Why don't Christian women cover their hair?

[jmt356]

Paul wrote in his first letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 11, "5 But any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled dishonours her head-it is the same as if her head were shaven. 6 For if a woman will not veil herself, then she should cut off her hair, but if it is disgraceful for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her wear a veil."

The commentary in the NIV Study Bible states (p. 1,748):

"For a woman, taking off her head covering in public and exposing her hair was a sign of loose morals and sexual promiscuity. Paul says she might as well have her hair cut or shaved off. The shaved head indicated that the woman either had been publicly disgraced because of some shameful act or was openly flaunting her independence and her refusal to be in submission to her husband. Paul’s message to her was: Show your respect for and submission to your husband by covering your head during public worship.
"Some do not see in these verses a temporary cultural significance to the covering/uncovering of the head. They insist that, since Paul referred to the order of creation (vv. 7-9), his directive is not to be restricted to his time. Thus women of all times should wear a head covering.
"Others find a lasting principle in the passage requiring wives, in all ways, to show respect for their husbands by submitting to their authority—not merely by a particular style of attire, but by godly lives. Man, who was created first, is to have authority over his wife (see 1Ti 2:11-14). The wife was made out of his body (Ge 2:21-24) to be his helper and companion (Ge 2:20). She is to honor her husband by submitting to him as her head (see v. 3).
"Still others see these verses, not as a mandate for all marriages, but as reflecting marriage relationships at that time in Corinth and therefore giving a reason why the women there should have covered their heads (v. 10). They point to vv. 11-12 as a contrast, emphasizing equality and mutual dependence between men and women who are “in the Lord” (v. 11; see Gal 3:28; 1Pe 3:7)."

Why are there so many interpretations about Paul's very clear instruction in 1 Corinthians 11? His message is very clear: women should cover their hair when praying or prophesying. Why don't Christian women (other than the Amish and Menonites) cover their hair when praying or prophesying?

 

[Truthfrees]

Paul wrote in his first letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 11, "5 But any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled dishonours her head-it is the same as if her head were shaven. 6 For if a woman will not veil herself, then she should cut off her hair, but if it is disgraceful for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her wear a veil."

The commentary in the NIV Study Bible states (p. 1,748):

"For a woman, taking off her head covering in public and exposing her hair was a sign of loose morals and sexual promiscuity. Paul says she might as well have her hair cut or shaved off. The shaved head indicated that the woman either had been publicly disgraced because of some shameful act or was openly flaunting her independence and her refusal to be in submission to her husband. Paul’s message to her was: Show your respect for and submission to your husband by covering your head during public worship.
"Some do not see in these verses a temporary cultural significance to the covering/uncovering of the head. They insist that, since Paul referred to the order of creation (vv. 7-9), his directive is not to be restricted to his time. Thus women of all times should wear a head covering.
"Others find a lasting principle in the passage requiring wives, in all ways, to show respect for their husbands by submitting to their authority—not merely by a particular style of attire, but by godly lives. Man, who was created first, is to have authority over his wife (see 1Ti 2:11-14). The wife was made out of his body (Ge 2:21-24) to be his helper and companion (Ge 2:20). She is to honor her husband by submitting to him as her head (see v. 3).
"Still others see these verses, not as a mandate for all marriages, but as reflecting marriage relationships at that time in Corinth and therefore giving a reason why the women there should have covered their heads (v. 10). They point to vv. 11-12 as a contrast, emphasizing equality and mutual dependence between men and women who are “in the Lord” (v. 11; see Gal 3:28; 1Pe 3:7)."

Why are there so many interpretations about Paul's very clear instruction in 1 Corinthians 11? His message is very clear: women should cover their hair when praying or prophesying. Why don't Christian women (other than the Amish and Menonites) cover their hair when praying or prophesying?

there is a lot of man doing what man wants rather than doing what God says

 

[GodsGrace]

Paul wrote in his first letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 11, "5 But any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled dishonours her head-it is the same as if her head were shaven. 6 For if a woman will not veil herself, then she should cut off her hair, but if it is disgraceful for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her wear a veil."

The commentary in the NIV Study Bible states (p. 1,748):

"For a woman, taking off her head covering in public and exposing her hair was a sign of loose morals and sexual promiscuity. Paul says she might as well have her hair cut or shaved off. The shaved head indicated that the woman either had been publicly disgraced because of some shameful act or was openly flaunting her independence and her refusal to be in submission to her husband. Paul’s message to her was: Show your respect for and submission to your husband by covering your head during public worship.
"Some do not see in these verses a temporary cultural significance to the covering/uncovering of the head. They insist that, since Paul referred to the order of creation (vv. 7-9), his directive is not to be restricted to his time. Thus women of all times should wear a head covering.
"Others find a lasting principle in the passage requiring wives, in all ways, to show respect for their husbands by submitting to their authority—not merely by a particular style of attire, but by godly lives. Man, who was created first, is to have authority over his wife (see 1Ti 2:11-14). The wife was made out of his body (Ge 2:21-24) to be his helper and companion (Ge 2:20). She is to honor her husband by submitting to him as her head (see v. 3).
"Still others see these verses, not as a mandate for all marriages, but as reflecting marriage relationships at that time in Corinth and therefore giving a reason why the women there should have covered their heads (v. 10). They point to vv. 11-12 as a contrast, emphasizing equality and mutual dependence between men and women who are “in the Lord” (v. 11; see Gal 3:28; 1Pe 3:7)."

Why are there so many interpretations about Paul's very clear instruction in 1 Corinthians 11? His message is very clear: women should cover their hair when praying or prophesying. Why don't Christian women (other than the Amish and Menonites) cover their hair when praying or prophesying?

What is interesting about this is that PAUL,,,,the speaker and teacher of grace and not works.....has just created a work IF WE COVERED our heads.

Jesus spoke about being born from above, about spirituality and love for our fellow man.
He would not have cared if a woman's head was covered or not.

Paul is referring to a cultural custom and one which is no longer honored.
It does surprise me that he thought it was so important when other things were not....

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

What is interesting about this is that PAUL,,,,the speaker and teacher of grace and not works.....has just created a work IF WE COVERED our heads.

Jesus spoke about being born from above, about spirituality and love for our fellow man.
He would not have cared if a woman's head was covered or not.

Paul is referring to a cultural custom and one which is no longer honored.
It does surprise me that he thought it was so important when other things were not....

Be a good girl and cover your head.
Also, while your at it, follow these rules as well.

20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.

 

[GodsGrace]

Be a good girl and cover your head.
Also, while your at it, follow these rules as well.

20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.

Why verse 20?
I don't believe I do those things listed.
We all eat blood, BTW.

 

[LovethroughDove]

Just go down a little further in scripture and he explains God's natural response to this problem

1 Corinthians 11:15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. ?

 

[Tertul]

The vast majority of people going to church today dress inappropriately. Women don't cover their heads because they don't follow the Bible, every other reason given is false rationalization. Some don't cover their heads because they're feminists in rebellion against God (they reject the biblical patriarchy). Others don't cover their head because they're ignorant and just do what they see others doing and they don't know what the Bible teaches.

 

[Tertul]

Be a good girl and cover your head.
Also, while your at it, follow these rules as well.

20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.

Is the purpose of your false equivalence an effort to teach that Christians shouldn't concern themselves with following any teachings of the Bible?

I do abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, and from the meat of strangled animals. I don't even have to do this intentionally as we have no animals in our food supply that are polluted by idols and strangled.

The verse you speak of appears to be a political compromise with the judaizers, rather than anything doing with God's dietary desires. The Bible clearly tells us we can eat anything.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

Is the purpose of your false equivalence an effort to teach that Christians shouldn't concern themselves with following any teachings of the Bible?

I do abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, and from the meat of strangled animals. I don't even have to do this intentionally as we have no animals in our food supply that are polluted by idols and strangled.

The verse you speak of appears to be a political compromise with the judaizers, rather than anything doing with God's dietary desires. The Bible clearly tells us we can eat anything.

Some people are meant for rules.
These ones are not harmful
And what was the purpose of you telling us that you do obey these rules?
Was it prideful?
Sure sounded like it.

 

[Butch5]

Paul wrote in his first letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 11, "5 But any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled dishonours her head-it is the same as if her head were shaven. 6 For if a woman will not veil herself, then she should cut off her hair, but if it is disgraceful for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her wear a veil."

The commentary in the NIV Study Bible states (p. 1,748):

"For a woman, taking off her head covering in public and exposing her hair was a sign of loose morals and sexual promiscuity. Paul says she might as well have her hair cut or shaved off. The shaved head indicated that the woman either had been publicly disgraced because of some shameful act or was openly flaunting her independence and her refusal to be in submission to her husband. Paul’s message to her was: Show your respect for and submission to your husband by covering your head during public worship.
"Some do not see in these verses a temporary cultural significance to the covering/uncovering of the head. They insist that, since Paul referred to the order of creation (vv. 7-9), his directive is not to be restricted to his time. Thus women of all times should wear a head covering.
"Others find a lasting principle in the passage requiring wives, in all ways, to show respect for their husbands by submitting to their authority—not merely by a particular style of attire, but by godly lives. Man, who was created first, is to have authority over his wife (see 1Ti 2:11-14). The wife was made out of his body (Ge 2:21-24) to be his helper and companion (Ge 2:20). She is to honor her husband by submitting to him as her head (see v. 3).
"Still others see these verses, not as a mandate for all marriages, but as reflecting marriage relationships at that time in Corinth and therefore giving a reason why the women there should have covered their heads (v. 10). They point to vv. 11-12 as a contrast, emphasizing equality and mutual dependence between men and women who are “in the Lord” (v. 11; see Gal 3:28; 1Pe 3:7)."

Why are there so many interpretations about Paul's very clear instruction in 1 Corinthians 11? His message is very clear: women should cover their hair when praying or prophesying. Why don't Christian women (other than the Amish and Menonites) cover their hair when praying or prophesying?

They do in the church I attend. One reason that women don't cover any more is because of feminism. That's when this all started. Before the feminist movement started Christian women did cover their heads. If you look back through church history you can see this. The refusal to cover is a relatively new idea. Paul's words are clear, many women either ignore them or are not aware of them. There's no question that women are to cover, just as men are to uncover.

 

[Tertul]

Some people are meant for rules.
These ones are not harmful
And what was the purpose of you telling us that you do obey these rules?
Was it prideful?
Sure sounded like it.

How can it be a point of pride when I said I take no credit for it, "I don't even have to do this intentionally as we have no animals in our food supply that are polluted by idols and strangled." And, why would you accuse me of taking pride, if it were to my credit, I was only defending against your lame accusation of hypocrisy? I think you're lashing out because my comments convict you. Does this forum have an ignore filter (AKA, a twit filter)?

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

How can it be a point of pride when I said I take no credit for it, "I don't even have to do this intentionally as we have no animals in our food supply that are polluted by idols and strangled." And, why would you accuse me of taking pride, if it were to my credit, I was only defending against your lame accusation of hypocrisy? I think you're lashing out because my comments convict you. Does this forum have an ignore filter (AKA, a twit filter)?

Oh yes, you can ignore me all you want.
But then you'll miss out in everything.

 

[Susannah]

I know this is controversial, but I believe wearing a veil is one of those cultural customs in the Bible, rather than a mandate from Christ. I am not sure he even mentioned how women should dress although one would assume he believed in modesty.

I am a Quaker and believe in simplicity. We wear simple clothes and no jewelry. I personally wear no makeup.

I read in Beauty Bound that modern women feel pressured to wear make up and high heels to impress men. I am glad Christian women have men who don't do that.

Finally, I was a hippie in 1968. We used to believe that our long hair was like a veil. I have long hair still.

What we wear is not the issue. Other things are more important. What is in our heart is important. Respecting our bodies is important. There is a middle ground. We don't have to hide in our clothes but we do have be modest in dress.

People today are obsessed with attraction and sex. Dressing provocatively is not for Christian men or women. In my opinion.

 

[LovethroughDove]

Women don't cover their heads because they don't follow the Bible, every other reason given is false rationalization.

I am following the Bible.

1 Corinthians 11:15 - - - - For long hair "is" given to her as a covering.

Our long hair IS the covering. God created it that way. Why are you gonna go against God and put something on top of what he created for the covering! Stupid.

 

[Butch5]

I am following the Bible.

1 Corinthians 11:15 - - - - For long hair "is" given to her as a covering.

Our long hair IS the covering. God created it that way. Why are you gonna go against God and put something on top of what he created for the covering! Stupid.

The hair isn't the covering. Paul uses a different Greek word when he writes about her hair.

 

[LovethroughDove]

The hair isn't the covering. Paul uses a different Greek word when he writes about her hair.

Butch, it literally says that. Her hair is given to her for a covering.

 

[Butch5]

Butch, it literally says that. Her hair is given to her for a covering.

He's not saying that the hair is the covering. He uses a different Greek word. The confusion is because the translators translate these two different words with the same English word cover

 

[jasonc]

Butch, it literally says that. Her hair is given to her for a covering.

for if it is a shame for to cover her head, let her shave her head.

not hair but a shaw, similar to what the muslims call a hijab and also what the Chassidic jewish women do. and or nuns. face is visible but head is covered

Chapter 11, "5 But any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled dishonours her head-it is the same as if her head were shaven. 6 For if a woman will not veil herself, then she should cut off her hair, but if it is disgraceful for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her wear a veil."

 

[LovethroughDove]

He's not saying that the hair is the covering. He uses a different Greek word. The confusion is because the translators translate these two different words with the same English word cover

We will just have to disagree, cause this is what I am seeing.

 

[LovethroughDove]

for if it is a shame for to cover her head, let her shave her head.

not hair but a shaw, similar to what the muslims call a hijab and also what the Chassidic jewish women do. and or nuns. face is visible but head is covered

I'm going with the scripture I posted. Jason I can't tell what your opinion is.