July 26 Click on verses for Full Scripture

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Today's Pathway: I Corinthians 11:4-7 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 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. 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.

Paul is now going to make some practical applications of the principles of Headship that he discussed yesterday. This passage is quite controversial, and there are good men who love the Lord who have different opinions as to exactly what Paul is talking about. Some see this as being a universal principle, and others see it as referring only to the local conditions in Corinth. There is very little else in the Bible that helps us to understand some of the particulars of this passage, so we can give some grace to those who might disagree with our interpretation.

Paul starts by saying that men should not have their heads covered when they pray or prophesy. Since the gift of prophecy has been done away with (I Corinthians 13:8-10), the principle for us today would only deal with prayer. It is clear that men should remove their hats when they pray. To fail to do so dishonors their head. Some believe that this dishonors Christ, who is the Head of the man (verse 3) because it is disobedience. Others believe that he is dishonoring his own head because he is to be the authority over his wife. Still others see it as being more cultural, because the men involved in pagan worship prayed with their heads covered, and so Paul is saying that if a Christian does it he is equating the Lord with an idol. Verse 7 gives us some insight. There Paul says,

"For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God."

"By position, therefore, man represents God’s authority in this world. He is the visible manifestation of the headship of God and the authority of God. If a man prays or prophesies publicly with his head covered, he conceals that which he is representing—the authority and headship of God."

In verses 5-6 the woman is to keep her head covered when she prays so as to not dishonor her head. In this case, her "head" probably refers to her husband, although some think it refers to her own head. Again, there are differences of opinion. Warren Wiersbe commented this way,

"The Corinthian women who appeared in the assembly without the head-covering were actually putting themselves on the low level of the temple prostitutes. The prostitutes wore their hair very short, and they did not wear a head-covering in public. Their hairstyle and manner announced to others just what they were and what they were offering. 'If you are going to abandon the covering,' wrote Paul, 'then why not go all the way and cut your hair?'"

"She is in so many ways of finer character than he, but in God’s creation order, she is the glory of man. She has a place all her own, but it is not the man’s place. When she has her head covered, she expresses the glory of man and conceals her own glory."

We will continue looking at this passage tomorrow.