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Bible Study should women wear head covering and men wear beards ? proof?

Sorry, I'm so slow in coming to the conversation Butch.
I'm not sure exactly what to say, I think I know what you mean -- but ... well ... words are strange things, sometimes....

Revelation 4:10-11.
The twenty four elders fall down ... and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, thou are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory...

I'm not sure what you're getting at here.

OK.
But both man and woman were made in the image of God.

So, If the woman is not the Glory of God, but the man is -- that implies something is still wrong with the woman. Adam was made from mud, Eve from Adam. The image of God is as clear as mud, if we're not careful.

I'm thinking that: The Glory of the Christ is because is he the very image (ikon) of the Father. But it's unclear how, say, an unmarried man is the image of a Father -- and Jesus remedied this by marrying via. a covenent (not sexually); Therefore, Jesus perfected the image of being a Father, by having adopted children who follow him.

These types of arguments, are very subtle -- and Paul appears to be dealing with subtle arguments in 1Corinthians 11.

But, Paul has laid out a specific order of glory that he is dealing with. I agree that in a different sense than he writes of here all of creation is the glory of God, I just don't think that's what he's addressing in this particular text.



So, then if she is not covered -- maybe someone will have thrown her down before the throne? .... hmm.... sounds, dangerously interesting, especially since a 'throne' in heaven is always an .... angel...

I'm not sure what you're getting at here either. Paul says that if a woman will not cover let her shave her head. When Paul writes let her be shorn, it is a command. In other words if she will not cover her head she is commanded to shave her head. Either way she dishonors her head, which in this case is the man but ultimately God
 
"My absolute selling point from the book was this: by covering “the glory of man” (aka the woman) and leaving uncovered “the glory of God” (aka the man), we are allowing God alone to receive glory. When Isaiah appeared before the Lord, even the angels covered their feet and eyes while admonishing Isaiah to ‘not look at them, but the Lord.’ Covering causes our hearts (and the angels) to be focused on God."
The above quote makes perfect sense to me. Thank you for posting it. :)

This one does not....
".....When I drilled down deeper into the website I found that the designs were all created by professional designers with an eye for fashion.....
My daughter and I drooled over the stunning images. I wouldn’t have to answer the “should I require my girls to wear a head covering” question. My daughter wanted to wear a head covering if it looked like that! (She also LOVES the idea of giving God total glory, too! Win/Win)"
http://superradchristianwriterchick.com/christian-women-want-wear-head-coverings/


Deb, you never mentioned just what problem you had with the second part but as I read the article, when I got to the drooling and fashion part, it kind of threw me for a loop because earlier in the article she admits to being a me me type person but on the other hand wants to give God the glory, hence the covering. Buying something fashionable, even if it is modest is after all trying to bring attention to ones clothing, or ones self.

Is that the problem you found? When I came back here after reading that, I thought, Oh' that's what Deb means, or I could be wrong.

Anyway whether you did or not, that's what caught my eye but at the same time, hey, she's trying and doing more than most, so I doubt either one of us are judging here harshly, just disagreeing with a little something there that wasn't quite right and for all I know, she would agree. She did, after all, admit to the human frailty of "all about me" but losing sight of that right there in the article after just mentioning it, as I saw it anyway, was actually a bit humorous too. :)

FWIW, I though the fashionable one looked pretty cool too, but there again, that shouldn't be the point.
 
Thank you, you are very gracious. What is it that strikes you as still being obscure? Not that I have all the answers, but it's fun to work at it.
First letters are not written in Chapter and verse. So first, like you, looking at the theme of the letter being that of, do everything to the glory of God.

1Co 10:29 and conscience, I say, not of thyself, but of the other, for why is it that my liberty is judged by another's conscience?
1Co 10:30 and if I thankfully do partake, why am I evil spoken of, for that for which I give thanks?
1Co 10:31 Whether, then, ye eat, or drink, or do anything, do all to the glory of God;
1Co 10:32 become offenceless, both to Jews and Greeks, and to the assembly of God;
1Co 10:33 as I also in all things do please all, not seeking my own profit, but that of many--that they may be saved.
It doesn't seem to me that Paul is avoiding the cultural customs of the 1st century society in the different cultures.
Rather than go on and on, I'll just post this rather long article, but contains many quotes from theologians such as, Matthew Henry, John Calvin, Lightfoot, Edwards, Poole, and others.
I would suggest reading at least the Summary and Conclusion.

"As we approach I Cor. ll:4-l6, the context of this passage becomes crucial. The evangelical position states that the Apostle Paul recommends head coverings as an application of the general principle of the believer’s responsibility to conform to the standards of decency, respectability and morality in the culture in which he/she lives. They are to do this in order to preach the Gospel without unnecessary hindrances or offenses to the general populace."
http://www.faithdefenders.com/church-life/headcoverings.html
 
Is that the problem you found? When I came back here after reading that, I thought, Oh' that's what Deb means, or I could be wrong.
Yup, Kenny, that is my problem but not necessarily would be hers. Would it be done in a sober, humble attitude or something else. I'm not sure I would do well in balancing fashion vs spiritual. I've always dressed nice for church but once I was dressed, I never thought about it again. But if what's on your head represents something or has a purpose other than a piece of clothing, that's different. Many ....yrs. ago when I went to the RCC, I wore a mantilla but didn't have a clue why other than it was expected, the Virgin Mary wore one. :oops2
 
1 Corinthians 11:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes
But every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.

I found this translation as well. Maybe it's only a wife thing?
 
1 Corinthians 11:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes
But every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.

I found this translation as well. Maybe it's only a wife thing?
Not according to the Early Church writers like Clement and Tertullian. All respectable women wore them in the Greek culture and we know that they did in the Jewish culture, as well. Tertullian says that at the church in Corinth, all woman wore them, even the virgins, and that was around 195 AD. Paul died a few yrs. before 70 AD, so I doubt that anything had changed that much in the customs of the church.
There is one Greek word for both woman and wife. It's a difficult scripture for sure.
 
Concerning the link that was posted - http://www.faithdefenders.com/church-life/headcoverings.html I read through that passage twice, and while I am not worthy of fixing tea for any of those great divines of old, I do think it interesting that none of them mentioned anything about the implications of headship, or of glory, but expounded instead about things that Paul did not say. Paul said nothing about prostitutes, or about local Corinthian hair customs, or the submission of wives to husbands or women to men. There is nothing in this passage to imply that it has anything to do with offending the local cultural sensibilities. So not to be uppity to my betters or anything, but it appears that they are obscuring more than clarifying in this instance. This passage is challenging enough without bringing in all sorts of possibly non-pertinent speculations, IMO the only way to sort it out is by sticking strictly to Scripture, and what the Scripture says relative to it.

As far as the ESV using the word wife instead of woman - the Greek is γυνή - gunē, Strong's says "a woman; specifically a wife: - wife, woman". Sitting here looking at e-Sword on the 'puter, I have 20 versions of the NT open, and the ESV is the only one that translates it as "wife." All the others use "woman." So I wouldn't let that be a big factor in however you decide things.
 
This passage is challenging enough without bringing in all sorts of possibly non-pertinent speculations, IMO the only way to sort it out is by sticking strictly to Scripture, and what the Scripture says relative to it.
I think the Scripture leading into this teaching is very relevant to the understanding of the teaching on headcoverings.
1 Corinth 10:29-33. What do you think Paul is referring to here?

Take this verse for instance. Can you tell me, with scripture, what why it was a shame to be shorn or shaven?
1Co 11:5 and every woman praying or prophesying with the head uncovered, doth dishonour her own head, for it is one and the same thing with her being shaven,
1Co 11:6 for if a woman is not covered--then let her be shorn, and if it is a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven--let her be covered;
 
I think the Scripture leading into this teaching is very relevant to the understanding of the teaching on headcoverings.
1 Corinth 10:29-33. What do you think Paul is referring to here?

Take this verse for instance. Can you tell me, with scripture, what why it was a shame to be shorn or shaven?
1Co 11:5 and every woman praying or prophesying with the head uncovered, doth dishonour her own head, for it is one and the same thing with her being shaven,
1Co 11:6 for if a woman is not covered--then let her be shorn, and if it is a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven--let her be covered;
1 Corinth 10:29-33
29 I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

David himself did not take part in the counterattack, having been persuaded by his generals to remain behind. He did give explicit instructions to the generals to “deal gently” with Absalom, in spite of his treason. Scripture makes the point that all the troops heard David’s orders concerning Absalom. However, the orders were disobeyed. As Absalom was riding under some trees, his long hair became entangled in the branches, and he was unhorsed. Joab found Absalom suspended in mid-air and killed him there. Thus, the rebellion was quelled, and David returned to Jerusalem as king.

Read more:http://www.gotquestions.org/who-was-Absalom.html#ixzz3bDLpE3eH

1 Corinth 11:15
And isn't long hair a woman's pride and joy? For it has been given to her as a covering.
 
1 Corinth 10:29-33
29 I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

David himself did not take part in the counterattack, having been persuaded by his generals to remain behind. He did give explicit instructions to the generals to “deal gently” with Absalom, in spite of his treason. Scripture makes the point that all the troops heard David’s orders concerning Absalom. However, the orders were disobeyed. As Absalom was riding under some trees, his long hair became entangled in the branches, and he was unhorsed. Joab found Absalom suspended in mid-air and killed him there. Thus, the rebellion was quelled, and David returned to Jerusalem as king.

Read more:http://www.gotquestions.org/who-was-Absalom.html#ixzz3bDLpE3eH

1 Corinth 11:15
And isn't long hair a woman's pride and joy? For it has been given to her as a covering.

Well, that's a good reason Absalom should have been shorn. :)

Are you saying that it is a shame for a woman to be shorn because it hurts her pride and makes her sad?
 
Well, that's a good reason Absalom should have been shorn. :)

Are you saying that it is a shame for a woman to be shorn because it hurts her pride and makes her sad?
Sorry, that's not what I was trying to imply, however, I do believe some or even the majority of woman, no matter their ethnicity, race, or nationality, are proud of their hair and may even glory in it if it is healthy and beautiful *shrugs*

I personally think a follower of Christ that will abide with what the Spirit moves them to do.

Verses to ponder:

Romans 14:14
"Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand."

James 4:17
"If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them.

1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Romans 14:5
"One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind."
 
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But, Paul has laid out a specific order of glory that he is dealing with. I agree that in a different sense than he writes of here all of creation is the glory of God, I just don't think that's what he's addressing in this particular text.

It's not the whole Glory of creation that I am talking about.
I'm referencing that male and female human beings are made in the image of God. They are God's glory because they are made in his image. Animals, and grain, and other things are not specifically the image of God. Those things glorify God in a different way. Man is unique.

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Therefore, the glory of being made in the image of God comes only to mankind; and any Glory about man as specifically male and female is what Paul is talking about in the sentences of 1Corinthians 11:3. Paul doesn't use the generic, 'anthropos' (man), but rather words specifically meaning both male and human, and also female and human.

As far as I know -- all Glory a person has, is connected to God by their name; But -- when God first created Adam and Eve, he called them as a pair by a single name; Adam : Genesis 5:2 --- God did not call them by two different names. Rather: It is Adam who named and gained power over Eve at a later date, but only after she fell into sin and not a moment before.
That is why I am wondering about what is 'wrong' with the woman in a new creation, with Christ redeeming her every bit as much as he redeems man. Why would she differs from man in Glory in way which she did not before sin ?

If woman, and I mean -- a human being, and not the church as a whole -- is what Paul is talking about in 1Corinthians 11:3, then interpreting that as making her somehow separate from the man, and a possession of man for his Glory, would symbolically makes her the equivalent of a trophy or a crown. Therefore the elders in Revelation 4:4 or someone should be throwing women into the sea if women really and always and only belong to man; for the other thing that is man's Glory is explicitly "a crown of life" and that is thrown into the sea in order to give God Glory over man's glory.

Revelation 2:10, Genesis 3:20, Revelation 4:10-11

And the angel stuff you speak of is really confusing, I *really* don't understand what Tertullian is talking about...

When I read Isaiah, about the angels, I come to the very distinct conclusion that the angels are, NOT watching -- for their eyes are covered (veiled). With a little more study, I come to the conclusion that the seraphim are serpent like angels, and that's why Moses had a seraph serpent (fire serpent) on his staff. As far as I can tell, the seraphim are likely the same class of angel from which came the Devil, except that he lost his wings and no longer is a bearer of light; whereas the seraphim in heaven have both wings and fire. They are like the sun, or like lightning, or stars when they wish to be; That is why the devil's name was once lucifer (light bearer). So -- perhaps the Seraphim as a class have a reason to be ashamed that the Devil came from them, and one particular woman (Eve) who was deceived by the devil, but it doesn't make any sense to me that the angels wear veils. while the woman wears a dominion cap of authority when angels are mentioned, according to the Greek (1Corinthians 11:10), and some kind of turban according to Tertulian. Its a total disconnect.

For I looked to see what can be found about women in heaven, or in a heavenly liturgy like Isaiah or Revelation.
But the only headpiece mentioned in Revelation for a woman is not a Veil, which would 'cover' her, rather she wears a crown (Revelation 12:1) which is a dominion hat, but one clearly made of angels (for stars are a sign meaning angels), and that kind of thing on her head would definitely NOT hide her FROM the angels. Both Isaiah and Revelation are visions of the same place, so they ought to be consistent.

But: if long hair is a covering, then it is strange that the only place it is mentioned in the heavenly visions is in a very negative light: eg: Revelation 9:7-8.

I don't know why you are repeating the shorn hair commands to me, for yes -- it is a command; but I see no women in heaven with hair or coverings. So maybe having short hair is appropriate.

I do agree that Paul lays out an order: 1st -- "I [Paul] am a follower of Christ" 2nd -- "be you-all imitators of me"
and he does this immediately before laying out a second order, the order you are speaking about -- but he does it as a series of sentence fragments; I've looked at an interlinear for the sentence, where translators show interpolated, added words that aren't in the original Greek in brackets [] , and all the brackets are concentrated around the woman; 1Corinthians 11:3

http://biblehub.com/interlinear/1_corinthians/11-3.htm

When I study the sentence, this is what I see and think:

1Corinthians 11:3 but I'll have you know that of all [a] male, the head [united with] the Anointed, is .

The words Head and Anointed are both subject words, neither of them is a predicate. Their genders differ, hence that usually indicates a family/covenant/marriage relationship in Greek for otherwise the gender of adjectives are supposed to match (and they don't). Thats why I say [united with]; So -- One way it can be read is that: Out of all that is male, the head is the anointed. Or the annointed is the Head. Or, I might read it that all heads united with the Christ are male -- but there is only one head (singular) male.

What I am sure of is that this head male, is in the position of some kind of elder and is consecrated (anointed).

Then the sentence goes on, and a semicolon in the original text indicates where the word 'but' would be in English.

1Corinthinans 11:3 ... but [a] head woman [united with] the male,

Which is an incomplete sentence fragment and not really translatable without adding a whole bunch of words.

Again there are no predicate (AKA accusative case words) in the ongoing sentence fragment, and worse -- there is no definite article on woman, and no adjective saying every woman, and worst of all -- no verb whatsoever. We don't know who this woman is; but there is only one of her and being juxtaposed with a male -- that is normally a sign that two people (male and female) are married.

And in the final part of the sentence, Paul switches to genitive grammar which breaks the previous patterns and says, "but head -of-the-annointed [is] God." No marriage is implied as the words are not gender mismatched and Paul is very careful not to allow homosexual unions to be suggested when it comes to God.

So -- what I see is that God is the one who put an annointed male as head of [a] [particular] marriage.
Nothing more. So it looks to me.

But I see clearly that tons of translators are adding words to English versions of the bible in order to make sense out of what Paul said in that passage; and it's not very clear to me exactly what Paul means ( 2Peter 3:16 ), except that an elder is anointed, not the wife, and God is the head of anointing.

But even if I accept the KJV's version of the translation of 1Corinthians 11:3 and 1Corinthians 11:5, it's not going to help; for the KJV doesn't say her 'own' head, but merely her 'head'. So, Paul could mean that she tries to pray together with her anointed/consecrated husband, or Paul could mean she prays without a covering on her head in general.

I'm not sure what you're getting at here either. Paul says that if a woman will not cover let her shave her head. When Paul writes let her be shorn, it is a command. In other words if she will not cover her head she is commanded to shave her head. Either way she dishonors her head, which in this case is the man but ultimately God

Yes, it's a command. But -- It was you who brought up Tertullian, and church history -- was it not?
Tertulian is also an early witnesses to men of the church wearing pointy hats called mitres:

Tertulian Chapter 14: Clue to the error of the Jews: "He was stripped of His former sordid raiment, and adorned with a garment down to the foot, and with a turban and a clean mitre, that is, (with the garb) of the SECOND ADVENT; since He is demonstrated as having attained "glory and honour."

http://www.preteristarchive.com/ChurchHistory/0198_tertullian_answer-jews.html

So, even though Paul says men should go bald (like he himself??), the fact is that Tertulian witnesses that men wear hats, eg: for church too, at least some of them do part of the time. His rules must be very nuanced.
 
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I do believe some or even the majority of woman, no matter their ethnicity, race, or nationality, are proud of their hair and may even glory in it if it is healthy and beautiful *shrugs*
I sure that true, too.

What I was trying to get at by that scripture is, is it a shame for a woman to have a short hair cut?
 
I think the Scripture leading into this teaching is very relevant to the understanding of the teaching on headcoverings.
1 Corinth 10:29-33. What do you think Paul is referring to here?

Take this verse for instance. Can you tell me, with scripture, what why it was a shame to be shorn or shaven?
1Co 11:5 and every woman praying or prophesying with the head uncovered, doth dishonour her own head, for it is one and the same thing with her being shaven,
1Co 11:6 for if a woman is not covered--then let her be shorn, and if it is a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven--let her be covered;

Well, in chapter 10, it was all about not having fellowship with idols, obviously having fellowship with idols does not glorify God, verse 31 says to do all things to the glory of God, and then he proceeds into his teaching on head coverings and how that is to be done to the glory of God, magnifying Christ and covering the glory of man.

As far as 1st Corinthians 11:5-6, here is how it seems to me, and first let me lay some groundwork:
Verse 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.” Why is it shameful for a woman to participate in the church service uncovered, how does that dishonor her head? Both her own head and the man’s head? Because of the last part of verse 7, the woman is the glory of the man. And man is fallen. Believers are still sinful creatures, saved by grace. When the woman is in the church service uncovered, her head uncovered just like the head of the man is uncovered, she is in a sense proclaiming that man and his glory are on the same level as God and His glory.

The uncovered man displays or manifests the glory of God, and the headship of Christ, the uncovered woman displays or manifests the glory of man. The church comes together into the presence of God, and if both the men and the women are uncovered, now the glory of God and the glory of man are both displayed together, side by side as it were.
Does not 1st Corinthians 1:29 tell us that no flesh should glory in His presence? And are we humans not flesh? Yet the uncovered woman is manifesting the glory of man by her uncovered head, because she is man’s glory! Meanwhile the whole congregation, both men and women, come and stand together in the presence of God, and the uncovered women are displaying the glory of man.

Will a man rob God? Will we rob God of His glory? Do you see why Paul devotes 16 verses to explaining this? This passage has nothing to do with husbands and wives and subjection, this is all about magnifying and exalting the Lord of glory in the midst of His people. It is a testimony to the headship of Christ in the midst of His church.

So what happens when the woman covers her head? She shows that believers are fallen yet redeemed creatures. As redeemed creatures, born again saints, subject to Christ as our Head, we are indeed called to come into His presence and worship Him, but our worship ought to be appropriate; with the glory of man covered. We rejoice in His work, we praise Him, we remember Him as we break the bread and share the cup. He is the glory and the lifter of our heads, not us, and so our glory ought to be covered.

We have still not answered the question as to why it is a shame for a woman to be uncovered, verses 5 & 6, “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 virtually all cultures, it is never a good thing for a woman to be shaven or shorn, it is typically considered shameful to the woman involved.

Paul is telling these Christian sisters that if they will not glorify God appropriately, if they are coming into the presence of God and glorifying man, then they are dishonoring themselves, bringing shame on themselves, just as if they had shaved their heads. Also, if they refuse to cover, they are also bringing reproach on their church family, on the rest of the congregation by glorifying man in the presence of God, so - "let her also be shorn" - perhaps they might at least have the common decency to shave their heads and quit looking like women. Quit being the glory of man. Take themselves out of the equation so to speak. Cease to glorify man in the presence of God, which is shameful.
But if that is unacceptable, if they are unwilling to shave their heads, then they need to do the Scriptural and appropriate thing, they need to cover their heads. They need to cover the glory of man in the church meeting; in the presence of God.
 
Because of the last part of verse 7, the woman is the glory of the man. And man is fallen. Believers are still sinful creatures, saved by grace. When the woman is in the church service uncovered, her head uncovered just like the head of the man is uncovered, she is in a sense proclaiming that man and his glory are on the same level as God and His glory.
I agree. I had never seen that before you mentioned it earlier.
The uncovered man displays or manifests the glory of God, and the headship of Christ, the uncovered woman displays or manifests the glory of man. The church comes together into the presence of God, and if both the men and the women are uncovered, now the glory of God and the glory of man are both displayed together, side by side as it were.
Agreed.
: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.”
bringing shame on themselves, just as if they had shaved their heads.
Is it shameful for a woman to have a short hair cut? If so why?
perhaps they might at least have the common decency to shave their heads and quit looking like women.
I don't agree with your statement here. It doesn't say just shaven but OR shorn (cut short). So I'll ask the same question and a few others in a different way.
Is it indecent (abominable, filthy) for a woman to have a short hair cut? If so why? Do women look like men if they have a short hair cut? Can you tell the difference?
G149
Morphology of Biblical Greek Tag:
a-1a(1)
Gloss:
disgraceful, shameful
Definition:
strictly, deformed, opposed to καλός; metaph. shameful, indecent, dishonorable, vile, 1 Cor. 11:6; 14:35; Eph. 5:12; Tit. 1:11*

Eph 5:11 and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of the darkness and rather even convict,
Eph 5:12 for the things in secret done by them it is a shame even to speak of,

Tit 1:11 whose mouth it behoveth to stop, who whole households do overturn, teaching what things it behoveth not, for filthy lucre's sake.
 
Well, in chapter 10, it was all about not having fellowship with idols, obviously having fellowship with idols does not glorify God, verse 31 says to do all things to the glory of God
I would compare 1Corinth. 10:29-33 to
1Co 9:19 for being free from all men, to all men I made myself servant, that the more I might gain;
1Co 9:20 and I became to the Jews as a Jew, that Jews I might gain; to those under law as under law, that those under law I might gain;
1Co 9:21 to those without law, as without law--(not being without law to God, but within law to Christ) --that I might gain those without law;
1Co 9:22 I became to the infirm as infirm, that the infirm I might gain; to all men I have become all things, that by all means I may save some.
1Co 9:23 And this I do because of the good news, that a fellow-partaker of it I may become;

I think these verses speak loudly to the point that in Paul's ministry and in what he taught, he was Very conscience of the culture of the people he was ministering to. And that we need to take that into account when we try to understand what was going on in any particular church or all churchs, at a particular time. To understand that different things, mean different things within cultures and that Paul was not as concerned with make rules, as he was with saving souls.
I think that was what handy might have been saying too, when she was talking about the women she ministers to.
 
I don't think it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut short, but I would think there is a huge difference between short hairdo's and shorn/shaven. But it's not obvious how Paul means for us to understand the difference between the two terms he uses. Verse 5 says "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." And shaved means shaved, nothing ambiguous here. Like one of my buds who is mostly bald, so he just goes ahead and shaves his head every morning - slick as an onion.
Verse 6 says "For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. (as in to shear, as a sheep is shorn - there is a little left, but not much. Like a crew cut, or being in boot camp in the military) But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered."
So in this verse Paul seems to be using the terms interchangeably? That is why I phrased my previous post like I did. Perhaps Paul has something specific or different in mind between those two terms, but I don't know what it would be.
 
I don't think it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut short, but I would think there is a huge difference between short hairdo's and shorn/shaven.
So do you believe that it shows that a woman is (abominable, filthy) if she has her head shaven or cut Very short?
Because he is saying that it says something about her if she has hair short, like a man, or shaven.
Remember, they didn't have the means to do 'buzz cuts' not even in shearing sheep. Now a days, we use clippers for a closer cut but before clippers there were just shears, like huge scissors.
So in this verse Paul seems to be using the terms interchangeably?
Maybe so.

220px-Instruments_agr%C3%ADcoles%2C_tisores_d%27esquilar_i_esquellots%2C_s._III_dC%2C_Neupotz%2C_Museu_Hist%C3%B2ric_del_Palatinat.JPG

"Shears and cowbells c.250AD Spain"
Not going to get a very close cut with those.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheep_shearing
 
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