1 COR. 11:1-16 WNBS

Words in red highlight are from the Holman Study Bible NKJV.

Words in blue are my interpretation of the verse.

Words in Green are questions.

HEAD COVERINGS

(NKJV)

11 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

Head Coverings

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 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. 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. 7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man is not from woman, but woman from man. 9 Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. 10 For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. 12 For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.

13 Judge among 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 anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.

11 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

Paul’s authoritative counsel or warning was justified because he was appropriate or suitable imitator of Christ.

Written in 60 - 61 A.D.

Walk in Love

5 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 5

1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;

Paul’s authoritative counsel or warning was justified because he was appropriate or suitable imitator of Christ.

Does this sound arrogant to you?

Does this sound arrogant to you that Paul tells his audience to be imitators of himself?

2. Would you be brazen enough to say “Imitate me”?

Would you be brazen enough to say “Imitate me”?

3. Would the life you live, live up to be imitated as Christ like?

Would the life you live, live up to be imitated as Christ like?

4. Does it depend on the audience as to whether or not they should imitate your life?

Does it depend on the audience as to whether or not they should imitate your life?

Head Coverings

2 Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you.

Simply put “Good job guys, you remembered what I told you and you did them just as I told you.

3 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

This is a principle of voluntary submission to authority.

y.

As Christ is the head over the church, He certainly has supreme authority over every man.

The man being head over the women comes directly from God in Genesis 3:16.

16 To the woman He said:

“I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception;

In pain you shall bring forth children;

Your desire shall be for your husband,

And he shall rule over you.”

The dominant theme here is submission to Christ.

Good example is the submission of Jesus to God even unto death.

28 You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.

Major point is that even Jesus Christ - King of Kings submitted to God.

Do we as Americans submit to authority well?

Does this affect our relationship with Jesus Christ?

4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head.

The situation in this verse assumes a public setting where corporate worship is taking place.

The of piety or being reverent should not dishonor a believers head.

The term “head covered” means to hang off one’s head, down the side of the face.

This refers to a Roman practice of pulling a toga over the head to bow and worship a pagan god.

What Paul is saying here is that because of the association with pagan worship a true believer in Jesus Christ is dishonoring a his true head (Christ) when he covered his physical head with a toga.

So does this mean that praying with a hat on or preaching with a hat on is wrong?

Does it really matter now days?

I say it does for one reason. Still today but quickly dissipating there is a belief that it is a sign of respect to take your hat off in a building, to a women, when in church or praying.

Knights removed helmets in the presence of a king as a display of vulnerability and trust that the king would not kill them, sign of accepting authority.

For practical application - going on the example of Paul during worship we should not be viewed as disrespectful to Authority over us when worshiping.

This would be no different from showing respect for a fallen warrior.

Should removal of head covering apply in the cowboy church?

What it times change and is disrespectful to take a hat off in front of authority, then should it be worn in worship?

(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.

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. (NKJV)

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.

In the 1st century women would speak only with the head uncovered in private setting, for example they would lead prayer in pagans clubs in that manner.

Women in pagan practice would also shave their head and dedicate their locks as a token or worship or fulfillment of a vow to a pagan god.

So to for a women to be in a Christian service with their head uncovered would be disrespectful to God, since it mirrored a pagan practice.

Here’s a interesting question, should wearing a hat or not apply to church today?

Does it really matter?

I would say that it doesn’t matter because today’s culture really doesn’t acknowledge a hat as respectful or disrespectful in the case of women.

The hat for women is more of an adornment.

The whole point here is showing the respect for being under the authority of Jesus Christ.

(NKJV)

7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.

7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man is not from woman, but woman from man. 9 Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. 10 For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.

Man is created in the image of God, woman is the glory of man.

So man’s symbol of having authority (Jesus) over him is to not cover the head.

Woman’s symbol of having authority (man) over here is to cover the head.

So, who is greater here man or women?

(NKJV)

11 Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. 12 For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.

So, who is greater here man or woman?

The point is neither are greater than God.

All things are created by God, including man and women.

And whether man or woman your worship should bring glory to Jesus and not disrespect.

(NKJV)

13 Judge among 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 anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.

What this says we need to see the big picture.

If becomes a point of argument, we as people do not have this custom nor does the Christian church.

In other words, it is more important to truly worship God, than to argue about what length your hair should be.

Words in blue are my interpretation of the verse.

Words in Green are questions.