Biblical headcovering

[Nehemiah6]

The head covering was Jewish custom...

Why would the Holy Spirit -- through Paul -- promote a mere Jewish custom, when Christ was constantly condemning the traditions of men? Do you see your mistake? As a matter of fact the Jewish custom was for Jewish men to cover their heads during worship (they still do). But Paul tells Christian men to UNCOVER their heads!

It is most unfortunate that the full teaching of 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 has not be properly presented to ALL Christians in all churches. Ironically, it is the Catholic church that has upheld the need for women to cover their heads during worship. They call the head covering a "mantilla".

 

[Nehemiah6]

It is legalism to try and earn your righteousness by what you wear on you head, or anything else.

More baloney from Angela. How can a commandment of Christ be "legalism"? Did Paul say you earn your righteousness by covering your head?

 

[Blain]

Why would the Holy Spirit -- through Paul -- promote a mere Jewish custom, when Christ was constantly condemning the traditions of men? Do you see your mistake? As a matter of fact the Jewish custom was for Jewish men to cover their heads during worship (they still do). But Paul tells Christian men to UNCOVER their heads!

It is most unfortunate that the full teaching of 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 has not be properly presented to ALL Christians in all churches. Ironically, it is the Catholic church that has upheld the need for women to cover their heads during worship. They call the head covering a "mantilla".
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Three styles of hair covering common among married Orthodox Jewish women. From left to right: snood, fall, and hat.

According to halacha (Jewish law), married Jewish women are expected to cover their hair when in the presence of men other than close family members. Such covering is common practice nowadays among Orthodox Jewish women and some Conservative Jewish women.

Different kinds of head covering are used, among them the sheitel (wig), mitpaḥat or tichel (headscarf), shpitzel, hat, and snood. The most common hair coverings in the Haredi community are the sheitel, the snood, and the tichel, as well as hats and berets. Modern Orthodox Jewish women usually wear hats, berets, baseball caps, bandanas, or scarves tied in a number of ways, depending on how casually they are dressed.

Covering the hair is part of the modesty-related dress standard called tzniut.

 

[SomeDisciple]

The modern practice of Orthodox Jews isn't anything like what is being described in Corinthians, though. They are coving their HAIR instead of their head.
Paul says a woman's hair is given to her as a "covering" meaning a flowing covering like a mantle. (probably why the catholics call it "mantella") So, why would you pile your hair on top of your head and wrap it in a towel. that's the opposite of what a mantle does.

 

[Nehemiah6]

1 CORINTHIANS 11:
CHRISTIAN WOMEN MUST COVER THEIR HEADS DURING WORSHIP
We are to follow Paul's example, since he follows Christ's example
1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am [a follower] of Christ.
Christians are to "keep" (or observe) the "ordinances" given by Paul
2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
The "head" (or authority over) the woman (wife) is the man (husband)
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.
Christian men must NOT cover their heads -- that dishonors Christ
4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
Christian women MUST cover their heads -- that honors Christ
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. 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.
Christian men represent the glory of God -- UNCOVERED -- during worship
7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God:...
Christian women represent the glory of man -- COVERED -- during worship
...but the woman is the glory of the man.
Eve was taken from Adam's side to be a suitable companion for him
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.
Therefore God made the husband the authority over his wife, and therefore the symbol of authority -- the head covering -- must be worn (to teach angels what God has ordained)
10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
At the same time, both husband and wife complement each other
11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. 12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.
Christians are to judge if it is right for a woman to be uncovered during worship
13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
Nature itself teaches men to avoid long hair (which are for women)
14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
A woman's long hair is her glory -- it enhances her beauty
15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. [Note: women are to cover their "glory" because God's glory is being "uncovered" -- God and Christ are being worshipped]
None of the apostolic churches allowed women to keep their heads uncovered
16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
-----------------------------
While we may not fully comprehend the spiritual depth of what is presented here, that is not an excuse to disobey the commandment of Christ.

 

[JStates]

1 CORINTHIANS 11:
CHRISTIAN WOMEN MUST COVER THEIR HEADS DURING WORSHIP
We are to follow Paul's example, since he follows Christ's example
1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am [a follower] of Christ.
Christians are to "keep" (or observe) the "ordinances" given by Paul
2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
The "head" (or authority over) the woman (wife) is the man (husband)
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.
Christian men must NOT cover their heads -- that dishonors Christ
4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
Christian women MUST cover their heads -- that honors Christ
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. 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.
Christian men represent the glory of God -- UNCOVERED -- during worship
7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God:...
Christian women represent the glory of man -- COVERED -- during worship
...but the woman is the glory of the man.
Eve was taken from Adam's side to be a suitable companion for him
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.
Therefore God made the husband the authority over his wife, and therefore the symbol of authority -- the head covering -- must be worn (to teach angels what God has ordained)
10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
At the same time, both husband and wife complement each other
11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. 12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.
Christians are to judge if it is right for a woman to be uncovered during worship
13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
Nature itself teaches men to avoid long hair (which are for women)
14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
A woman's long hair is her glory -- it enhances her beauty
15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. [Note: women are to cover their "glory" because God's glory is being "uncovered" -- God and Christ are being worshipped]
None of the apostolic churches allowed women to keep their heads uncovered
16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
-----------------------------
While we may not fully comprehend the spiritual depth of what is presented here, that is not an excuse to disobey the commandment of Christ.

I think we are mostly on the same page... but does the Bible say she should be covered during WORSHIP or during PRAYER? Important distinction.

 

[Nehemiah6]

I think we are mostly on the same page... but does the Bible say she should be covered during WORSHIP or during PRAYER? Important distinction.

The context is corporate worship, since the next item is the Lord's Supper. It would seem that angels are appointed to observe Christians while they worship.

 

[JStates]

The context is corporate worship, since the next item is the Lord's Supper. It would seem that angels are appointed to observe Christians while they worship.

I'm not sure though. Observing the Lord's Supper with a little wafer and dash of grape juice during a church service is a modern thing. It was actually a full meal in the early church.

 

[SomeDisciple]

I think many churches just don't practice the covering because even the leaders aren't confident in how they interpret the passages. And they could probably care less about how church is actually supposed to be, and more about their attendance numbers.

Even the "scholars" in their educated commentaries say that verse 10 is one of the most difficult verses in the bible. The feminists will have you believe it says "women should have power over their own head" which runs completely counter to the rest of the passage- then they will throw in some cultural history which has nothing to do with Paul's actual explanation. Some translations insert the words "symbol of power" into the text, which is probably closer to the intended meaning. But I think verse 10 could be rendered "For this reason a woman ought to acknowledge authority on her head, because of the angels." without adding any words. As the Jews say "we have Abraham as our father" they don't mean Abraham is literally in their possession, but that they acknowledge him as their patriarch.

 

[Nehemiah6]

I'm not sure though. Observing the Lord's Supper with a little wafer and dash of grape juice during a church service is a modern thing. It was actually a full meal in the early church.

The full meal may have only been for a short while. By the 2nd century, the worship service was a little different (and more like ours) as noted by Justin Martyr:

“And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the overseer verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things.

Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the overseer in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons.

And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the overseer, who provides for the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need.

But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead.”
–Justin Martyr, 1 Apol. LXVII in Ante-Nicene Fathers: The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus, Vol. 1, Ed. A. Cleveland Coxe (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2001), 186.

 

[JStates]

The full meal may have only been for a short while. By the 2nd century, the worship service was a little different (and more like ours) as noted by Justin Martyr:

“And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the overseer verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things.

Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the overseer in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons.

And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the overseer, who provides for the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need.

But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead.”
–Justin Martyr, 1 Apol. LXVII in Ante-Nicene Fathers: The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus, Vol. 1, Ed. A. Cleveland Coxe (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2001), 186.

You are pretty well read. I keep meaning to do a study of the early church fathers but have never done so.

 

[Nehemiah6]

Even the "scholars" in their educated commentaries say that verse 10 is one of the most difficult verses in the bible.

I'm not sure if it is all that difficult in the context of the passage. The Greek word is exousia which means authority (translated "power"), and the head covering is a SYMBOL of the authority of the husband over his wife.

IOW it is a sign of the wife's submission to her husband, as required by God. But it is much more than that. It is also a sign of her submission to Christ, as well as his submission to Christ (with an uncovered head), and the submission of the whole church to God. An angel observing total submission to Christ within the assembly will take note that those who are redeemed by God's grace are also in humble submission to him. This is in contrast to Satan and the world and its world systems, which are all in rebellion to God.

 

[Dino246]

I'm not sure if it is all that difficult in the context of the passage. The Greek word is exousia which means authority (translated "power"), and the head covering is a SYMBOL of the authority of the husband over his wife.

IOW it is a sign of the wife's submission to her husband, as required by God. But it is much more than that. It is also a sign of her submission to Christ, as well as his submission to Christ (with an uncovered head), and the submission of the whole church to God. An angel observing total submission to Christ within the assembly will take note that those who are redeemed by God's grace are also in humble submission to him. This is in contrast to Satan and the world and its world systems, which are all in rebellion to God.

If the head covering is a symbol of a husband's authority over his wife, then it is not relevant for an unmarried woman. If it is a symbol of Christ's authority, then it is not of the husband's authority. The problem with the latter is that the passage is clearly addressing a marital relationship, given verse 3, and given that nothing in Scripture gives all men authority over all women.

 

[Aerials1978]

I haven’t thought about this in quite a long time(Being male, it never really applied to me) but, if a woman believes that covering her head in prayer brings honor to God, she should do so.

 

[SomeDisciple]

There's several reasons why I think marriage isn't a factor here.

1) whether it be her father, her husband, or Christ: the head of woman is a man, and the authority of each originates from heaven.
2) He says "every man" and "every woman".
3)"the man comes through woman" obviously does not refer to that man's wife.
5)God does not only give married women hair as a covering.

 

[Nehemiah6]

If the head covering is a symbol of a husband's authority over his wife, then it is not relevant for an unmarried woman.

It is relevant to show that the entire church is in submission to Christ. Paul does not make any distinction, even though there may have been many unmarried women in the churches. Also it would be automatic for when she is married. Furthermore, she would be hiding her "glory" in the presence of God's glory.

 

[Pilgrimshope]

I believe that women should cover their head and hair to be in obedience to scriptures. I'm very interested in what others think on this topic.
Please forgive me if his is 'old hat' on this forum. I'm new here.

paul says a woman should have long hair it’s a god given head covering and it’s a shame for a man to have long hair because men aren’t meant to have a covering on thier head.

but then he also tells the church to decide about these type of trivial things themselves

“Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?

Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭11:13-16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul was saying it doesn’t really
Matter there’s no set custom for the church if it’s going to cause contention decide for yourselves about it .

contention in the church is far worse than ether a woman has long hair or a man or a woman covers her head ect

“Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.

For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭11:17-18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

It’s always been an issue we should look for things that unite and don’t divide

 

[NotmebutHim]

Too bad the OP didn't stick around...........

 

[JStates]

There's several reasons why I think marriage isn't a factor here.
...
5)God does not only give married women hair as a covering.

...Yes, thank God!