Head Coverings

Introduction

Greetings…

Theme: Lessons From 1 Corinthians.

Hope: To draw closer to God by better learning his nature by way of the vast number of doctrinal discussion found in this great letter.

With me holding the gospel meeting in Oologah and then last week being “third Sunday” it has been a few weeks since we were in this great letter to the church in Corinth.

We finished up with 1 Corinthians 10:15-22 discussing what it takes to be a “good neighbor.”

That we cannot hide from our neighbors but interact with them and that we must “uphold the truth and not compromise it” even if it makes the relationship uncomfortable.

Today we are going to be looking at a rather interesting and often ignored topic found in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 where the topic of “Head Coverings” is reasoned out.

There are those who would suggest that a woman not covering her head in public or worship would be sinful.

John MacArthur wrote in his commentary on 1 Corinthians on this subject…

“It is proper for a woman to cover her head as a sign of subordination because of the angels, in order that these most submissive of all creature will not be offended by non-submissiveness.”

So, is Paul teaching this?

Let’s begin by examining…

The Context

Praying & Prophesying

Apparently you had a question going on about the praying and prophesying of men and women and whether or not their heads ought to be covered.

1 Corinthians 11:4–5 (ESV)

4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, 5 but every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.

Now it is important we see both words being used here.

The focus of this answer is on the head coverings of those praying and prophesying.

That brings us to the next question…

Is Paul Talking About Worship?

Most people assume, because praying and prophesying are being discussed that worship is Paul’s focus.

But contextually speaking this does not seem to be the case for a few reasons.

First, note Paul’s question on this discussion in 1 Corinthians 11:13.

1 Corinthians 11:13 (ESV)

13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?

Well, as we will see the answer already given prior is a resounding “no” but we know that Greek women in Corinth, during this time, worshiped in the temples with heads covered so why is it not a “yes” if worship is under consideration?

Secondly, in verse 17 we see what appears to be a shift in focus.

1 Corinthians 11:17 (ESV)

17 But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse.

From this verse through 1 Corinthians 14 we have a continual focus on collective worship of the saints.

Now up to this point matters that have been discussed dealt with matters of public affairs not worship such as eating meat sacrificed to idols at a friends house (1 Corinthians 8-10).

Thirdly, if Paul is talking about women wearing head coverings in worship why would he tell them how to prophecy scripturally in worship here while turning about and writing in chapter 14 how they are not to prophecy in worship but stay silent.

1 Corinthians 14:34–35 (ESV)

34 the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. 35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.

1 Corinthians 14:36–37 (ESV)

36 Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? 37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.

Summary

As you can see Paul is not talking about women covering their hair during the assembling of the saints but when they are out in public and need to pray or prophesy.

Knowing that helps us eliminate the question of women worshiping with the head covering but what about in public, do women need to wear it then?

Let’s look at what Paul was inspired to write and thus…

The Verdict

Paul Begins By Commending Them.

Paul begins this new discussion in verse 2 by writing…

1 Corinthians 11:2 (ESV)

2 Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.

If the wearing of the head covering while praying or prophesying is something required of Christian women in public because it is God’s law and not a social custom, it is strange that he would begin by praising them for keeping the law of God when in reality they were not.

Apparently whatever they were failing to keep was not God’s law but something else.

We then see…

Paul Set The Parameters.

Note carefully Paul’s words here in 1 Corinthians 11:5-6.

1 Corinthians 11:5–6 (NKJV)

5 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. 6 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.

Paul argues here on the basis of “if it is shameful.”

If it was not shameful for a woman to have short hair or a shaved head as is the case in some cultures then Paul’s argument would not apply in those situations.

Paul is clearly basing his mandate on the basis of social culture not God’s law.

This is significant to stay the least.

His argument is contingent on what was considered shameful in their society.

We then find…

Paul’s Petition.

Let’s read 1 Corinthians 11:13 again.

1 Corinthians 11:13 (ESV)

13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered?

As we said before, the answer is no for the church in Corinth but again Paul is reasoning from a sense of culture not law.

Is it proper in the culture one is in to have their head covered or not?

Notice when something was a matter of divine will Paul exercised his apostolic authority to command, not ask people to “judge for themselves” if something was right or wrong.

1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV

10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

This isn’t a judgment call on whether they judge for themselves to have no divisions.

And lastly we see in our text…

Paul’s Conclusion.

Let’s read 1 Corinthians 11:16.

1 Corinthians 11:16 (ESV)

16 If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.

1 Corinthians 11:16 (CSB)

16 If anyone wants to argue about this, we have no other custom, nor do the churches of God.

Paul concludes by reasoning again from custom not law.

Summary

In the final analysis Paul didn’t want anyone in the church to be arguing over something that was not law.

Conclusion

So should Christian women today in worship or in public wear head coverings?

The answer is yes if the custom wherein they worship and live is to have it on as a form of showing submission or shamefulness.

Practically speaking if a Christian woman lived in a Muslim country or even community and they only way she could have any influence on other women there was to wear the head covering than yes she must biblically do so.

1 Corinthians 9:19–21 (ESV)

19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.

1 Corinthians 9:22–23 (ESV)

22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

Invitation

Isaiah 59:1–2 ESV

1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

Philippians 2:6–7 ESV

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Romans 10:17 ESV

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Acts 17:30 ESV

30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,

Matthew 10:32 ESV

32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,

2 Thessalonians 1:8 ESV

8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15:1–4 ESV

1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

Romans 6:3–5 ESV

3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

1 John 1:7 ESV

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.