The Matter of the Covering
1 Corinthians 11:1 Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ. 2 Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered them to you. 3 But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ. 4 Every man who has something on his head while praying or prophesying disgraces his head. 5 But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying disgraces her head, for she is one and the same as the woman whose head is shaved. 6 For if a woman does not cover her head, let her also have her hair cut off; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, let her cover her head. 7 For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. 8 For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man; 9 for indeed man was not created for the woman's sake, but woman for the man's sake. 10 Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11 However, in the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12 For as the woman originates from the man, so also the man has his birth through the woman; and all things originate from God. 13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 But if one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God. 17 But in giving this instruction, I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it.
For many years I had questioned this simple section of scripture. Pastors and teachers, many of which I love and respect, were quick to explain it away as a cultural item, not for today. So we went on in our lives not following this simple command, but never completely forgetting about it. Even though in reality it has only passed away from most churches over the last 40-50 years.
Let me start out with this simple premise; nothing in the text would make me think this was simply a cultural practice. Paul even appeals to what nature teaches (this does not mean that the long hair replaces the covering). We should be careful not to add what scripture does not declare. The practice of culturalizing scripture has its own precarious pitfalls. Where do you stop? (any where you like). For some they will stop with this particular scripture. But to other anything that doesn’t fit their liking is not off limits (i.e. homosexuality).
I don’t claim to completely understand this scripture, but that should not stop anyone from obeying what they do understand. Many people that do embrace the simple covering also omit certain things in this same section of scripture. It may be due to what they have been previously taught or a lack of considering the issues.
Verse five clearly deals with the subjects of praying and prophesying. The context of this scripture in its most simple understanding seems to be done in the context of the church body. I believe it is linked to the section following dealing with problems in the Lord’s Supper. I do not see a break in Paul’s train of thought here.
The question I would like to bring up at this point is what is the context of the woman’s praying and prophesying? I have already established it as being in the gathered church body. But many will protest that the woman is to be silent in the assembly and is not allowed a position of authority. Let me address these one at a time.
The context of the woman being silent from 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 is linked to the questioning of the prophets. It appears to be a stepping out of line by questioning whether that was really the word of God being spoken. The woman in this context is clearly operating outside of the authority of her husband. I believe this is important to the proper understanding of the woman’s role in the body.
1 Timothy 2:11 A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. 12 But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.
The next issue is quite clear. The woman is not to be teaching/preaching or in a position of authority in the church body. But this does not preclude sharing of testimonies or asking questions to clarify what a teacher may mean. Let me make this clear -this does not mean to cloak a teaching or mini-sermon in the form of a question or testimony.
Experience in general shows that women in general will dominate conversations, sharing and questions and men will tend toward silence. But I believe this to be true mainly because men refuse and have not been taught to take their rightful places as the spiritual leaders, but have instead abdecated this to their wives in many circumstances. With that said lets examine another possibility.
When each member in the body of Christ is being obedient and functioning in their proper positions – how do women praying and prophesying fit into church? I do not have a definitive answer, but that does not mean we should ignore it or excuse it away anymore than the covering. I believe that a woman properly taking her place under the headship of her husband could both pray and prophesy within the body without violating 1 Timothy 2:11-12. She would only do so under the authority of her husband not usurping or ignoring it. I believe that we should strive to teach men and women to take their proper position and trust the leading of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers that are seeking to know and honor Christ.
I think we lose some very important parts of the body of Christ when we artificially suppress or ignore what scripture has spoken on. Whether it is either out of fear or ignorance it is still wrong. This will never work if we operate in the flesh, whether it is women improperly exercising freedom in these things or whether it is men artificially stifling what God would have us do.
My intent here is to encourage all of us to look beyond our own biases. Whether it is ignoring the command of the covering or push aside how should a woman pray or prophesy within the body.
A few final thoughts:
The covering type, size and color are never addressed. Let us not make up things where the word is silent.
The wearing of the covering appears to be related to the gathering of believers. If some wear it all the time, let them not look down on those who do not.
A woman can wear a covering but not be in the God given position in relationship to her husband or male authority. As well a woman can be completely in her proper role and yet be uncovered. It is not a prerequisite to salvation.
In 1 Corinthians 11:16 Paul tells us not to be contentious over the issue. I have heard the verse taken many different ways, but it appears to me that Paul is simply saying let us truly love one another and not fight over the issue of the covering.
This command is only mentioned once in the word. That is not to diminish it, but rather let us concentrate more on loving one another for Christ it was of supreme importance for the believer.
John 13:34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
I believe the veiling is a beautiful thing. It seems so right when a godly woman wears one. But let us not raise it or any other pet doctrines above all other things. Especially loving the brethren and helping each other on to the full maturity and stature of Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:1 Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ. 2 Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered them to you. 3 But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ. 4 Every man who has something on his head while praying or prophesying disgraces his head. 5 But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying disgraces her head, for she is one and the same as the woman whose head is shaved. 6 For if a woman does not cover her head, let her also have her hair cut off; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, let her cover her head. 7 For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. 8 For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man; 9 for indeed man was not created for the woman's sake, but woman for the man's sake. 10 Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11 However, in the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12 For as the woman originates from the man, so also the man has his birth through the woman; and all things originate from God. 13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 But if one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God. 17 But in giving this instruction, I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it.
For many years I had questioned this simple section of scripture. Pastors and teachers, many of which I love and respect, were quick to explain it away as a cultural item, not for today. So we went on in our lives not following this simple command, but never completely forgetting about it. Even though in reality it has only passed away from most churches over the last 40-50 years.
Let me start out with this simple premise; nothing in the text would make me think this was simply a cultural practice. Paul even appeals to what nature teaches (this does not mean that the long hair replaces the covering). We should be careful not to add what scripture does not declare. The practice of culturalizing scripture has its own precarious pitfalls. Where do you stop? (any where you like). For some they will stop with this particular scripture. But to other anything that doesn’t fit their liking is not off limits (i.e. homosexuality).
I don’t claim to completely understand this scripture, but that should not stop anyone from obeying what they do understand. Many people that do embrace the simple covering also omit certain things in this same section of scripture. It may be due to what they have been previously taught or a lack of considering the issues.
Verse five clearly deals with the subjects of praying and prophesying. The context of this scripture in its most simple understanding seems to be done in the context of the church body. I believe it is linked to the section following dealing with problems in the Lord’s Supper. I do not see a break in Paul’s train of thought here.
The question I would like to bring up at this point is what is the context of the woman’s praying and prophesying? I have already established it as being in the gathered church body. But many will protest that the woman is to be silent in the assembly and is not allowed a position of authority. Let me address these one at a time.
The context of the woman being silent from 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 is linked to the questioning of the prophets. It appears to be a stepping out of line by questioning whether that was really the word of God being spoken. The woman in this context is clearly operating outside of the authority of her husband. I believe this is important to the proper understanding of the woman’s role in the body.
1 Timothy 2:11 A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. 12 But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.
The next issue is quite clear. The woman is not to be teaching/preaching or in a position of authority in the church body. But this does not preclude sharing of testimonies or asking questions to clarify what a teacher may mean. Let me make this clear -this does not mean to cloak a teaching or mini-sermon in the form of a question or testimony.
Experience in general shows that women in general will dominate conversations, sharing and questions and men will tend toward silence. But I believe this to be true mainly because men refuse and have not been taught to take their rightful places as the spiritual leaders, but have instead abdecated this to their wives in many circumstances. With that said lets examine another possibility.
When each member in the body of Christ is being obedient and functioning in their proper positions – how do women praying and prophesying fit into church? I do not have a definitive answer, but that does not mean we should ignore it or excuse it away anymore than the covering. I believe that a woman properly taking her place under the headship of her husband could both pray and prophesy within the body without violating 1 Timothy 2:11-12. She would only do so under the authority of her husband not usurping or ignoring it. I believe that we should strive to teach men and women to take their proper position and trust the leading of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers that are seeking to know and honor Christ.
I think we lose some very important parts of the body of Christ when we artificially suppress or ignore what scripture has spoken on. Whether it is either out of fear or ignorance it is still wrong. This will never work if we operate in the flesh, whether it is women improperly exercising freedom in these things or whether it is men artificially stifling what God would have us do.
My intent here is to encourage all of us to look beyond our own biases. Whether it is ignoring the command of the covering or push aside how should a woman pray or prophesy within the body.
A few final thoughts:
The covering type, size and color are never addressed. Let us not make up things where the word is silent.
The wearing of the covering appears to be related to the gathering of believers. If some wear it all the time, let them not look down on those who do not.
A woman can wear a covering but not be in the God given position in relationship to her husband or male authority. As well a woman can be completely in her proper role and yet be uncovered. It is not a prerequisite to salvation.
In 1 Corinthians 11:16 Paul tells us not to be contentious over the issue. I have heard the verse taken many different ways, but it appears to me that Paul is simply saying let us truly love one another and not fight over the issue of the covering.
This command is only mentioned once in the word. That is not to diminish it, but rather let us concentrate more on loving one another for Christ it was of supreme importance for the believer.
John 13:34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
I believe the veiling is a beautiful thing. It seems so right when a godly woman wears one. But let us not raise it or any other pet doctrines above all other things. Especially loving the brethren and helping each other on to the full maturity and stature of Christ.
1 comment:
You are right on, sister... Thank You for sharing your viewpoint on the other part of that passage (the praying & prophesying) I have felt like we have gone to the other extreme and "thrown the baby out with the bath water." There are times when I would love to just get up and acknowlegde publicly that God is good and He spoke to my heart. Like last Sunday... Hope to see you tomorrow.. Luv ya, girl.
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