Braggs Church of Christ 1

The “Covering” Of Woman 1 Cor. 11:1-16

Introduction Many views exist on this passage “There is perhaps no more difficult passage within the New Testament as this one discussed.” Kevin Cauley

I. Hold To What Paul Taught Verses 1-2 “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.”

I. Hold To What Paul Taught Verses 1-2 Paul called on the Corinthians to follow him as he followed Christ He praised them for keeping the ordinances he had taught them

I. Hold To What Paul Taught Verses 1-2 Ordinance = (sometimes rendered “traditions”) The word is used her to refer to the inspired word of God “Maintain faithfulness to the teaching as he gave it to them”

I. Hold To What Paul Taught Verses 1-2 These things are binding regardless of the customs of men The customs of men change but these principles do not!

2 Th. 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions (inspired teaching) which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle (letter).

II. The Line Of Authority Verse 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.”

II. The Line Of Authority Verse 3 God is over Christ – Christ is over man – man is over woman “This is God’s ordained arrangement; it is not subject to mankind’s approval” Winton

II. The Line Of Authority Verse 3 “Women are equal to men, but in the matter of authority, they are to be subject to the decisions of men.” Kevin Cauley

III. Why Man Should Worship With His Head Uncovered Vs. 4, 7 4 -“Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 7 -“For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man”

III. Why Man Should Worship With His Head Uncovered Vs. 4, 7 A man who prayed or prophesied with a covered head dishonored Christ Image and glory of God = “Man is the image of his maker, was created for him, and to add to his glory.” J.W. Shepherd

IV. Why Women Must Be Different - Vs. 5-6 “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. 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”

IV. Why Women Must Be Different - Vs. 5-6 Does not authorize women to prophesy and pray in the public assemblies when men are present (1 Tim. 2:8-15) Covering = Veil

Customs Of The Day The veil was worn by women as a sign of subjection to the man Women wore the veil into public assemblies & this was a sign that the woman was under the power of the man

Customs Of The Day Paul taught the Christian women of Corinth to wear a covering (veil) on their heads when they engaged in public worship Men were to worship with heads uncovered

Customs Of The Day In Corinth prostitutes and other lewd women would show themselves in public with close cropped hair or with their heads shaved The CUSTOM of decent women was to be veiled in public

Customs Of The Day If a woman went unveiled: 1. It showed that she was not subject to the man 2. She wanted to advertise herself; the unveiled face and shaven head was the badge of a harlot

V. Man Has Authority Over Woman – Vs. 7-10 “For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.

V. Man Has Authority Over Woman – Vs. 7-10 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.”

V. Man Has Authority Over Woman – Vs. 7-10 Woman is the glory of the man = “The woman was created of and for the man” “She is to give honor to the man, and being veiled denotes the idea that she is subject to him” Jackson

V. Man Has Authority Over Woman – Vs. 7-10 Woman came from man & was created for man and thus man has the authority Power or authority on her head = she ought to be veiled At that time when the woman wore the veil it showed her subordination to man

V. Man Has Authority Over Woman – Vs. 7-10 “God never intended for Eve to be a slave to Adam. In marriage, the wife is to be a close companion and helper to the man; she occupies a position of subordination to her husband, but only in authority.” Winton

V. Man Has Authority Over Woman – Vs. 7-10 “In our time, all such statements are violently objected to by the militant feminists, but the truth of God’s Word is not determined by popular acceptance or rejection. It stands regardless.” Jackson

V. Man Has Authority Over Woman – Vs. 7-10 “For this cause ought the woman to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels.” ASV

V. Man Has Authority Over Woman – Vs. 7-10 For this cause = based on the points just made Power = Sign of authority – women should wear a covering on their heads as a sign that they recognize and accept their subordinate role in life

V. Man Has Authority Over Woman – Vs. 7-10 Because of the angels = Angels are subject to God & honor Him. Mankind should likewise serve and honor God in all things

VI. Both Man & Woman Depend Upon Each Other – Vs. 11-12 “Nevertheless, neither is the woman without the man, nor the man without the woman, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, so is the man also by the woman; but all things are of God.” ASV

VI. Both Man & Woman Depend Upon Each Other – Vs. 11-12 Men and women have their God given roles and are both needed by God in carrying out His will Men and women both came from God and have an important role in God’s plan

VII. Why Women’s Hair Should Be Longer Than Men’s – Vs. 13-15 “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.”

VII. Why Women’s Hair Should Be Longer Than Men’s – Vs. 13-15 The short hair of man and the longer hair of woman is one of the primary distinctions between men and women “Compared to the length of a woman’s hair, the man’s hair is to be shorter.” Winton

VIII. Observing Customs That Do Not Violate God’s Law – v. 16 “But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.” “But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.” NKJV

VIII. Observing Customs That Do Not Violate God’s Law – v. 16 “The Corinthian men were taught to pray and prophesy with uncovered (unveiled) heads, and their women were taught to pray and prophesy with their heads covered (veiled), because to do otherwise would violate current custom.” Winton

What About The Veil Today? It is not the custom of women to go veiled in our nation today A veil would not automatically show a woman to be concerned about purity and decency

What About The Veil Today? The absence of a veil does not mean a woman is a prostitute This comes under the same category as the “holy kiss” of Romans 16:16

Romans 16:16 “Salute one another with an holy kiss.” “Greet one another with a holy kiss.” NKJV

What About The Veil Today? A woman may or may not wear a hat today in the assembly. The wearing of a hat is not the same as the wearing of the veil in the first century

Lessons 1. The head of Christ is God –head of man is Christ – head of woman is the man 2. all men should strive to bring honor to Christ in what that say and do

Lessons 3. The woman is to do nothing which will dishonor the man 4. It is all right to keep the customs of the day as long as they do not violate God’s law (Men with long hair may be the custom but it violates God’s law)

Lessons 5. We should not dress in a way that it links us with impure and evil people 6. Our dress must show our concern for purity and decency

References: 1) Article by Kevin Cauley on 1 Cor. 11:1-16 2) Commentaries on 1 Corinthians: by Bob Winton, B. Jackson, Lipscomb & Shepherd, 3) Article by Guy N. Woods in, Questions and Answers Vol. 1 4) KJV, NKJV, ASV 5) Expanding Outlines of The N.T. Books, by Harvey A. Childress