Covering

Why does Paul make an issue of women praying with their heads covered?

1 Corinthians 11:3–7; 2 Corinthians 11:3: 1 Timothy 2:9–15

Paul only used the words covered, and uncovered when he spoke to the church in Corinth regarding the hierarchical role of the man and woman praying or speaking in the church. Paul’s main goal was to make 2 points:

Christ is the head of the church - Eph 1:22; 4:15; 5:23; Col 1:18; 2:19

Man is the head of the woman - Gen 3:16; Eph 5:23

What Is A covering?

Exodus 25:10–22

The ark of the covenant of God, where God’s Presence sat above the gold covering (mercy seat), with gold cherubs, (angels), worked into the design. This covering was placed on the top of the ark, between the Presence of God and the covenant with children of Israel. Each year a sacrifice for the sin of the nation was made between the cherubs on the gold cover. When Jesus was crucified on the cross for the sin of the world, Jesus became the cover for all of mankind. Unlike the continual sacrifice made by the High Priest for the yearly sins of the Nation of Israel, Jesus paid the price for the original sin of the original man (Adam).

Did Eve Sin First?

Genesis 3:6; Ezekiel 13:17–18; Isaiah 3:16–17; Luke 2:36; Acts 21:9; 1 Corinthians 10-14

Some scholars believe Paul places the blame for mankind’s sin on the shoulders of the woman, because she didn’t listen to the man and ate the Fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Ezekiel was warned of the excesses of some of the women and he was told to,

“...set your face against the daughters of your people who are prophesying from their own inspiration…and...Woe to the women who sew magic bands on all wrists and make veils for the heads of persons of every stature to hunt down lives!" Ezekiel 13:17-18

And to keep with the oral Jewish tradition, Paul would not permit women to publically teach, or exercise authority over a man. Isaiah was further warned by the LORD,

"Because the daughters of Zion are proud And walk with heads held high and seductive eyes…Therefore the Lord will afflict the scalp of the daughters of Zion with scabs, And the LORD will make their foreheads bare.”Isaiah 3:16–17

So Paul further taught the church in Corinth and Timothy, that women should hierarchically submit to authority, specifically to pray with their heads covered, and to keep silent and subject themselves to the Law and not gossip during the gathering of the church. But this did not mean that women were to be subservient to the men.

Deborah (a Judge) - Judges 5

The wisdom of King Lemuel’s mother - Proverbs 31

Lydia (church in her house) - Acts 16:11-15; 40.

Lois and Eunice (grandmother and mother of Timothy) - 2 Timothy 1:5

Euodia and Syntyche (struggle in the cause of the gospel) - Philippians 4:2

Paul pointed out that Eve had been deceived, but specifically to press his question, had the church at Corinth been deceived about their Salvation through Christ alone. The passage made it quite clear that the man was with the woman when she ate the fruit.

“...she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.” Gen 3:6

Adam said nothing to either the serpent, or to the woman to stop the rebellion that swelled in his heart, that he clearly knew was wrong. That was the first sin, Adam wanted to be like God, as much if not more than the woman. When The LORD walked through the Garden and called out to them, with rebellion ever growing in his heart, Adam did not protect the woman when she blamed the serpent, instead he blamed her in an effort to justify his own actions. Look at the curse for the man and the woman.

God’s Curse -

Genesis 3:16–17; Genesis 1:16

Woman -

In pain you will bring forth children

Your desire will be for your husband

He (man) will rule over you

Man -

Cursed is the ground because of you in toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.

The woman was called to care for and nurture her children in her house. The man was called to work to provide for and protect his family with the sweat of his brow. Her curse was the same as Adams, death. The pride and greed and every other aspect of sin crowded in Adams heart, in his effort to gain dominion over the earth by his own power. The dominion that had been freely granted to him by his relationship with God. That same sin also caused the desire in the woman to have dominion over the man by her own power.

God’s Cure -

Matthew 22:30; Matthew 25; Matthew 27:29; Mark 15:17-18; Galatians 3:26–28

Woman -

No marriage necessary in Heaven

Will be like angels

Jesus The Bridegroom

Man -

New Heaven and New Earth

Jesus as the Husband Provides Salvation for His family, the church, (us). By the sweat and blood of His brow. Jesus did what the man would not, Jesus protected the woman, who was a part of his own flesh, and He took the blame for the sin of the man as His own. From the first to the last, all the pride that says, I can do it myself, my way is better than yours, I know more than you. All the pride and rebellion God saw in Adams eyes, Adam saw in his own children's eyes, all the way to each one of us. Jesus paid the price for that sin of the first man, that we all share. We are all as the stars of the heaven, the children of God, no first born, or last born, no male, or female. We are all the rib, brought back within to be a part of Jesus, His Bride and His Beloved.