Christian Order
1Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.
2Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered them to you. 3But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ. 4Every man who has something on his head while praying or prophesying disgraces his head. 5But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying disgraces her head, for she is one and the same as the woman whose head is shaved. 6For if a woman does not cover her head, let her also have her hair cut off; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, let her cover her head. 7For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. 8For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man; 9for indeed man was not created for the woman’s sake, but woman for the man’s sake. 10Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11However, in the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12For as the woman originates from the man, so also the man has his birth through the woman; and all things originate from God. 13Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, 15but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16But if one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God.
Be imitators of Christ in everything we do. Do not be contentious over customs. As we studied in chapter 10, don't allow your liberty to offend another's conscience.
As we read this scripture, questions arise concerning proper dress and head coverings while in worship and prayer. I recall while growing up Catholic women wearing a veil, scarf or cloth on their head. I have scoured commentaries for an answer to the meaning of Pauls letter-scripture in chapter 11 and I found this. I don't know the answers to the questions raised in this scripture but leave it to the reader and guidance of the Holy Spirit for interpretation.
Custom and Contention
If someone is contentious concerning the custom of women praying to God with heads uncovered, the apostle Paul affirmed that the churches of God have no such custom (1 Cor 11:13–16). Christians must avoid contention over customs. The context of 1 Corinthians 11 is not offending another conscience with one’s liberty (1 cor 10:23–33). For many, there remains confusion. Was Paul saying that the churches have no such custom of the head-covering or no such custom of women praying while uncovered? One is permissive and the other excludes women praying with their heads uncovered by modesty. Not matter the position, the message is a matter of modesty between men and woman under the headship of God and Christ. Christian women must also display godly principles of modesty and humility even in dress.
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Blessings, David
Scripture blog; http://stanfordsancutaryscripturestudies.blogspot.com
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