The four reasons why men should not cover; seven reasons why women should cover their heads in worship, pray or devotion. I Corinthians 11:2-16 Four reasons men should not cover worship, pray or devotion. 1. That it is a law for Christian men to uncover their head in worship, pray or devotion. This teaching is still followed in churches and even at secular events when pray is offered. Men even take off their hats during the singing of the national anthem. Some older people want men to take their hats off in the house. In many cases men will take off their headcovering (hats) when praying privately. Verse 2 2. That it is dishonor a mans head while praying or prophesying with his head covered. Verse 4 plain states man dishonors his own head and also the heads above him, God, Christ. 3. That goes back to creation. That man (as in male) was created in the image of God. That woman was created from man in the beginning. That woman was created for the glory of man and for man. That woman is mans helpmeet and he is not hers, this goes back to Genesis. In 1 Timothy 2:13-14 ,13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. …. Man was made first and not deceived like woman in the fall. However man should not get puff up cause man comes from now in child birth from woman and things come from God. 4. That most men spend less time, effort and consideration about the appearance of their hair then women on average. In verse 14 the apostle Paul says it is shame for a man to have long hair that is goes against nature. This long hair is not dealing with length of hair but with style of hair. The In the Old Testament a nazirite or nazarite, refers to one who voluntarily took a vow described in Numbers 6:1–21. Nazarite comes from the Hebrew word nazir meaning consecrated or separated.[1] This vow required the man or woman to Abstain from wine, wine vinegar, grapes, raisins, intoxicating liquors,[2] vinegar distilled from such substances,[3] and eating or drinking any substance that contains any trace of grapes.[4] Refrain from cutting the hair on ones head; but to allow the locks of the heads hair to grow.[5] Not to become ritually impure by contact with corpses or graves, even those of family members.[6] After following these requirements for a designated period of time (which would be specified in the individuals vow), the person would immerse in a mikveh and make three offerings: a lamb as a burnt offering (olah), a ewe as a sin- offering (hatat), and a ram as a peace offering (shelamim), in addition to a basket of unleavened bread, grain offerings and drink offerings, which accompanied the peace offering. They would also shave their head in the outer courtyard of the Temple and then place the hair on the same fire as the peace offering. (Numbers 6:18) Two examples of nazirites in the Old testament are Samson (Judges 13:5), and Samuel (1 Samuel 1:11). Both of these cases these mens parents made the vow for them before they were conceived. (Luke 1:13–15) that announces the birth of John the Baptist foretells that he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mothers womb, in other words, a nazirite from birth, the implication being that John had taken a lifelong nazirite vow. In Acts 18:18 the apostle Paul shaves, scorns his head because of a vow. That vow possibility could have been the narzite vow. The Greek word used in verse 14 “komao” ,not thrix(which means hair). Matt 3:4; Luke 7:38; Acts 27:34; Rev 1:14. komeo - “care for” komizo - Luke 7:37 - “bring”, kompsoteron - John 4:52 - “improve”, kosmeo - Titus 2:10 - “adorn”, kosmetikos - “skilled in adorning”, kosmios - 1 Tim 2:9 - “decorous”, kosmos - 1 Pet 3:3 - “arrange” Strong concordance puts it, kome is “locks, as ornamental, and thus differing from [thrix].” The words komao/ kosmos is where we get the word cosmetology, hair arrangement. Final reason to prove it is not the length of a mans hair but the style that is shameful. The kome is a verb and not a noun. Why would nature teach us it is a shame for a man to lengthen hair? Men should have less tended to hair, fixed up hair then a woman. When a man has fixed up hair it looks shameful, silly. But when womens hair is fixed up it is beautiful. Think about it if a man loses his hair it is not as bad a woman losing her hair. When a woman loses her hair she seeks to cover her head no so much as a man. Seven reasons why women should cover their heads in worship, pray or devotion. 1. It is a law for Christians women to cover. Paul told the Christians to obey the ordinances, the laws, he gave them. In verse 2. This comes from the New Testament not the Old Testament or the gospels. 2. That it represents divine order. That head covering represents divine order God>Christ>Man>Woman. Men dishonor their heads by covering their heads in worship, pray or devotion cause man is the glory of God but woman is mans glory. By not covering woman is dishonoring those above her God, Christ and man. That it just as shameful spiritually for a woman to appear before God in worship, pray or devotion as bald headed woman in the natural sense. Verses 3-7 3. Goes back of creation. Head covering represents woman purpose and position that she was made for man and not man for woman. That woman was under man even before the fall of Adam. Verses 8-9 4. Because of the angels. Women need to cover because of the angels. The word angel means messenger. These messengers could be heavenly, earthly(men) or both. These angels could also be fallen angels(demons). This power is on the head of as a sign of being under subjection. Verse 10 5. Women naturally cover with her hair. Women in most cases wear their hair longer, more adored, fixed up then men. This is saying the hair is like a cover. But this cover long hair is for her glory not for Gods glory. Anyone that tries argue that hair is the cover must go back to verses 5-6. In these verses women that are covered during pray, worship or devotion. That uncovered head of a woman doing theses spiritual practices is just worst as woman being bald. So the cover is something that can be take off and on. Since woman covers in the natural then she cover in the spiritual. This not include wigs and/or weaves they are considered hair not covers they are for womans glory not Gods glory. If a woman has a wig and/or weave she should still cover. If the cover is long hair why would Paul waste time instructing them to do something they were already doing? “But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. This is the verse people attempt to use to say the hair is the cover. The first problem is the translation of the word “for” in the “for a covering” portion of the verse. When many Christians see the word “for” being used, it is natural to assume it is the same English “for” as found in the statement “for the remission of sins” of Acts 2:38. We are baptized “to be” saved; women were given hair “to be” covered. The New International Version even “helps” us believe this by translating it “as a covering.” The Greek word translated “for” and “as” in Acts is not the same Greek word found in First Corinthians. In Acts, the word is “eis,” but in the Corinthian Epistle, it is “anti.” Greek anti is a very special word in the New Testament, utilized by the Spirit for one specific task. Words like “anti-Christ,” “anti- type,” “adversary (anti-keimenos),” “contradiction (anti-thesis),” all speak of conflict and contrast. The word anti placed before peribolaion is not meant to mean “to be” or “as,” but “in the place of,” “against,” or “compared to., Like. The classic French-language “Louis Segond” Bible of 1910 correctly translates the “anti” in verse fifteen “...la chevelure lui a été donnée comme voile,” or “...the hair was given to her like a veil.” Lets change the words see if it fits. Every man praying or prophesying, having long hair dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with short hair dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. For if a woman is not long-haired, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be long-haired. Does this make sense? The answer is No. The churches (both the Lords church, and denominational churches) continued to teach that womens head should be covered in times, worship, pray and devotion for years. Many of the ancient writers mock women using small pieces of cloth that did not cover the head but said they were covering. They even spoken against see through, new, gauzy fabrics in favor of opaque (see through) coverings. Not one commentator in the history of theology can be shown to issue the “hair-as- covering” excuse, nor can one be found disputing it. Not until the mid-1800’s. What was happening in the mid-1800’s? Industrial Revolution is what happen. It is the period in American and European history when women began to organize and demand the political rights of men. How this affected the Restoration Movement is evident in a letter written in 1860 and signed by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lydia Mott, Ernestine Rose, Martha C. Wright, and Susan B. Anthony: The religion of our day teaches that, in the most sacred relations of the race, the woman must ever be subject to the man; that in the husband centres all power and learning; that the difference in position between husband and wife is as vast as that between Christ and the Church; and woman struggles to hold the noble impulses of her nature in abeyance to opinions uttered by a Jewish teacher, which, alas! the mass believe to be the will of God... We now demand the ballot, trial by jury of our peers, and an equal right to the joint earnings of the marriage copartnership.” These godless women in the name of womens liberation cause weak knee men, so called church leaders to change the doctrine of head covering of women because the feared the these women leaving their churches. This ideology has lead to women not respecting the authority of leadership invested in man be it the home, the church or in general. Failure to headcovering during the times the word of God defines can and will lead to rebellion and disorder. 6. It was universally preached and practiced by the churches of God. Paul ask the question verse 13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Then he answers in verse 16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. Many take this verse to so call wipe out the teaching of headcovering because it contentious. What part of this teaching is contentious? Is it the divine order? Woman being made for man? That men can pray with uncovered heads? Why do people automatically think it is referring to women covering or not covering? The contentiousness custom comes from women failing to cover (men failing to uncover). And none the churches of God had a custom of uncovered women (covered men). This an example parenthetical expression. What is a parenthetical expression? The word parenthetical is an adjective of relating to, or inserted as parenthesis. The apostle Paul uses these parenthetic verses 14 and 15 to empower the reasons why women should cover and men uncover. Verse 16 The apostle Paul is not sundering his position but strengthening his position on the importance of head covering by inserting how men and women wear their hair in most cases. Paul also taught that was and is an universal practice by all the churches that it is not just a product of so called Corinthian cultural but Christian culture, tradition, teaching, doctrine. Paul uses other parenthetical expression in Romans 2:12-16) which shows how Paul used language to explain things. For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel. The early church understood the importance of head covering it was practiced. 1. In the Catacombs (100-300 a.d.) Most of the catacombs were constructed during the first three centuries, a few may be traced almost to the apostolic age. The many paintings on the walls of the catacombs reveal that the uniform dress of women in worship was to cover the head and hair (not the face) with some type of cloth. Irenaeus (120-202 a.d) Irenaeus translates 1 Corinthians 11:10 as follows: A woman ought to have a veil [kalumma] upon her head, because of the angels.. This is significant in that Irenaeus apparently understood the power on a womans head in 1 Corinthians 11:10 to be a veil of some kind and not a womans hair. Tertullian (150-225 a.d.) Tertullian addresses the practice of virgins(unmarried) of the church not being required to be veiled. Clement of Alexandria (153-217 a.d.) Clement also understands the words in 1 Corinthians 11:5 to refer to a veil of fabric and not to a womans hair. There are many more examples of teaching of headcovering as garment or cloth but not the long hair by early christian leaders. Paul answers the question. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? ...we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.” The answer is no it not proper for a woman to pray (worship, devotion) uncovered. This false teaching of allowing women to go uncovered in worship was not taught till many centuries latter. What happen? 7. Since woman is not to be position of authority over men then she should cover her head. 1 Timothy 2 11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 1 Corinthians 14:34 KJV [34] Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. When it comes to men, women, and authority, both of these passages I Corinthians 11 and I Timothy 2:13 employ the same logic in justifying the answer given to the practical question facing the early Christians – because of what is found in the Adam and Eve story, the praxis ought to be 1) women cover their heads in worship; and 2) women do not teach or exercise authority over a man. Conclusion Some will say that prophesying has end as one one the spiritual gifts so head covering does not apply. It may be that prayer and prophecy are elliptical expressions for the whole of worship,pray and devotion be it private or public in which case only two acts are mentioned but all acts are included (as in Acts 20:7 only one, the breaking of bread, is mentioned by synecdoche and includes the cup; or as in 1 Cor. 13:8-10 only three spiritual gifts are said to cease, yet all are meant). When Jesus cast those out of the temple who were selling, he said, My house shall be called a house of prayer (Matt. 21:13). Isnt prayer here simply an elliptical expression for worship? Would Jesus have driven them out if they had been studying Gods word or singing his praise? If it is assumed that prophecy always means inspired speech, another possibility is that in prayer and prophecy, a person is in direct communication with God (in prophecy, God speaks to man; in prayer man speaks to God), hence the special need for significance during such. If prophecy always means inspired speech, another possibility would be: the covering applies whether in inspired activity (prophecy) or uninspired (prayer). However prayer still in effect, even with prophecy ending. The verse saids praying or prophesying not praying and prophesying. If it is only pray then it still applies to christians today. This goes back to Eve wanting to be like God while trying to bypass God and man in Genesis 3. Many of women who are not ignorant of the teaching head covering have this spirit of rebellion because they understand the symbolism of headcovering and dont like Gods divine order. Preachers who know this teaching will not teach because they fear people more then God. Another excuse people refuse to teach about head covering is pride. Many people hate to admit their errors especially older and well studied persons. People will also down play this teaching on headcovering. They call it legalism and gagging at gnat and swallowing a camel. Headcovering is a small thing compared to other things but still is important to obey. In Matthew 23:23 Jesus Christ told the scribes and Pharisees that were tithing which was good but were forgetting about the more important issues of law, judgement, mercy and faith. He also told him “These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. Yes we are to teach baptism, proper worship, living pure lives and loving others but we not to forget other issues such as head covering. If one is not covering as a woman in worship, pray or devotion please do it. It is simple to easy to do. This means not just the first day of the week, Sunday but also when church has any function, spiritual activities( aka bible study, gospel meetings, etc)are going on be private or public. If one is in leadership please preach and teach head covering and make sure members are doing what God commands. If necessary have covers for women who forget and visitors that come to worship, pray and devotion. When one learns better then one should do better. Dont being stalling in obeying this or any command of God. Cause the longer rejection of the truth when exposed the harder the heart will become. Many will use the excuse they will study it latter, but never do. Luke 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 1 Corinthians 11 1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. 2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. 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. 4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 5 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. 6 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. 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. 8 For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man. 9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. 12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. 13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? 14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. 16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
Posted on: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 19:51:35 +0000
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