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NASB | 1 Corinthians 11:7 For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 11:7 A man ought not have his head covered [during worship], since he is the image and [reflected] glory of God; but the woman is [the expression of] man's glory. [Gen 1:26] |
Subject: Head covering |
Bible Note: "SHOULD A WOMAN HAVE HER HEAD UNCOVERED IN CHURCH? I think we have all had problems understanding Paul's words in 1COR 11:1-16, and that is evident in the number of differing church doctrines and writings. Part of the problem of understanding, I believe, is in the use and understanding of the word 'head' because it has more than one meaning in these verses. One meaning being the head on which the hair grows, and the other meaning, cardinal, chief, or foremost. So what is the truth, what does God's bible really say? We must first of all understand that Paul was writing to the church at Corinth and before you say, that's obvious, I think we should try to understand all that that entails, the history, the religion, and especially the culture. If one was reading a letter from a pen-pal in India one would need to grasp the conditions under which he or she lived to better understand what was being said. So when we read any book of the bible, because it refers to churches in other countries, we should first try to understand the things pertaining to that country, during that time period, before we make statements, or judgements, or jump to conclusions. In order to comprehend why Paul needed to answer this question for the Corinthian Church of God, which held their meetings in members houses, as to whether a woman should cover her head or not, we should all know that Corinth was a pagan city, the capital of the Roman province Achaia, and was the most important city in Greece during Roman times. The Corinthians worshipped Aphrodite the pagan goddess of love, beauty, and fertility, and in the temple dedicated to her worship over 1,000 slave-priestesses, known as sacred prostitutes, served. During their worship, if they were prophesying, they let their hair hang down loosely round their shoulders. The city of Corinth had a population of over 700,000 who were mainly given to self indulgence, and vice. The morals of the Corinthians were very bad, corrupt even when compared to pagan Rome. It was the custom throughout the region to shave the heads of female slaves and also women who were guilty of fornication or adultery. The sign of marriage in that day was the wearing of a veil or distinctive hair style, as a wedding ring is in our society today. Obviously the emerging Christian church had it's problems just as the Israelites had when they left Egypt, learning new things but remembering the old. One can imagine how hard it must have been for Paul to establish a Christian church there, he also had opposition from some of the resident Jews. So let's examine what Paul says in 1COR 11:1-16 and then reply. In his 1st Letter to the Corinthians he advises, guides, and replies to a number of questions and then in chapter 11 writes, obviously in reply to a question asked, about whether a woman should cover her head in church. THAT IS - IN THE CHURCH AT CORINTH. He replies:- 1CO 11:1-3 Be ye followers of me, even as I also (am) of Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered (them) to you. 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. (KJV) PAUL IS SAYING HERE THAT CHRIST IS THE CHIEF OR FOREMOST OF EVERY MAN AND WOMAN, AND MAN IS THE CHIEF OR FOREMOST OF THE WOMAN, AND GOD IS THE CHIEF OR FOREMOST OF CHRIST. 1CO 11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having(his) head covered, dishonoureth his head. (KJV) EVERY MAN HAVING HIS ACTUAL HEAD COVERED, DISHONOURETH CHRIST. 1CO 11:5 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. (KJV) SOME MARRIED WOMEN IN THE CHURCH WERE OBVIOUSLY REMEMBERING AND COPYING WHAT THE TEMPLE-SLAVES DID, AND WERE UNCOVERING THEIR HEADS AND LETTING THEIR HAIR DOWN. IN DOING THIS THEY DISHONOURED THEIR HEAD, THEIR HUSBANDS. UNCOVERING THEIR HEADS WAS THE SAME AS HAVING THEIR HEADS SHAVED. 1CO 11:6 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. (KJV) IF THE WOMAN IS NOT VEILED THEN LET HER BE SHAVED. BUT IF IT SHAMES HER THEN LET HER BE COVERED, VEILED." Part 1 of 2 Written 28th. Nov. 96. by Richard W Hayes --Nolan |
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fwiaskycap |