08/11/2025
CONCERNING WOMEN WEARING SCARFS OR HEAD COVERINGS.
The Corinthian Church has a lot of issues going on among them which is what apostle Paul addressed. One of the rule of bible interpretation is CONTEXT which is the greatest key and it is also important we use scriptures to explain scriptures.
What does Paul mean about covering of head?
1 Corinthians 11:1
[1]Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Paul implies the church should imitate him as he imitate Christ. This implies spiritual authority. The way to follow God, it is to follow the man he has sent to you.
[2]Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
This implies that the tradition that has passed from one generation to the other hence Paul is drawing their attention to a practice common among them.
1 Corinthians 11:3
[3]But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
Paul continue the flow of his conversation. The word HEAD in the Greek word is KEPHALE meaning a Master or Lord.
Let's see
Ephesians 4:15
[15]But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Paul refers Christ as the head which means MASTER or LORD.
Ephesians 5:23
[23]For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Note the Word HEAD again here.
Hence it implies authority and headship. The master of the man is Christ while the master of the woman is the MAN. Contextually, this is an instructional teaching within the context of marriage. The text is only applicable to MARRIED WOMEN.
1 Corinthians 11:4-5
[4]Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
[5]But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
The women in Corinth were very vast in the gifts of the spirit and growing well Spiritually but they don't submit to the authority of their husband in their homes.
Note, Paul mentions spiritual activities then he mentioned head covering keeping in line with their culture of the Corinthians ( this is where the idea that the use of head coverings must be employed in the church came from)
The Head covering in this text are literal but this is where audience relevance comes in because as at then Paul was speaking to them based on their culture Among them. In their culture, it's dishonor and strange for a man to have a veil on his head. A man who does so dishonor his head. How ? It will therefore mean he has done something contrary to the culture. He is confusing his HEADSHIP. By wearing the veil, he is taking upon himself the role of a wife.
There are scripture text in the bible that are culturally contextually.
Let's see
1 Corinthians 16:20
[20]All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.
Now, this was a contextual text which can't be applied today. This was how they greet themselves then according to their culture.
Kiss a sister who is not your wife and receive slap.its not applicable today.
Paul was talking about their culture and yet still point them to the spiritual aspect which is honor and submission towards their HUSBAND.
1 Corinthians 11:6
[6]For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
In their culture, a married woman who didn't have her head covered would be punished by having head shorn or shaved. The shaving disfigured the head. If she didn't physically honor her husband she will be punished.
1 Corinthians 11:6-9
[6]For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
[7]For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
[8]For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
[9]Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
Paul establishes authority as seen from the beginning.
Genesis 2:21-23
[21]And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
[22]And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
[23]And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
The woman is made for MAN hence authority is involved. Remember apostle Paul was correcting several issues in the Corinthian through his epistles to them, one of which is DISHONOR BY WIVES TO THEIR HUSBAND.
IN THEIR CULTURE, A woman would have a veil on their head to honor their husband so Paul's writing emphasizes on head coverings was to simply to teach honor and submission in marriage while keeping in line the culture Among them.
Therefore, Paul's focus was on the matter of WIFE'S SUBMISSION to their husband regardless of their maturity in faith and achievement.
To be continued.
Trust this blessed you??
