shorn or shaven female.
Nowadays women can wear the most exotic hairstyles, or be as bold as Kojak (Telly Savalas), but back in 1945, just after World War II, all collaborating women were treated as whores and their heads were publicly shaven.
Why?
Because, not long ago, a shaven female head was a disgrace!
In verse 7 Paul starts to explain why women have to cover their heads:
"the woman is the glory of the man"
He clarifies this in verses 8 and 9:
“For the man is not of the woman, but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman, but the woman for the man.” (1 Corinthians 11:8-9 KJ21)
Finally in verse 10 the, to my humble opinion, decisive argument:
“For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head, because of the angels.” (1 Corinthians 11:10 KJ21)
...power on her head..."
Other Bible translations:
“That is why a woman ought to have on her head a symbol of subjection, because of the angels.” (1 Corinthians 11:10 Weymouth)
“for this cause ought the woman to have [a sign of] authority on her head, because of the angels.” (1 Corinthians 11:10 American Standard Version)
The Revised Standard Version is quite clear:
“That is why a woman ought to have a veil on her head, because of the angels.” (1 Corinthians 11:10 RSV)
So the headcovering is "a symbol of subjection" and "a sign of authority" and represents "power" because of the angels.
"...because of the angels"
Who are these angels?
Well, some speak of fallen angels (followers of Satan) who want to use the uncovered female head in order to arouse disturbing feelings during service.
Others cite Chapter 6 of the book Genesis:
“And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth and daughters were born unto them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were fair; and they took for themselves wives of all whom they chose. And the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for he also is flesh; yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years." There were giants on the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men and they bore children to them, the same became mighty men who were of old, men of renown.” (Genesis 6:1-4 KJ21)
Again others speak of the messengers of God who attend the masses and services and observe the behaviour of those who worship, as can be found in ancient Jewish writings. Earlier in the first letter to the Corinthians Paul speaks of the fact that angels do observe the apostles, and most probably all Christians:
“For I think that God hath set forth us, the apostles, last, as it were approved to death; for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.” (1 Corinthians 4:9 KJ21)
What to think of the following words:
“Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ, with the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known through the church the manifold wisdom of God.” (Ephesians 3:8-10 KJ21)
So, principalities and powers in heavenly places are observing the church in order to learn about the manifold wisdom of God!
Wow!
Now read the words written by apostle Peter in his first letter:
“Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, and have prophesied of the grace that should come unto you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them had signified when He testified beforehand of the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow. Unto them it was revealed that they ministered, not unto themselves, but unto us the things which are now reported unto you by those who have preached the Gospel unto you, with the Holy Spirit sent down from Heaven—things which the angels desire to look into.” (1 Peter 1:10-12 KJ21)
We have learned and are learning things that angels desire to look into!
Again: wow!
The word "angels" sometimes is used for the leaders/preachers of the churches, as can be read in Revelations Chapter 3 where letters were dictated for the angels of seven churches:
“And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write...” (Revelation 3:1 KJ21)
Whichever of these explanations may seem to be the most trustworthy one, the argument still stands firm:
“for this cause ought the woman to have [a sign of] authority on her head, because of the angels.” (1 Corinthians 11:10 ASV)
So, summarized: during prayer or prophecy a man may not cover his head "as he is the image and glory of God" while a woman has to cover her head "because of the angels".
As earlier mentioned: these arguments do not respond to a local culture (angels are not culture-bound). I am convinced that the Word of God is defining culture.
Back to Chapter 11:
in verses 11 and 12 Paul states that men and women cannot exist without each other because God has planned it that way:
“Nevertheless, neither is the man without the woman, nor the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things are of God.” (1 Corinthians 11:11-12 KJ21)
Then the apostle asks the church to judge for themselves, next he begins to speak about hairstyles:
“Judge for yourselves: Is it comely that a woman should pray unto God uncovered? Doth not even nature itself teach you that if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her, for her hair is given her for a covering.” (1 Corinthians 11:13-15 KJ21)
These three verses make me wonder about two things:
1. what does "Doth not even nature itself teach you" mean?
2. is "uncovered" referring to a hairstyle?
Paul used the same word as he did in Romans 2:14 where he says:
“For when the Gentiles, who have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, they, not having the law, are a law unto themselves,” (Romans 2:14 KJ21)
"Nature" comes from the Greek word "φυσις" (phusis), which has several meanings:
a. nature
b. the nature of things, the force, laws, order of nature
c. birth, physical origin
d. a mode of feeling and acting which by long habit has become nature
The latter seems the most appropriate: a long habit has become a law of nature:
1. a man shouldn't have long hair
2. for a woman it is a glory to have long hair
For the second question (is "uncovered" referring to a hairstyle?) we need to go back to verse 15:
“But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her, for her hair is given her for a covering.” (1 Corinthians 11:15 KJ21)
The word "for" comes from the Greek word "αντι" (anti) which has several meanings:
a. over against, opposite to, before
b. for that, because
c. for, instead of, in place of (something)
This could mean that a woman can replace a headcovering like a veil with such long hair that it can cover/hide her face.
The word "cover" comes from the Greek word "κατακαλυπτω" (kataka’lupto) which means:
to cover, to hide
"if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her"
The word "glory" comes from the Greek word "δοξα" (doxa) which has a.o. the following meaning:
in the New Testament always a good opinion concerning one, resulting in praise, honour, and glory
Apparently God found (and finds) it neccessary to inform all sisters of Gods Church that having long hair, which can be used as a veil, is a glory to them.
A new question pops up: will long hair suffice?
While studying this topic, for a few days I lived with the presumption that long hair would suffice until I read the testimony of a certain man called Tertullian, who is frequently mentioned by my favorite Bible commentator John Gill (1697-1771):
First some info about his life:
Tertullian, son of a Roman centurion from North Africa, was born around 160 A.D. He received a good education in literature and thetoric and probably practiced law for a while before being converted to Christianity around the year 197 A.D. It is the Church Father St. Jerome who tells us that Tertullian became a priest, but there are some indications that he may have remained a layman. What is clear is that eloquent as he was in both Greek and Latin, Tertullian quickly after his conversion set himself to defending the Catholic faith against the pagans as well as heretical Christians.
In so doing coined some of the key theological terms and phrases of the Christian theological tradition. It is in Tertullian's writings that we first find the Latin word "trinity" to describe the relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, whom he taught were "one God in three persons." This remains a classic trinitarian formula to this day. He also made a great contribution to Christology, the branch of theology which seeks to understand the person of Jesus Christ and how divinity and humanity are related in him. It is Tertullian who gives us the formula later canonized by the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon, teaching that Christ is "one person in two natures."
Tertullian is the author of many apologetic and theological works and is one of the most quotable of the Early Church Fathers. His is the famous phrase "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church." And criticizing the reliance on pagan philosophy that he detects in many heretics, he coined yet another famous phrase: "what has Athens to do with Jerusalem?"
Tertullian has written about the headcovering, here are some excerpts:
Throughout Greece, and certain of its barbaric provinces, the majority of churches keep their virgins covered. In fact, this practice is followed in certain places beneath this African sky. So let no one ascribe this custom merely to the Gentile customs of the Greeks and barbarians.
Moreover, I will put forth as models those churches that were founded by either apostles or apostolic men. . . . The Corinthians themselves understood him to speak in this manner. For to this very day the Corinthians veil their virgins. What the apostles taught, the disciples of the apostles confirmed. [Tertullian, The Veiling of Virgins The Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. 4 pp. 27-29,33]
Tertullian testified that, in his life, despite any culture, in the churches, founded by apostles (and he specifically spoke of Corinth), it was custom to veil even the unmarried women. Apparently there was some discussion if Paul meant all women or just the married ones.
The excerpt end with the remark:
"What the apostles taught, the disciples of the apostles confirmed".
Since it's biblical to hear two or three witnesses: several leaders of the early churches like Clement of Alexandria and Hyppolytus who both lived at the same time as Tertullian have written about the fact that women should cover their heads during prayer or prophecy.
So, my final conclusion is this:
Practice shows us that the demanded headcovering of women cannot be replaced by the recommended hairstyle (long hair).
At the end of the study we find verse 16 where Paul inform the Corinthians that:
“if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.” (1 Corinthians 11:16 KJ21)
In other words: being eager to discuss this matter is not proper Christian behaviour.
And now?
Will we act as required by Gods Word:
1. it is a disgrace for a man to have such long hair that it can cover/hide his face
2. a man may not cover his head during prayer or prophecy
3. a woman must cover her head during prayer or prophecy
4. it is a glory to a woman to have such long hair that it can cover/hide her face
Do we want to obey or just pretend that it isn't important enough?
I pray that we will prefer Scripture over feminism or fashion!
Finally:
Chapter 11 also speaks of some bad behaviour while eating the Supper of the Lord:
“Therefore whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and then let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.” (1 Corinthians 11:27-30 KJ21)
Those who eat and drink unworthily will be punished! The Almighty wants us to be faithful regarding His Word. Can it be that due to the ignoring of the headcovering ordinances by many Christians we do not receive the full blessing God wants us to have?
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For those who are interested, there is a website with a pictures of headcoverings through the centuries (see "Interesting sites")
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