Should women cover their hair to church service?

 INTRODUCTION

1. Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians addresses many issues... (a) Some related to conduct as Christians in Corinthian society. (b) Others pertained to conduct in the assemblies of the saints.

2. One issue involved women praying and prophesying with their heads uncovered... (a) Covered in depth in 1Co 11:2-16. (b) About which brethren have different views regarding its application today.

3. Views concerning "The Head Covering" generally fall into two camps... (a) It was

a custom of the church - intended for universal and permanent application. (b) It was a custom of society - and Paul's instructions were limited and temporary in application.

[I understand that Paul was addressing a custom of society, not a custom commanded by God for the church. Here are reasons why I believe that...]

I. THE ISSUE PERTAINED TO SOCIETAL CUSTOM

A. PAUL'S COMMENDATION...

1. Note carefully Paul's commendation as he begins - cf. 1Co 11:2.

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. If the wearing of a veil while praying or prophesying is something required of Christian women because it is God's law and not a social custom, it seems strange that he would begin by praising them for keeping apostolic traditions when in fact they were not!

-- What they failed to keep was not apostolic tradition, but something else .

B. PAUL'S COMMENTS...

1. Note carefully his comments regarding shame - cf. 1Co 11:5-6.

2. "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. 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."

3. Paul argues on the basis of "if it is shameful..." (a) If it was not shameful for a woman to have shorn hair (as is the case of some cultures), then Paul's argument here does not hold up. (b) He is evidently basing his argument on the cultural attitudes of their day, not on what is the revelation of God's will on the matter.

-- Paul's argument was contingent on what was considered shameful in their society.

C. PAUL'S APPEAL...

1. Note carefully his appeal to propriety - cf. 1Co 11:13.

2. "Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?"

3. He asks "Is it proper...?" (a) Again, he reasoned from a sense of cultural propriety, i.e., what was considered proper or shameful in their culture. (b) When it was a matter of divine will, Paul exercised his apostolic authority to command, not ask people to "judge among yourselves" - cf. with 1Co 1:10.

-- Paul's appeal was based on their own judgment, not God's will .

D. PAUL'S CONCLUSION...

1. Now consider his conclusion when all was said and done - cf. 1Co 11:16.

2. "But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God."

3. Paul sought to reason with them on the basis of such things as what is proper according to their culture - 1Co 11:6,13.

4. He also reasoned on the basis of what is certainly in harmony with scriptural principles. (a) E.g., the headship of man - 1Co 11:3-5. (b) E.g., the subjection of angels - 1Co 11:10.

5. But in the final analysis, if anyone one wanted to be contentious... (a) It was not an apostolic or church custom. (b) It was a cultural issue in which Paul sought to give his advice.

-- Neither the apostles or the church of God had a custom related to the issue at hand.

[Thus I believe Paul dealt with a social custom important to the brethren at Corinth, but limited and temporary in application. This understanding is further confirmed by answering this question: Were the women prophesying and praying with heads uncovered in the assembly of the saints, or in public places such as the marketplace? Most assume that the issue involved conduct of women in church. I believe the evidence suggests...]

II. THE ISSUE PERTAINED TO CONDUCT IN PUBLIC

A. PAUL'S QUESTION...

1. Note carefully Paul's question later on in his discussion - cf. 1Co 11:13.

2. "Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?"

3. This question implies a "no" answer; but if they were being asked concerning women in a religious assembly in Corinth, they would have answered "yes", for apparently Greek women worshipped in the temples with heads uncovered ( Nicoll, The Expositors' Greek Testament)

4. However, in Corinth it was a shame to take off the veil in public places.

-- The answer ("no") to his question makes sense only if he referred to conduct in public places like the market place, and not to conduct in a religious assembly .

B. PAUL'S REMARKS...

1. Note carefully Paul's remarks after concluding his discussion - cf. 1Co 11:17-18.

2. "Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it."

3. It is at verse 17 that he begins to discuss matters related to the assembly, such as their abuse of the Lord's Supper ( 11:17-34 ) and the exercise of spiritual gifts ( chs. 12-14 ).

4. Matters discussed beforehand, such as eating meats sacrificed to idols ( chs. 8-10 ) and women prophesying with heads uncovered ( 11:2-16 ), were issues of conduct outside the assemblies of the saints.

-- Paul does not begin discussing matters related to the assembly until verse 17 .

C. PAUL'S COMMANDMENTS...

1. Note carefully his commandments concerning women in the assembly - cf.

1Co 14:34-37.

2. "Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church. Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord."

3. Since it was shameful for women to speak in church, it is unlikely that Paul in chapter 11 was saying that women could prophesy in church as long as they wore the veil.

-- Women could not prophesy in the assembly, whether veiled or not.

CONCLUSION

1. As I understand the circumstances that prompted Paul's discussion... (a) Christian women were taking their veils off in public places to pray and prophesy. (b) Perhaps those with the gift of prophesy felt they were free to disregard societal norms. (c) While not considered shameful in Corinthian society to do so in a religious assembly, it was scandalous for a woman to remove the veil in public places like the market place.

2. The circumstances in Corinth appear to have been similar to those in some Muslim countries... (a) Where Muslim women will veil their faces when they walk in public. (b) But often remove the veils when they enter a private home, or a store that caters to women.

3. If my understanding is correct, the issue was... (a) Not: "Should women put on the veil to prophesy and pray in church?" (b) But: "Should women take off the veil to prophesy and pray in public?"

4. Paul sought to encourage them to act in harmony with the customs of their day... (a) Customs that were in harmony with the scriptural principles of headship and subjection. (b) But he acknowledges that the head covering was not custom of the apostles or the church.

Thus I take his words regarding women and the head covering per se to be limited and temporary in application. But the idea of honoring societal customs that reflect scriptural principles certainly has universal and permanent application for Christians who seek to glorify God in this world. As Paul wrote in the previous chapter...

"Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved." - 1Co 10:31-33.