1 Corinthians 11:4-7

1 Corinthians 11:4-7

Every man while praying or prophesying while having his head covered puts shame upon his head.  But every woman while praying or prophesying by an uncovered head puts shame upon her head – for one like this is the same as for a woman who has shaved.  For if a woman is not being covered, let her also shear her hair.  And if it is shameful to shear or to cut, let her be covered.  For in one case men are not under an obligation to cover the head while being an image and glory of God.  But the woman is the glory of a man.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought

Most scholars that I read consider this passage to be a particular teaching that Paul makes to Corinth.  This teaching about hair and head coverings is not a universal spiritual teaching for all times and all places.  In Corinth – especially among the Jews – culture said that women should have their hair long and men should have their heads uncovered.  As proof that this is just a cultural thing and not a spiritual teaching, look at traditional Jews – even modern Jews.  If you go to a modern Jewish synagogue you will find that men actually do still cover their heads with a yarmulke (Jewish beanie, also called a kippah).  This is a practice that is supported by 2 Samuel 15:30, Jeremiah 14:3-4, and Ester 6:12.  So what we see is Paul breaking from traditional Jewish teaching by teaching men can have their heads uncovered while insisting that women keep their heads covered.  This tells us that this is not a religious instruction from God but more of a change to reflect the cultural practice among the Corinthians and probably the Greek people in general.

Why is this an important point to remember?  Why do you think people try and take these passages and make them into universal spiritual truths?  How can this point help to remind us about the importance of letting scripture interpret scripture?

Second Thought:

Why would Paul break from traditional Jewish practice and give a different perspective to Corinth?  Do remember what the first issue was that Paul brought up in the first chapter of this letter?  Immediately after giving thanks to God, Paul talks about the divisions in the church.  Immediately after giving thanks to God, Paul talks about how the Corinthians are being fractured.  It is fair to assert that this issue would be one of the issues causing division.  Therefore, by Paul calling upon the cultural expectations he can set a particular standard.  Furthermore, remember that Paul has just finished a fairly lengthy section in this letter on being willing to live according to the needs of the weaker in the faith so that we do not be a stumbling block to them.  The weakest in the faith would likely be the newest members.  These would be the converts, who would be most familiar with Greek life in Corinth and not the Jewish lifestyle.  Paul makes this argument not from the perspective of absolute spiritual truth but so that dissention and division might be eliminated peaceably.

Where do you see division and dissention in the church that is based on cultural issues and not spiritual issues?  Why do you think these kinds of issues find their way into gatherings of spiritual people?

Third Thought:

Lost in all of this debate is a greater spiritual truth.  Notice that Paul doesn’t spend any time whatsoever discussing whether or not women can prophesy or pray in public.  Paul actually assumes that they are doing it in Corinth as we can tell by 1 Corinthians 11:5!  Since Paul was responsible for setting up the church in Corinth, it is fair to assume that he taught that women could actually pray and prophesy in public!  For me, this is the greater teaching of this passage.  It is not wrong that women pray or prophesy in public!  But when they do so, they need to respect the local customs of the people so that their participation does not become a distraction to the focus being on the worship of God.

Why do you think most people actually gloss over the fact that Paul doesn’t argue whether women should be praying or prophesying in public in the first place?  Why do we as human beings like to talk about the emphasis on hierarchy instead of the spiritual truth?

Passage for Tomorrow: 1 Corinthians 11:8-16