You are welcome to another edition of Insights from Gods Word, a Bible study programme that is committed to sharing Gods Word by allowing the Bible to speak for itself. Beloved, i greet you in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Today, i want us to consider the question: What is the meaning of the text in 1Corinthians 11:1-16? The context of the passage in 1Corinthians 11 is basically about the biblical principle of submission and love that must take root in all marriages. The Bible basically teach that husbands must love their wives, whiles wives on the otherhand should submit to or respect their husbands. On this issue of love and submission in marriage, Paul wrote clearly to the Colossian church: Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. (Colossians 3:18-19) Using similar wording, Paul wrote to the Ephesian church the following: Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; ... So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. ... Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. (Ephesians 5:21-25, 28, 33) From these love letters, so to speak, from Paul; we can deduce very meaningful insights into our key text for today (i.e 1Corinthians 11:1-16) Aside the clear teaching from the Bible quotes above, that husbands must love their wives, and wives on the otherhand should respect their husbands; we also learn in Ephesians 5:23 that, the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church. What does it mean, that the husband is the head of the wife? I believe, Paul was basically saying that within the family circle, the husband should be regarded as the leader, directing and nourishing the family unit in the fear of the Lord. The fact that the wife is admonished by Scripture to submit to the husband does not mean that she is in any way less human or inferior. However, she was created to complement the efforts of the man (Genesis 2:20-24), recognizing his authority as the leader in the family circle. Just as in any healthy organization, the principle of leadership cannot be thrown out the window, so leadership in a marriage union is key for its survival. You see, the biblical fact that wives must submit to their husbands while husbands love their wives, is a very important statement in our 21st century society of equal rights. Oh!, how many marriages will be saved from disaster, if this simple principle of love and respect is shown by both husbands and wives. With this background, i want us to now delve into the seemingly controversial topic of head covering found in 1Corinthians 11. The million dollar question today is this: Should women cover their head while praying or prophesying, or not? Please note that the issue in 1Corinthians 11 is about head covering not hair covering. It is very important to note this difference. Beloved, the passage in 1Corinthians 11:1-16, is the only case in the entire Bible that seem to address the issue of head covering. The passage reads: 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. 11:2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. 11:3 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. In ranks of authority, Paul is teaching that the head or leader of the woman is the man, the head of the man is Christ and the head of Christ is God. The verse 4 says: 11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. We have noted that the head of the man is Christ. Therefore, Paul is saying that if a man is praying or preaching, he should not cover his head. (physical body) In so doing, he will be disgracing his Head or Lord, Christ. 11:5 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. We noted in an earlier text that the head or leader of the woman is the man. And Paul is basically saying here that, if a woman is praying or preaching, she must cover her head (physical body) as a sign of respect to her husband, who is her head. But a question, that i believe demands an answer now is this: Women praying or preaching should cover their head with what? I will not attempt to answer this question as Paul himself will bring out the answer in a subsequent text.As we continue, we read the following in verse 6: 11:6 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. In other words, Paul is only emphasizing to the church at Corinth, that it is important for the woman to cover her head during prayer or preaching. The verses that follow seem to be quite self explanatory: 11:7 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. In verse 7, we can glean a hint or clue to make the point that, it seems the women are supposed to cover their head as a sign of respect to their husbands. Anyway, lets box on, there are more insights coming. The verse 8 reads: 11:8 For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man. 11:9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 11:10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. The word angels as used in this context is likely to refer to church elders. In the apostle Johns letters to the seven churches found in Revelation chapters 2 and 3, we read this clear phrase which serves as an introduction to the various letters:Unto the angel of the church of. These letters were basically addressed to the elders of the Christian churches in Asia minor;where the elders were actually referred to as angels. An example is this: Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; (Revelation 2:1) Paul basically might be telling these Ephesian women in his letter; if you do not care about disgracing your heads or husbands by uncovering your head at home, please cover your heads at church because of the elders. Well, the elders of the church at this time were men, as 1Timothy 3:1-7 suggests. We will dscover later in our study why Paul had to make this statement. The verse 11 reads: 11:11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. 11:12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. 11:13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? In using a rhetorical question, Paul reinforces the position that it is important for the Corinthian women to cover their head while praying. The following verses bring out more light on this seemingly confusing passage. The verse 14 reads: 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? In other words, Paul is saying that if a man covers his head with long hair it is a shame unto him. And so when Paul advises that men should not cover their head, he is basically saying that they should not leave their hair to grow very long as that of women. The verse 15 reads: 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. From the verse 15, Paul is basically saying that unlike the men, women should cover their head with their long hair. Paul expresses the natural fact that, it is a glory to the woman if she has long hair; for her hair is given her for a covering. I hope you have caught the amazing insight Paul gives us in the last two verses? Paul has been repeating the admonition that the Corinthian women should cover their head. But with what? Now, we know from the verse 15 that Paul was not referring to anything else that they should wear as a covering over their head, but rather their own long hair which should serve as a covering. Some modern dynamic translations try to insert words that take away the meaning of Pauls clear words here. However, we gain a deeper understanding on this issue, when we realize that Paul was not talking about hair covering but rather head covering. The verse 16 leads us to discover more beautiful insights: 11:16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. The verse 16, seem to suggest that the people of Corinth had a custom whereby their women covered their head (with long hair) as a sign of submission to their husbands or men in general. With the advent of the Christian church in town, it seemed as if the Christian women in Corinth had come to regard lightly this custom. Paul had said elsewhere that all men (generic) were one in Christ. (Galatians 3:28) It is possible that the Christian women in Corinth had abused this message in the way that they conducted themselves. They probably disregarded their head covering custom of submission; and attended church without the covering of their long hair. Imagine some women in the Corinthian church trying to wear the same short hair as their male brethren. This behaviour from such women obviously did not go down well with some of the elders or angels, so to speak, in the church. The issue without a doubt generated contentions in the Corinthian church. Paul felt the need to write a letter in which he would address this issue. In his final words on this issue in 1Corinthian 11, Paul clearly addressed the Corinthian church: But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. To put it differently, Paul was telling the Corinthian church that the counsel he had given them should be enough to solve the problem at hand, and that the issue should not lead to contentions as it had nothing to do with core or fundamental Christian teachings. Friends, the issue in 1Corinthians 11, was a local problem ingrained in the custom of the people of Corinth. Paul saw the custom whereby the women covered their head, as a sign of respect to their husbands, a good one. Since this custom did not contradict with any of the clear teachings of Scripture, he advised the women to continue wearing their long hair as a sign of respect or submission to their husbands. However, as far as the churches of God was concerned, according to Paul, there was no such custom. One may travel through the entire Scripture, and will not find any other text or passage dealing with this issue of head covering. As Paul stated, his admonition was basically for the Christians at Corinth because of their peculiar custom or situation. And hence, this teaching could not be generalized for Christians in the other churches of God. Now, if you ask me plainly as a lady or woman: should i cover my head while praying or preaching? or in church? My answer will be: Its up to you. The Bible does not give us any strict command on the issue. Beloved, it is sad to note that this sole letter on whether women should cover their head or not, during prayer or prophesying, has led to serious divisions in various mainstream Christian churches and led to the fomation of several offshoot groups in Christendom. We must endeavour not to forget ,that, the thrust of Pauls message to the Corinthians still hovered around the Christian ideals of love, submission, humility and respect expressed in a Christian family unit, where Christ reigns supreme. Exhortation: And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. (Revelation 19:6-8) In our subsequent sudies, we will be exploring the interesting topic of spiritual gifts with a particular emphasis on the gift of tongues. Stay tuned and never miss any of our upcoming Bible study sesssions. Have a blessed day and keep shining for King Jesus. Maranatha!!! To join our growing Bible study class, just send a hello to our whatsapp number +233243105287. You will then be receiving our Bible studies right on your mobile phone. Do not hesitate to send us your Bible questions, prayer requests or issues requiring direct counselling. From: Samuel Nyarko Speaker/Director, White Throne Media
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 22:55:38 +0000
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