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 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. 5 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. 6 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. 7 For a man indeed 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 is not from woman, but woman from man. 9 Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. 10 For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. 12 For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God. 13 Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not even nature itself 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 for a covering. 16 But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.
Commentary
Vs. 2 "Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you."
The Apostle Paul now balances out some of his critiques of the Corinthians with some praises. Sure the Corinthians were a young congregation (that is new to the faith, and specifically new to the One true God) and thus their previous lives were marked by their cultures social "norms" and religious cultures practices, specifically the idolatrous feasts and immoral practices associated with their worship of idols. That said, what makes their faith commendable is there desire to follow Christ according to the commandments of Christ given to us all through His Biblical Apostles. And that is what the Apostle Paul is praising them for here. Now that they remember Paul in all things is not just a sentimental remembrance of his person, but of his just and sound conduct In Christ which wonderfully modelled for them what faith In Christ should look like. And so in remembering the Apostle Paul, they also remembered what he taught them, (in word and deed), specifically here Paul says the traditions that they themselves were keeping, just as Paul had delivered them to them. Thus they neither added anything to them, nor took anything away from them. They simply kept them, just as the Apostle Paul had delivered them to them, just as he himself received them from God (consider 2 Thess. 2:15). Now these traditions would have included all of what Paul had already taught them, yet it seems that the Apostle Paul's emphasis here was on the Lord's Supper (vs. 17-33). However before he can address their conduct there, he must first address another pressing issue, and that was the Corinthians subjection to God and how God has ordained that we all do that. Thus before he can address that, he must first address and fix the foundation.
Vs. 3 "But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God."
The Apostle Paul now reaffirms God's Divine arrangement of us all, and thus how we are to submit ourselves to God by submitting ourselves to His Divine arrangement of rule and authority for us all. Now Christ is the head of every man, because Jesus Christ is Lord of all, and all things were created through Him and for Him (Col. 1:16). While man is the head of woman because God created Adam first, and then God took one of Adam's ribs and made woman from man as mans helpmate, not his head, thus man is woman's head because woman came through man (see 1 Tim 2:11-13). Now God is the head of Christ, and so though there is an equality of Person in the Godhead (as there is in the Body of Christ with all men and all women), there is still an order of subordination that all in the Godhead or Trinity follow. Thus Jesus submitted Himself too and obeyed God the Father in all things (consider John 5:30; 6:38; 8:55; 15:10 etc). Now what is being stated here is not tyranny of one over the other, rather our wilful subjection to God by submitting ourselves to God's Divinely given order.
Vs. 4 "Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head."
Since Christ is the head of man, a man who prays or prophecy's with his head covered is only dishonoring his own head; or Christ as his head. Either interpretation applies. Since by his doing so he is in effect knowingly placing something between himself and Christ, and thus rejecting God's rule and authority over himself through Christ.
Vs. 5-6 5 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. 6 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.
In light of what the Apostle Paul has just reasoned and commanded regarding men and their having their heads uncovered while praying or prophesying. It is logical that all woman have their heads covered while praying or prophesying. The reason reason they are to do this is to show their subordination to God and their husbands (and or male authority in the home) and thus his Divine principals of headship for us all. Now that Paul says for a woman not to do so "...is one and the same as if her head were saved", is referring to the Corinthians culture where immoral women (and or temple prostitutes) deliberately wore their hair short, or shaved their heads completely! Therefore if a woman will not cover her head while praying or prophesying let here be shorn! That is let her rebellion against God and her head the man (or husband) be exposed as such. For if she will not obey this simple statute (respecting God's will and designs for her while in the worship of Him) then let her rebellion and shamefulness be known to one and all.
Now what is at stake here is not head coverings per-say, (for we do not have temples and temple prostitutes today by which a Christian woman might be confused with if she were to wear her hair short or have her head uncovered while praying or prophesying) rather what is at stake with this statute (indeed every N.T. statute) is ones disposition of heart towards God through it. That is what matters, for even the Pharisees kept God's commandment for the Jews about wearing colored tassels on their robes and phylacteries (little leather boxes worn on the forehead or hands containing excerpts of the Scriptures inside of them). Yet their doing so was only a engrossed public display of their own "piety" and had very little to do with their hearts disposition towards God as Jesus said of them (Matt. 23:5-7). And so outward appearances is never the measure of ones own heart and obedience towards God. Something to keep in mind when we look at these sorts of statutes, for it's always ones disposition towards and God and His will for us through them that matters, because outward appearances does not always reflect someones inward reality.
Vs. 7-9 7 For a man indeed 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 is not from woman, but woman from man. 9 Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man.
Returning then to the passage, the Apostle Paul now states why a man should not cover his head while praying or prophesying, The reason he gives is simple and to the point, man is the image and glory of God. That is man being created first bears the image of God, specifically the worlds Savior and Redeemer Christ Jesus the Lord (1 John 4:14), who came into this world as a male human being, who before this world or anything was created was foreordained to do so (1 Peter 1:20). Thus when God created man he was in fact creating the image and glory of the Christ who would come.
While woman being taken from the man bears the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman came from man (vs. 8). That is she came afterwards being formed from him and was made for him as his helpmate, not as his head (vs. 9). Thus to try to circumvent that is only to circumvent and deny God's Divine order and will for us all:
Father;
Son;
man;
woman.
For role reversal has mislead this world into the deplorable and degenerate state that we now see it in, where homosexuality finds itself now justified, and gender distinction is no longer a God given prerogative.
Vs. 10 "For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels."
The Apostle Paul now gives another reason for the woman's head being covered while in prayer or prophesying because by it she shows herself in subjection to her head, and this she does not just before other human beings, but also before the angels, who also observe our worship of God and conduct before Him.
Vs. 11-12 11 Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. 12 For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.
Even though God made man woman's head, man is not independent of woman, nor is the woman independent of the man, in the Lord. For the Body of Christ requires both to function well, just as creation does. For again just as woman first came through man, man now comes through the woman, thus there is no independence of gender (whether male or female), we both need each other; not just for procreation, but for healthy and balanced living. Now this is self evident to all, for it came from God. The unique qualities and attributes that each gender brings to our relationships in the home, in our lives, and in greater society is necessary for one and for all.
Vs. 13-16 13 Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not even nature itself 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 for a covering. 16 But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.
The Apostle Paul now reasons according to what is known naturally (as well as what is practiced according to church custom) in verses thirteen to fifteen. And so in verse thirteen the Apostle Paul asks them to judge for themselves, "Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?" This he states having already reasoned that the pagan temple priestesses and or immoral woman of the day wore their hair short or shaved, and so to make a positive distinction between Christian woman and them; as well as the Spiritual reality of angels being present when we pray too and worship God; and thus as a sign of ones wilful subordination to ones head; woman should be covered. Thus whether or not a woman should be covered is not at question, Paul's question is a rhetorical one, and so what is at question is what form this head covering took. Now looking at verse fourteen and fifteen it is clear that the Apostle Paul sees a natural distinction to be made between the genders by the hair, and thus the hair itself can be the means by which a women submits herself to God's designs for her, or she shows herself in rebellion against Him. Same with the man. And so though an external covering is worn, and in all likelihood should be worn by the woman when she prays or prophesies to show herself in submission to God's designs for her. Just as the man should remove from his head all hats and such before he prays, so as to show due respect and regard for Christ who is his head and whose image he bears. Yet if a head covering is not warn by the woman it is not the head covering per-say that matters, rather it is the woman's disposition of heart towards God and His designs for her that ultimately matters. Thus her wearing her hair in a manner that distinguishes her person as a Godly female can serve as her covering (vs. 15). Just as the man should wear his hair in such a manner that distinguishes himself as a Godly male person (vs. 14, also consider Ezekiel 44:20). Therefore I see no reason to follow the culture norms of any society or people when these confuse our unique roles, as unique genders, with uniquely given Godly purposes.
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
Additional Resources Consulted
Wiersbe, W. W. (1992). Wiersbe’s expository outlines on the New Testament (p. 450). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1785). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
The Untold Story of the New Testament Church: An Extraordinary Guide to Understanding the New Testament, Frank Viola, Destiny Image Publishers, page 135
Commentary
Vs. 2 "Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you."
The Apostle Paul now balances out some of his critiques of the Corinthians with some praises. Sure the Corinthians were a young congregation (that is new to the faith, and specifically new to the One true God) and thus their previous lives were marked by their cultures social "norms" and religious cultures practices, specifically the idolatrous feasts and immoral practices associated with their worship of idols. That said, what makes their faith commendable is there desire to follow Christ according to the commandments of Christ given to us all through His Biblical Apostles. And that is what the Apostle Paul is praising them for here. Now that they remember Paul in all things is not just a sentimental remembrance of his person, but of his just and sound conduct In Christ which wonderfully modelled for them what faith In Christ should look like. And so in remembering the Apostle Paul, they also remembered what he taught them, (in word and deed), specifically here Paul says the traditions that they themselves were keeping, just as Paul had delivered them to them. Thus they neither added anything to them, nor took anything away from them. They simply kept them, just as the Apostle Paul had delivered them to them, just as he himself received them from God (consider 2 Thess. 2:15). Now these traditions would have included all of what Paul had already taught them, yet it seems that the Apostle Paul's emphasis here was on the Lord's Supper (vs. 17-33). However before he can address their conduct there, he must first address another pressing issue, and that was the Corinthians subjection to God and how God has ordained that we all do that. Thus before he can address that, he must first address and fix the foundation.
Vs. 3 "But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God."
The Apostle Paul now reaffirms God's Divine arrangement of us all, and thus how we are to submit ourselves to God by submitting ourselves to His Divine arrangement of rule and authority for us all. Now Christ is the head of every man, because Jesus Christ is Lord of all, and all things were created through Him and for Him (Col. 1:16). While man is the head of woman because God created Adam first, and then God took one of Adam's ribs and made woman from man as mans helpmate, not his head, thus man is woman's head because woman came through man (see 1 Tim 2:11-13). Now God is the head of Christ, and so though there is an equality of Person in the Godhead (as there is in the Body of Christ with all men and all women), there is still an order of subordination that all in the Godhead or Trinity follow. Thus Jesus submitted Himself too and obeyed God the Father in all things (consider John 5:30; 6:38; 8:55; 15:10 etc). Now what is being stated here is not tyranny of one over the other, rather our wilful subjection to God by submitting ourselves to God's Divinely given order.
Vs. 4 "Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head."
Since Christ is the head of man, a man who prays or prophecy's with his head covered is only dishonoring his own head; or Christ as his head. Either interpretation applies. Since by his doing so he is in effect knowingly placing something between himself and Christ, and thus rejecting God's rule and authority over himself through Christ.
Vs. 5-6 5 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. 6 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.
In light of what the Apostle Paul has just reasoned and commanded regarding men and their having their heads uncovered while praying or prophesying. It is logical that all woman have their heads covered while praying or prophesying. The reason reason they are to do this is to show their subordination to God and their husbands (and or male authority in the home) and thus his Divine principals of headship for us all. Now that Paul says for a woman not to do so "...is one and the same as if her head were saved", is referring to the Corinthians culture where immoral women (and or temple prostitutes) deliberately wore their hair short, or shaved their heads completely! Therefore if a woman will not cover her head while praying or prophesying let here be shorn! That is let her rebellion against God and her head the man (or husband) be exposed as such. For if she will not obey this simple statute (respecting God's will and designs for her while in the worship of Him) then let her rebellion and shamefulness be known to one and all.
Now what is at stake here is not head coverings per-say, (for we do not have temples and temple prostitutes today by which a Christian woman might be confused with if she were to wear her hair short or have her head uncovered while praying or prophesying) rather what is at stake with this statute (indeed every N.T. statute) is ones disposition of heart towards God through it. That is what matters, for even the Pharisees kept God's commandment for the Jews about wearing colored tassels on their robes and phylacteries (little leather boxes worn on the forehead or hands containing excerpts of the Scriptures inside of them). Yet their doing so was only a engrossed public display of their own "piety" and had very little to do with their hearts disposition towards God as Jesus said of them (Matt. 23:5-7). And so outward appearances is never the measure of ones own heart and obedience towards God. Something to keep in mind when we look at these sorts of statutes, for it's always ones disposition towards and God and His will for us through them that matters, because outward appearances does not always reflect someones inward reality.
Vs. 7-9 7 For a man indeed 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 is not from woman, but woman from man. 9 Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man.
Returning then to the passage, the Apostle Paul now states why a man should not cover his head while praying or prophesying, The reason he gives is simple and to the point, man is the image and glory of God. That is man being created first bears the image of God, specifically the worlds Savior and Redeemer Christ Jesus the Lord (1 John 4:14), who came into this world as a male human being, who before this world or anything was created was foreordained to do so (1 Peter 1:20). Thus when God created man he was in fact creating the image and glory of the Christ who would come.
While woman being taken from the man bears the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman came from man (vs. 8). That is she came afterwards being formed from him and was made for him as his helpmate, not as his head (vs. 9). Thus to try to circumvent that is only to circumvent and deny God's Divine order and will for us all:
Father;
Son;
man;
woman.
For role reversal has mislead this world into the deplorable and degenerate state that we now see it in, where homosexuality finds itself now justified, and gender distinction is no longer a God given prerogative.
Vs. 10 "For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels."
The Apostle Paul now gives another reason for the woman's head being covered while in prayer or prophesying because by it she shows herself in subjection to her head, and this she does not just before other human beings, but also before the angels, who also observe our worship of God and conduct before Him.
Vs. 11-12 11 Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. 12 For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.
Even though God made man woman's head, man is not independent of woman, nor is the woman independent of the man, in the Lord. For the Body of Christ requires both to function well, just as creation does. For again just as woman first came through man, man now comes through the woman, thus there is no independence of gender (whether male or female), we both need each other; not just for procreation, but for healthy and balanced living. Now this is self evident to all, for it came from God. The unique qualities and attributes that each gender brings to our relationships in the home, in our lives, and in greater society is necessary for one and for all.
Vs. 13-16 13 Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not even nature itself 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 for a covering. 16 But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.
The Apostle Paul now reasons according to what is known naturally (as well as what is practiced according to church custom) in verses thirteen to fifteen. And so in verse thirteen the Apostle Paul asks them to judge for themselves, "Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?" This he states having already reasoned that the pagan temple priestesses and or immoral woman of the day wore their hair short or shaved, and so to make a positive distinction between Christian woman and them; as well as the Spiritual reality of angels being present when we pray too and worship God; and thus as a sign of ones wilful subordination to ones head; woman should be covered. Thus whether or not a woman should be covered is not at question, Paul's question is a rhetorical one, and so what is at question is what form this head covering took. Now looking at verse fourteen and fifteen it is clear that the Apostle Paul sees a natural distinction to be made between the genders by the hair, and thus the hair itself can be the means by which a women submits herself to God's designs for her, or she shows herself in rebellion against Him. Same with the man. And so though an external covering is worn, and in all likelihood should be worn by the woman when she prays or prophesies to show herself in submission to God's designs for her. Just as the man should remove from his head all hats and such before he prays, so as to show due respect and regard for Christ who is his head and whose image he bears. Yet if a head covering is not warn by the woman it is not the head covering per-say that matters, rather it is the woman's disposition of heart towards God and His designs for her that ultimately matters. Thus her wearing her hair in a manner that distinguishes her person as a Godly female can serve as her covering (vs. 15). Just as the man should wear his hair in such a manner that distinguishes himself as a Godly male person (vs. 14, also consider Ezekiel 44:20). Therefore I see no reason to follow the culture norms of any society or people when these confuse our unique roles, as unique genders, with uniquely given Godly purposes.
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
Additional Resources Consulted
Wiersbe, W. W. (1992). Wiersbe’s expository outlines on the New Testament (p. 450). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1785). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
The Untold Story of the New Testament Church: An Extraordinary Guide to Understanding the New Testament, Frank Viola, Destiny Image Publishers, page 135
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