06/09/2026
HEADS
by: Randy Robinson
The Richwood Reaper: 5-31-26
In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul continued to express important truths to these brethren with whom he had resided for eighteen months (cf. Acts 18:11). Chapter 11 begins with one of the most important challenges in the entire epistle: “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (v.1). The word “follower” is translated from “mimitai” from which we derive the word “mimic.” The ASV and NKJV reflect this, preferring the word “imitator” rather than “follower.” Note that Paul urged them to imitate him only in the sense that he imitated Christ.
Next Paul said, “Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you” (v.2). In light of the corrections Paul has already had to make concerning their attitudes and practices as well as those to come, it would seem they are not completely worthy of this praise, however, perhaps Paul recognized that they were making an effort to try and remember the many things he had taught them. Again, subsequent translations change “ordinances” to “traditions.” The word “traditions” can be a little tricky as today we often think of traditions as being human-originated and indeed those cannot and should not be bound upon anyone. The traditions of which Paul spoke are divinely originated and instituted (cf. 2 Thess. 2:15; 3:6) and therefore, must be observed.
At this point, Paul affirms a hierarchy stating, “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” (1 Cor. 11:3). Needless to say, the middle clause in this verse will make many bristle today, however, it is no less true today than it was 2,000 years ago, modern thought and sensibilities notwithstanding. At this juncture, we also want to point out that Paul used the word “head” nine times between verses 3 and 10. Furthermore, he used the word "head” both literally and figuratively. He referred to the human body part as well as the relationship of authority. In verse 3, he confirmed what Christ affirmed as He was about to ascend back to Heaven when He said, “All power [authority—NKJV] is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matt. 28:18). Next Paul confirmed what God decreed in the Garden of Eden when He said to the woman, “… thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee” (Gen. 3:16). We should not presume that Paul is teaching that every man is the head over every woman. However, scripture also makes it clear that men are to be leaders in the Lord’s church when it comes to work, worship and governance. Paul will address this later in this epistle (1 Cor. 14). Finally, Paul confirmed what Jesus said many times about His own subordination to His Father’s will (John 5:30; 6:38; 9:4 et al).
Having established the divine order, Paul turned his attention to what appears to be a cultural issue and that is how men and women should present themselves especially when it comes to prayer or other religious activity. “Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 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” (1 Cor. 11:4-5). Lest we get out too far into the weeds of this issue, let us reiterate that this appears to be a cultural issue and is not meant to be binding today. However, there is a segment of our brotherhood which does believe that a woman should cover her head in the assembly of the saints. Like many similar issues, we do not quibble with anyone who may believe this as long as they do bind it upon everyone. Even today most men, if they are wearing a hat will often remove it when they come indoors anywhere. That is not as common as it used to be (because fewer men wear hats), but it still occurs. Two significant issues need to be mentioned here. The first is that the Jews prayed with covered heads and the second is that an indicator of a woman who was a pr******te either had no covering on her head or she cut her hair closely to the scalp. The Jews considered their coverings as a sign of submission. As for the women, the point Paul makes here is that surely they would not want their appearance to resemble that of a pr******te!
Paul reiterated the respective roles of men and women. “For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man” (vs. 8-9). Paul invoked the order of creation. Man was created first, from the dust of the ground (Gen. 2:7), but later that same day, God created the woman from one of the man’s ribs (v.22). As noted earlier, after the man and woman had both sinned by eating the forbidden fruit, God plainly set the roles of the man and the woman. There is nothing to indicate that this would not have been the roles anyway given the order of creation, however, God’s explicit directive made the question moot.
Paul continued: “For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels” (1 Cor. 11:10). The word for “power” is “exsousia” which is rendered “authority” as seen earlier (see Matt. 28:18). What does this mean? We would suggest that just as the angels are subordinate and submissive to Deity in Heaven, likewise the woman is subordinate and submissive to the man on Earth. Isaiah described the six-winged seraphim in Heaven and that two of their wings covered their faces (Isa. 6:2).
Paul continued: “Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God” (1 Cor. 11:11-12). This is perhaps a warning to the man not to “lord it over” the woman and a reassurance to the woman that she is equal to the man in God’s sight. Paul then asked, “Judge in yourselves: is it comely [proper—NKJV] that a woman pray unto God uncovered?” (v.13). He appealed to their good judgment and common sense and what they saw if/when they saw a woman praying uncovered. We should point out that there is nothing here that would authorize a woman to lead a prayer in the assembly. On the contrary, the overall theme is here is the submissiveness of the women.
Then Paul made a statement that has been seized upon by many to denounce and ridicule men with longer hair. Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? (v.14). Your affable author has heard brethren cite this passage against this since the 1970’s. However, there are a few things to consider here. If we are going to bind this verse for all time, must we not bind the head covering (as well as long hair) for women for all time. If not, why not? Also, there were instances in which men were forbidden to cut their hair such as when they took a Nazarite vow (Num. 6:5). Samson was perhaps the most famous of these. Absalom was also known for having long hair (2 Sam. 14:26).
Then Paul wrote, “But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God” (1 Cor. 13:16). This would seem to confirm that this was written to address practices in this particular culture and even then, Paul was not making it a test of fellowship.