Im new here. I need some help regarding 1 Corinth 11:14

Crystallium · Oct 4, 2024

Ok...so im an 18 year old male. I converted to Christ two years ago so am still quite new to all this. So I don't know much in terms of general theological knowledge. With that being said, I need some help.

Ive always had super short hair, but my Girlfriend said I should grow it out, so I have been. It's currently at my shoulderblades, and I was going to go to mid back. I must admit my GF was right, I look the best I ever have. But then I read 1 Corinth 11:14. Where Paul says it's against God for a man to have long hair??? I know it's a sin for a man to look feminine, but I certainly don't. And long hair has nothing to do with that. So I'm confused.

Ive done research and I've found that nobody really knows. Some scholars say that it's fine and others say it's sinful. I don't have a pastor I can ask as I don't go to church yet (my parents are atheists) so I'm kinda stuck and just need help. Please. Someone!

p_rehbein · Oct 5, 2024

1 Corinthians, Chapter 11:

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

It does not say it is "against God" does it?

As well, Paul was giving his opinion and not a Commandment from God. This particular Scripture reveals one of Paul's misspeaks. And, Scripture is justified as Truth because it is included.

Nature does not teach that long hair shames a male. Consider the mighty Lion! The great mane the male wears, as opposed to the short mane of the females.

Paul wrote in two distinct styles:

1) Thus sayeth the Lord. When writing in this style, Paul was teaching Commandments from God. There was to be no debate or arguing, it was "Thus sayeth the Lord!"

2) I would rather that/it would be better that. When writing in this style, Paul was giving his opinion/advice on how believers could live a Christ like life with the littlest of problems.

When reading Paul's Epistles it is necessary to distinguish which style he is writing/speaking in so as to know what is a Commandment from God, and what is not. Far, far, too many people can not, and this has caused, and continue to cause flawed understanding of and teaching of Scripture. IMO, much damage has occurred and continues to occur because people are not able to distinguish these differences.

p_rehbein · Oct 5, 2024

F.Y.I.

1 Corinthians, Chapter 7:

6But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

7For I wouldthat all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

8I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

9But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

10And unto the marriedI command, yet not I, but the Lord,Let not the wife depart from her husband:

11But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

12But to the rest speak I, not the Lord:If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

ResidentAlien · Oct 5, 2024

Crystallium said:

Hi and welcome!

I'm very glad to hear you've become a believer. As far as the issue of long hair, I personally believe 1 Corinthians 11 teaches that a woman's long hair is a symbol of her submission to her husband; and a man's short hair is a symbol of his submission to Christ. However, I wouldn't put put the cart before the horse. The Lord will reveal His will to you as you follow Him and grow spiritually.

My question to you would be, as a new believer, have you been water baptized (immersed) into Christ? Jesus taught by example that we should be baptized; and He commanded that it should be taught and practiced. If you haven't already, I pray you'll make this your next order of business.

tourist · Oct 5, 2024

Crystallium said:

Ok...so im an 18 year old male. I converted to Christ two years ago so am still quite new to all this. So I don't know much in terms of general theological knowledge. With that being said, I need some help.

Ive always had super short hair, but my Girlfriend said I should grow it out, so I have been. It's currently at my shoulderblades, and I was going to go to mid back. I must admit my GF was right, I look the best I ever have. But then I read 1 Corinth 11:14. Where Paul says it's against God for a man to have long hair??? I know it's a sin for a man to look feminine, but I certainly don't. And long hair has nothing to do with that. So I'm confused.

Ive done research and I've found that nobody really knows. Some scholars say that it's fine and others say it's sinful. I don't have a pastor I can ask as I don't go to church yet (my parents are atheists) so I'm kinda stuck and just need help. Please. Someone!

I believe that Jesus had long hair too. I believe that Paul was offering his own personal opinion on grooming. No need to be confused. Glad to have you onboard with us. Welcome to CC.

tourist · Oct 5, 2024

p_rehbein said:

Care should be taken when reading and contemplating the writing of Paul.

In many instances it is clear that he is offering his own opinions based on his own personal perception. There are not many passages where it actually says "Thus says the Lord". That is not to say that his views are not aligned with God's but with the absence of "Thus says the Lord" there might be a lot of wiggle room to base one's own personal opinion as led by the spiritual understanding given to the individual by God.

I believe that a lot of his writing was based on the traditions and culture in place at that particular time and the group that it was addressed to.

Your explanation was much more eloquent than mine.

Semachiah · Oct 5, 2024

[1Co 11:13-16 NASB20] 13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God [with her head] uncovered? 14 Does even nature itself not teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her as a covering. 16 But if anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor have the churches of God.
Paul is expressing HIS opinion & that of the Jewish faith & not that God is requiring it. Beyond this you must also see that the "SOCIETAL" standards today differ from when he wrote. At the time Paul wrote, the Jewish Rabbis had created 613 additional laws not REQUIRED

homwardbound · Oct 5, 2024

Wow, in the Old Testament, Samson had long hair and strength was in and through him from it. The heathen were sore afraid and it was Delilah that wrecked it for him, reporting to the people in unbelief how Samson had his strength
Amazing story to read, about what happened after he was caught by the Philistines, I think that was the tribe that got him under Bondage and blinded him. Made a slave there in the Temple made there by the Philistines, there then in that time.
Amazing to me to see he grew back that hair and strength came back and he tore down the Temple.
God is our strength, mine at least, I believe God loves us all, proven in risen Son, for the grave as seen by many Jesus is risen and reported in the New Testament to us the people, over 500 witnesses
It is reported as well to not shave ourselves as the heathen do that to get people to be pleased by them. Therefore it, is intent, purpose, motive, is in place, the reason one does what one does is what will be judged. God judges the motives
So, if you good within your soul, go ahead and be with long hair or not, Thank you, I have long hair also, and some judge me by it, and I thank God all in all for being able to choose to have long hair or not and not be conformed to society to be liked by others for any of my own self gain ever.
1 Corinthians 15:2
and it is this Good News that saves you if you still firmly believe it, unless of course you never really believed it in the first place.
Colossians 1:23
the only condition is that you fully believe the Truth, standing in it steadfast and firm, strong in the Lord, convinced of the Good News that Jesus died for you, and never shifting from trusting him to save you. This is the wonderful news that came to each of you and is now spreading all over the world. And I, Paul, have the joy of telling it to others.

love all, as are loved from God Father in risen son for you too, thank you

Sincere love to God in God's salvation through Son done once for us all to stand in for me at least

Hebrews 10:10
Under this new plan we have been forgiven and made clean by Christ’s dying for us once and for all.

Semachiah · Oct 5, 2024

[1Co 11:13-16 NASB20] 13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God [with her head] uncovered? 14 Does even nature itself not teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her as a covering. 16 But if anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor have the churches of God.
Paul is expressing HIS opinion & that of the Jewish faith & not that God is requiring it. Beyond this you must also see that the "SOCIETAL" standards today differ from when he wrote. At the time Paul wrote, the Jewish Rabbis had created 613 additional laws not REQUIRED by God & His 10 Commandments. Y'shua (Jesus) "FULFILLED ALL" of the Tanach (Old Testament) requirements other than to "... Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." (Mt 22:37)
This "Fulfillment" negates the "Requirement" & leaves the individual to be led by the spirit of God instead.

If your choice however, is an affront to those around you, to whom you may desire to witness, then you must consider, is your "Wanting" to have your hair long going to prevent you from being of optimal service to God & His Kingdom; is it going to impact your ability to be an effective witness?
Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

I took too long to edit the above post so I simply re-wrote it completely & properly here.

.

Webers.Home · Oct 5, 2024

.
● 1Cor 11:14-15 . . Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a
man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair,
it is her glory?

"the very nature of things" can't be trusted to reflect the laws of God
because the nature of things in 1st century Corinth was very different than
the nature of things across the ocean in the Americas.

In other words: the nature of things pertains to humanistic attitudes in
matters relative to propriety-- in particular one's own culture. For example:
in the Roman world of Paul's day; long hair on a man was nothing to be
proud of, whereas in the world of North America's indigenous people, long
hair on men is strong and virile.

* If you've perchance made your hair a fashion statement by styling it with
patterns particular to women, then I'd have to say you have a problem
that's much worse than hair length. All I'm saying is: to be on the safe side;
be sure you keep your hair looking like a guy's long hair rather than a woman's
long hair.
_

John146 · Oct 5, 2024

tourist said:

Paul is writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. These aren’t the opinions of men.

John146 · Oct 5, 2024

Crystallium said:

Scripture is clear. Nature is clear. It is a shame for a man to have long hair. And yes, the look is effeminate. Not calling you effeminate, but long hair on a man is effeminate. However, it is not a doctrinal issue that should divide believers. We have enough feminism amongst our male population today. Men should look like men, and women should look like women. There is a clear difference.

Webers.Home · Oct 5, 2024

.
Generally speaking, neither side of the aisle is 110% confident that their
take on 1Cor 11:14 is the correct take.

That being the case, then I suggest following the principles instructed by the
14th of Romans because this is so obviously a gray area; and as such folks
unified with Christ are forbidden to debate it; and they are also forbidden to
judge others whose take on it is different.

In a nutshell: If a man feels guilty with long hair, then for that man long hair
is wrong. But if a man does not feel guilty with long hair, then for that man
long hair is okay. Let each man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
_

tourist · Oct 5, 2024

John146 said:

Paul was certainly inspired by the Holy Spirit as with all writers of scripture. Paul himself said, on more than one instance that 'he does not permit' something or another. That is not the same as God does not permit. It is, in fact, an opinion or point of view. In other words, a perception. The bible mentions something about discernment. Spiritual discernment comes from the Holy Spirit too. Wisdom also. Both of these must be used to ascertain how to apply or disregard what has been read into one's life.

John146 · Oct 5, 2024

tourist said:

Paul makes the statement which is not his opinion:

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

Answer is rhetorical: yes

Bruce_Leiter · Oct 5, 2024

Crystallium said:

Always look at the whole context (verses, chapter, book, Bible) of a verse. Paul uses the principle of the relationships among the Father, Jesus, males, and females (11:3) to apply it to his culture (short or long hair, for example). So, we need to take the same principle and apply it differently to our culture.

As a result, in our culture, it appears to me that people have come to accept all different hair styles on men. Therefore, the principle of those relationships doesn't apply to hairstyles now. It does in marriage and the church, though, as Paul himself applied it.

homwardbound · Oct 5, 2024

John146 said:

Yes I get that
I think does not even nature (People) teach you it is a shame to have long hair. Structure, world structure as they went against Jesus, who was not a Levite. Was from another tribe, Hebrews 7:11-12

posthuman · Oct 5, 2024

Crystallium said:

hello!
welcome

as you can see there's a variety of opinion here, and some people are even offended.

i would say, remember 'long' is a relative term, ha - that Paul is saying that there's a kind of natural shame for a person having long hair ((what's that? it's certainly not about hair to one's shoulders, which has been a perfectly acceptable male hairstyle for i dunno 6,000 years?)) - and that one thing everyone agrees about is that men shouldn't try to look like women or vice versa.

remember also to read on to V. 16 - - if anyone is getting contentious over hair, the churches of God have no such custom. Christianity is not about your shampoo usage, it's about belief, and what is in your heart.

welcome, again

TheLivingStone · Oct 5, 2024

homwardbound said:

It's wrong to shave?

GaryA · Oct 5, 2024

John146 said:

Absolutely.

It is a shame for a man to have long hair because the look is effeminate. It is a shame for a man to look like a woman.

And, if you (whoever) disagree with this statement, it only shows how much your thinking has been affected by the modern [godless] world.

No man should have the appearance of a woman. No woman should have the appearance of a man. This is the intent of God.

And, it is a "doctrinal issue" - it is biblical instruction to us concerning the proper way we are to live our lives according to God.

Please note that the passage does not say that it is a shame for a woman to not have long hair; however, it does most definitely say that it is a shame for a man to have long hair.

Believe what the Bible says even before you understand why it says it.

Im new here. I need some help regarding 1 Corinth 11:14

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