1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 2 I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you.
Paul praises the Corinthian church for keeping hold of the traditions of Corinth that Paul had passed onto them to keep. Many interpret this to say that Paul isn’t talking about traditions as in generational traditions but rather that Paul was praising them for holding onto his decrees and teachings that he passed onto them. I’m going to disagree with most interpretations and say that Paul was in fact talking about generational traditions due to the nature of this passage, which is to do with head covering for women (a tradition in the church of Corinth).
3 But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. 6 For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.
Paul shares his knowledge and understanding on head covering in relation to their tradition, that if a woman’s head is uncovered with a head-covering of some sort (probably a scarf/head piece) it is then traditionally believed to be a disgrace to her. But a man shouldn’t cover his head because he was made in God’s image.
7 A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9 neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12 For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.
Paul here refers to the book of Genesis when God made Adam and Eve. He created Adam the father of all the living, first, and from Adam’s rib he created Eve the mother of all the living. And in verse 10 Paul states that it’s for this reason a woman should have a sign of authority over her head. The head covering was to be that sign. This also represented or signified the spiritual authority of the church. God is head over the church (both men and women), and man is head over the woman (as pertaining to husbands and wives, fathers and daughters). Not only this but it was to be of some benefit to the angels who minister to the believers of God. Of what benefit isn’t made clear.
Hebrews 1:13 “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”
13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 16 If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.
This practice of head covering was only done in the church of Corinth and not in any of the other churches. It had been a tradition that was passed down from the previous generation so was a custom that Paul held in respect to them as a people but not as a rule of thumb for worshipping God. Hence why he tells them to judge for themselves whether they think its proper or not. The other churches didn’t follow this practice, therefore if anyone in the church were to argue about this, then it should be known to them that it isn’t practised in any of God’s churches.
Filed under: 1 Corinthians, Apostle Paul, Bible study, Christianity, God, Jesus, New Testament, On Covering the Head in Worship, Scripture
Recent Comments