Head Covering - Conversation with Zane Hodges
Head Covering
(email exchange with Zane Hodges, 2006)
| Hi Zane, Here is a brief question: In many churches throughout the world they advocate a head-covering for women to be worn during the worship service. [This is usually based on 1 Cor. 11:1-16.]. Is this a Biblical concept?*
Thanks for your help - and have a great weekend. Bill |
Hi Bill,
It's a mistake, I think. Women are not allowed to speak in the church meeting (1 Cor. 14:34-35) which they would need to do to pray (audibly) or prophesy. Thus 11:2-16 refers to situations OUTSIDE the church meeting, as is confirmed by vss. 17-18 where consideration of the meeting begins.
Have a good week,
Zane
Hi Zane,
Here is a brief question concerning the role of women outside the local church:
- Do you feel that it is a violation of Scripture for women to pray or speak before Christian groups outside the local church?
For example, in our faculty-staff prayer breakfast, women normally pray and occasionally speak to the group [though the breakfast is under the leadership of men]. This does not seem to violate 1 Cor. 11:1-16 [but, of course, women are not permitted to speak in the Assembly (1 Cor. 14:34)].
Thanks for your insight on this.
Bill
Hi Bill,
No problem outside the church meeting although if they pray 1 Cor. 11 says they should be covered. Years ago Betty Elliott spoke in the DTS chapel uncovered (fine, it wasn't a church!) and when she concluded she called on Dr. Walvoord to pray (very fine!).
Zane
Zane,
Here is a brief follow-up question to this discussion.
Let's suppose a man is having devotions with his wife and family. Would it be in violation of 1 Cor. 11:5 for the wife [or maybe one of the daughters] to pray with an uncovered head?
Bill
Bill,
I don't know and would leave that to the conscience of the woman. 1 Cor. 11 presumes ( I think) a public situation since the praying is coupled with prophesying.
Take care,
Zanel
Thanks, Zane.
That is helpful.
I have one more additional question concerning this:
- Is prophesying (in the context of 1 Cor. 11:1-17) refer to "proclaiming an inspired revelation" [as opposed to preaching or speaking God's word]?
I know that some Bible teachers [such as Earl Radmacher] use verses like Rom. 12:6 to suggest that prophecy is also a "speaking forth" of God word. That is, in some contexts they suggest that prophecy = preaching. I tend to feel that prophecy refers to the gift of "interpreting the divine will or purpose" and is no longer available today. [1 Cor. 13:8-10 may suggest this.]
Thanks for your help on this. And I continue to pray for you and the ministry of Kerugma.
Bill
Bill,
I agree with you.
Zane