"THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS"
The Issue Of The Head Covering (11:2-16)
INTRODUCTION
1. Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians addresses many issues...
a. Some related to conduct as Christians in Corinthian society
b. Others pertained to conduct in the assemblies of the saints
2. One issue involved women praying and prophesying with their heads
uncovered...
a. Covered in depth in 1Co 11:2-16
b. About which brethren have different views regarding its
application today
3. Views concerning "The Head Covering" generally fall into two camps...
a. It was a custom of the church - intended for universal and
permanent application
b. It was a custom of society - and Paul's instructions were limited
and temporary in application
[I understand that Paul was addressing a custom of society, not a custom
commanded by God for the church. Here are reasons why I believe
that...]
I. THE ISSUE PERTAINED TO SOCIETAL CUSTOM
A. PAUL'S COMMENDATION...
1. Note carefully Paul's commendation as he begins - cf. 1Co 11:2
2. "Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things
and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you."
3. If the wearing of a veil while praying or prophesying is
something required of Christian women because it is God's law
and not a social custom, it seems strange that he would begin
by praising them for keeping apostolic traditions when in fact
they were not!
-- What they failed to keep was not apostolic tradition, but
something else
B. PAUL'S COMMENTS...
1. Note carefully his comments regarding shame - cf. 1Co 11:5-6
2. "But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head
uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as
if her head were shaved. For if a woman is not covered, let her
also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or
shaved, let her be covered."
3. Paul argues on the basis of "if it is shameful..."
a. If it was not shameful for a woman to have shorn hair (as is
the case of some cultures), then Paul's argument here does
not hold up
b. He is evidently basing his argument on the cultural
attitudes of their day, not on what is the revelation of
God's will on the matter
-- Paul's argument was contingent on what was considered shameful
in their society
C. PAUL'S APPEAL...
1. Note carefully his appeal to propriety - cf. 1Co 11:13
2. "Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to
God with her head uncovered?"
3. He asks "Is it proper...?"
a. Again, he reasoned from a sense of cultural propriety, i.e.,
what was considered proper or shameful in their culture
b. When it was a matter of divine will, Paul exercised his
apostolic authority to command, not ask people to "judge
among yourselves" - cf. with 1Co 1:10
-- Paul's appeal was based on their own judgment, not God's will
D. PAUL'S CONCLUSION...
1. Now consider his conclusion when all was said and done - cf.
1Co 11:16
2. "But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom,
nor do the churches of God."
3. Paul sought to reason with them on the basis of such things as
what is proper according to their culture - 1Co 11:6,13
4. He also reasoned on the basis of what is certainly in harmony
with scriptural principles
a. E.g., the headship of man - 1Co 11:3-5
b. E.g., the subjection of angels - 1Co 11:10
5. But in the final analysis, if anyone one wanted to be
contentious...
a. It was not an apostolic or church custom
b. It was a cultural issue in which Paul sought to give his
advice
-- Neither the apostles or the church of God had a custom related
to the issue at hand
[Thus I believe Paul dealt with a social custom important to the
brethren at Corinth, but limited and temporary in application. This
understanding is further confirmed by answering this question:
Were the women prophesying and praying with heads uncovered
in the assembly of the saints, or in public places such as
the marketplace?
Most assume that the issue involved conduct of women in church. I
believe the evidence suggests...]
II. THE ISSUE PERTAINED TO CONDUCT IN PUBLIC
A. PAUL'S QUESTION...
1. Note carefully Paul's question later on in his discussion - cf.
1Co 11:13
2. "Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to
God with her head uncovered?"
3. This question implies a "no" answer; but if they were being
asked concerning women in a religious assembly in Corinth, they
would have answered "yes", for apparently Greek women
worshipped in the temples with heads uncovered (Nicoll, The
Expositors' Greek Testament)
4. However, in Corinth it was a shame to take off the veil in
public places
-- The answer ("no") to his question makes sense only if he
referred to conduct in public places like the market place, and
not to conduct in a religious assembly
B. PAUL'S REMARKS...
1. Note carefully Paul's remarks after concluding his discussion
- cf. 1Co 11:17-18
2. "Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since
you come together not for the better but for the worse. For
first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that
there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it."
3. It is at verse 17 that he begins to discuss matters related to
the assembly, such as their abuse of the Lord's Supper
(11:17-34) and the exercise of spiritual gifts (chs. 12-14)
4. Matters discussed beforehand, such as eating meats sacrificed
to idols (chs. 8-10) and women prophesying with heads uncovered
(11:2-16), were issues of conduct outside the assemblies of the
saints
-- Paul does not begin discussing matters related to the assembly
until verse 17
C. PAUL'S COMMANDMENTS...
1. Note carefully his commandments concerning women in the
assembly - cf. 1Co 14:34-37
2. "Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not
permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law
also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask
their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to
speak in church. Or did the word of God come originally from
you? Or was it you only that it reached? If anyone thinks
himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that
the things which I write to you are the commandments of the
Lord."
3. Since it was shameful for women to speak in church, it is
unlikely that Paul in chapter 11 was saying that women could
prophesy in church as long as they wore the veil
-- Women could not prophesy in the assembly, whether veiled or not
CONCLUSION
1. As I understand the circumstances that prompted Paul's discussion...
a. Christian women were taking their veils off in public places to
pray and prophesy
b. Perhaps those with the gift of prophesy felt they were free to
disregard societal norms
c. While not considered shameful in Corinthian society to do so in a
religious assembly, it was scandalous for a woman to remove the
veil in public places like the market place
2. The circumstances in Corinth appear to have been similar to those in
some Muslim countries...
a. Where Muslim women will veil their faces when they walk in public
b. But often remove the veils when they enter a private home, or a
store that caters to women
3. If my understanding is correct, the issue was...
a. Not: "Should women put on the veil to prophesy and pray in
church?"
b. But: "Should women take off the veil to prophesy and pray in
public?"
4. Paul sought to encourage them to act in harmony with the customs of
their day...
a. Customs that were in harmony with the scriptural principles of
headship and subjection
b. But he acknowledges that the head covering was not custom of the
apostles or the church
Thus I take his words regarding women and the head covering per se to be
limited and temporary in application. But the idea of honoring societal
customs that reflect scriptural principles certainly has universal and
permanent application for Christians who seek to glorify God in this
world. As Paul wrote in the previous chapter...
"Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all
to the glory of God. Give no offense, either to the Jews or to
the Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also please all
men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of
many, that they may be saved."
- 1Co 10:31-33
Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011
