1Cor 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.
1Cor 11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 1Cor 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.
1Cor 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.
1Cor 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.
1Cor 11:8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
1Cor 11:9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 1Cor 11:10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
1Cor 11:11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
1Cor 11:12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.
1Cor 11:13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
1Cor 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
1Cor 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
1Cor 11:16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
Some people have misinterpreted 1 Corinthians 11 and believe that it is commanding women to wear hats or "head-coverings" of some kind. In this chapter, God is dealing with gender roles and the authority that a man has over his wife. In verse 3, the authority that a man has over his wife is likened unto the authority that God has over a man. God is the "head" (authority figure) of the man, and the man is the "head" (authority figure) of the woman. This matches perfectly with what the Bible says in Ephesians 5:
Eph 5:23 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.
Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
As we continue in 1 Corinthians 11, verses 4-6 state:
1Cor 11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 1Cor 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.
1Cor 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.
According to these verses women should have their heads "covered," and men should not. In fact, if a woman's head is not covered, that is just as bad as if she were "shorn" or "shaven." Notice that the Bible says that it is a "shame" for a woman to be shorn or shaven. We all know what "shaven" means, but what does the word "shorn" mean? The Bible uses the word "shorn" one other time in the New Testament:
Acts 18:18 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.
The vow that the Bible is referring to here is a Nazarite vow from the Old Testament. Notice what the Bible commands about the Nazarite vow in Numbers 6:
Num 6:5 All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.
Num 6:18 And the Nazarite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall take the hair of the head of his separation, and put it in the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace offerings.
Once again, the Bible is its own dictionary. Being "shorn" is another word for being "shaven." Paul having his head shaved with a razor is referred to as him being "shorn." Therefore God is saying that a woman being "uncovered" is just as shameful as her shaving her head completely bald as Paul did in Acts 18.
So, what is this "covering"?
1Cor 11:13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
1Cor 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
1Cor 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
According to verses 13-15, a woman is "uncovered" if she does not have "long hair." A woman is therefore commanded to have long hair, and a man is commanded not to have long hair.
Those who believe in women wearing external "head-coverings" or bonnets on their heads will argue that even though long hair is a covering (indefinite article), women still need to wear an additional covering or bonnet on their heads. This is easily disproved with the Bible. The same passage that tells women to be covered tells men not to be covered. Therefore, if this were talking about something other than long hair (i.e. a "head-covering" or bonnet), it would be a sin for a man to wear it while praying or prophesying. This is directly in contradiction with many Old Testament passages that command the Old Testament priests to wear bonnets and mitres while ministering in the priests office:
Exo 28:40 And for Aaron's sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty.
Exo 28:41 And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office.
Exo 29:9 And thou shalt gird them with girdles, Aaron and his sons, and put the bonnets on them: and the priest's office shall be theirs for a perpetual statute: and thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons.
Exo 39:27 And they made coats of fine linen of woven work for Aaron, and for his sons,
Exo 39:28 And a mitre of fine linen, and goodly bonnets of fine linen, and linen breeches of fine twined linen,
Lev 8:13 And Moses brought Aaron's sons, and put coats upon them, and girded them with girdles, and put bonnets upon them; as the LORD commanded Moses.
Eze 44:17 And it shall come to pass, that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, whiles they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within.
Eze 44:18 They shall have linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon their loins; they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth sweat.
Notice that the priest's clothing consisted of coats, britches (pants), and bonnets. Why would God tell us that "nature itself" teaches us that a woman should wear a head-covering, and that men should not, when he commanded over and over again that the priests (who were men of course) were required to wear bonnets when they prayed and prophesied in the priests office! The covering referred to in 1 Corinthians 11 is long hair, as defined in the passage itself; it is not a bonnet or head-covering.
This is consistent with the Old Testament, which commanded the priests not to have long hair:
Eze 44:20 Neither shall they shave their heads, nor suffer their locks to grow long; they shall only poll their heads.
They were commanded to be neither completely bald nor long-haired, but rather to "poll" (i.e. cut short the hair on) their heads.
Other proponents of "head-coverings" on women will say that if you "go back to the Greek," you'll see that the word for "covering" in verse 15 is different than the other words used for "covering" in the passage. Of course, they are not fluent in Greek, but because the words look a lot different, they assume that they must be talking about completely different things. However, there are many examples in our language of words that look completely different as different parts of speech, but that are actually the same. Here are a few examples:
- having faith (noun) means that you believe (verb).
- being undressed (adjective) means you aren't wearing any clothes (noun).
- doing something manually (adverb) means that you did it by hand (noun).
- thing that are lunar (adjective) have to do with the moon (noun).
You see how identical words can look completely different as different parts of speech. Therefore a woman can be uncovered (adjective - ακατακαλυπτω) because she is not wearing a covering (noun - περιβολαιου). Just because the words look the same in English does not mean that they will look the same in Greek. Apparently these head-covering advocates who couldn't even order a meal in a Greek restaurant think they know more than the KJV translators. This is why one should always beware when anyone has to "go back to the Greek" to prove their doctrine.
Now that we understand what "covering" is referring to in 1 Corinthians 11 (i.e. long hair), let's go back and look at the passage with this definition in mind:
1Cor 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.
1Cor 11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered (i.e. having long hair), dishonoureth his head (i.e. dishonours Jesus Christ - see previous verse).
1Cor 11:5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered (i.e. with short hair) dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. (i.e. if a woman doesn't have long hair, she might as well be bald!)
1Cor 11:6 For if the woman be not covered (i.e. she has short hair), let her also be shorn : but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. (i.e. in God's eyes, it is just as much of a shame for a woman to have short hair, as it is for her to be completely shaved bald).
You may say, "Okay, Pastor Anderson, I get it. Women do not have to wear head-coverings, but they do have to have long hair. But can't they wear head-coverings if they want to? Why are you against head-coverings?"
I am against head-coverings on women for two reasons:
1. I am against head-coverings because they associate you with the wrong crowd spiritually. Every church or pastor I have ever seen or known that taught that women were commanded to wear head-coverings was wrong on the Gospel. I have never seen or heard of a church that taught that women must wear head-coverings that believed that salvation was by faith alone. The churches and teachers promoting head-coverings on women teach a works-based salvation in one of the following forms:
- some teach you can lose your salvation
- some teach you must repent of your sins in order to be saved
- some teach you must surrender your life to Christ in order to be saved
- some teach Calvinist doctrines of "grace" which teach that if you don't have works, you aren't saved, and that God is the one who chooses who will be saved and who will be damned (TULIP).
The Bible on the other hand states that salvation is by faith alone:
Rom 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Rom 4:6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
Rom 4:7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
Rom 4:8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
I have never seen or heard of any church that preached Bible salvation that taught women to wear head-coverings. Therefore, wearing a head-covering will lump you in with unsaved false teachers such as the Amish, Pentecostals, etc.
Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
1Thess 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
2. I am against head-coverings because they are not modest apparel. Yes, you got that right, I said that they are not modest apparel:
1Tim 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
1Tim 2:10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
The word "modest" in these verses is often misinterpreted to only mean "not revealing" or "not promiscuous." However, there is nothing revealing or promiscuous about broided hair, gold, or pearls. This passage is telling ladies not to dress in a way that draws attention to themselves. Their good works should be what stand out, not their appearance, clothing, hair, or jewelry. Instead of a "Christian uniform," it should be the good works of Christian ladies that stand out to the world.
mod·est
[mod-ist]
ɪst
1.having or showing a moderate or humble estimate of one's merits, importance, etc.; free from vanity, egotism, boastfulness, or great pretensions.
Women who wear head-coverings or Amish-looking dresses are doing so in order to purposely look different and stand out. There are many beautiful and stylish dresses for women to wear that are very modest and and not revealing whatsoever, but that do not purposely draw attention and cry out, "Look at me! Look how 'modest' I am!" Purposely drawing attention to yourself is neither modesty nor humility!
If ladies who practice "head-covering" were truly just trying to obey scripture and not draw attention to themselves, then why not wear a "head-covering" something like this:
or this:
Instead, this is what you usually see:
or this:
Conclusion:
Ladies are commanded by the Bible to have long hair. They are not commanded to wear an external head covering of any kind. If they do wear one, people will probably associate them with religions that preach a false Gospel.
Women who wear head-coverings or Amish-looking dresses are doing so in order to purposely look different and stand out. There are many beautiful and stylish dresses for women to wear that are very modest and and not revealing whatsoever, but that do not purposely draw attention and cry out, "Look at me! Look how 'modest' I am!" Purposely drawing attention to yourself is neither modesty nor humility!
If ladies who practice "head-covering" were truly just trying to obey scripture and not draw attention to themselves, then why not wear a "head-covering" something like this:
or this:
Instead, this is what you usually see:
or this:
Conclusion:Ladies are commanded by the Bible to have long hair. They are not commanded to wear an external head covering of any kind. If they do wear one, people will probably associate them with religions that preach a false Gospel.
28 comments:
I think that it's important to note that there are instances in which a godly woman would have to cover her head. My aunt, for example, is nearly bald because she recently underwent chemotherapy for breast cancer. She's taken to wearing bandannas all the time, even while praying, as she doesn't have the cover of long hair.
Good topic. Very useful for ladies wondering about this subject. Thank you very much.
Helpful, thank you.
(1) You stated, “Every church or pastor I have ever seen or known that taught that women were commanded to wear head-coverings was wrong on the Gospel”
In your experience, how many covering-advocating pastors have you actually conversed with regarding the Gospel? May I suggest that there may be some genuinely born-again, missions-minded, large-family-advocating, passionately soul-winning, consistently child-training, train-children-in-the-church service kind of families and churches that are outside the scope of what you have “ever seen or known”.
In just our county alone, over thirty different Mennonite denominations exist. Have you have entertained the possibility that you do not know all parts of Christ’s body? That, ultimately, it is only “The Lord knoweth them that are His?”
While it is true that some Amish/ Mennonite groups walk in dead legalism. It is, however, both unfair and illogical to dismiss entire groups as it would be to suggest that all Independent Baptist pastors are as youthful and arrogant as you portray yourself in this post.
I was a Baptist pastor until ten years ago. In that year, after my mother died, I resigned from the church to care for my father in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. We visited our first Mennonite congregation then.
In our experience, we found men and women who were passionate about the gospel. We found men with basic education that preached the word with humility, a trait I have found (in my experience) to be absent among Independent Baptist preachers. We found families who invited all visitors to their homes and eagerly talked about the Lord; conversations about professional sports, television shows and the latest fashions were conspicuously absent.
(2) You have remarked about the “many beautiful and stylish dresses…that do not purposely draw attention”. The Scripture is clear that a woman’s adornment (beauty) is not to be derived from her apparel (1 Peter 3:3). How much should “style” drive a Christian in their dress choices? You suggest that the covering is only long hair. Since your wife has cut hair. Cut hair that those in our area would consider short. How long is “long”?
When our family went the Anabaptist/Amish/Mennonite direction, I gladly laid aside the ridiculously overpriced and fashion-driven necktie tradition. Do you wear a tie out of biblical conviction or out of conformity to fashion? James reminds us that pure, undefiled religion is keeping oneself unspotted from the world. Paul reminds us to not be “conformed to this world”.
(3) In the comments, your wife tells Karen that her headband (covering) “looked cute, just like something anyone would wear.”. Is “something anyone would wear” a reliable standard for the Christian? How about it being “cute”? Are professing “Christians” so fearful of the world’s scorn? Fearful of being one who “stands out as different or weird”?
Although, I disagree with your handling of 1 Corinthians 11, I can extend the grace to say that it represents a sincere effort to be obedient to the Scriptures. It appears that you are unwilling to extend such grace to others.
Very good and I left comments over at your wifes blog as well.
I am in favor of you dragging yourself to the portrait studio for a new family portrait that includes all six of your beautiful children!
Thank you for this post, Pastor Anderson. You're helping me clarify my thinking on this issue.
I was involved for awhile with a "Charity Church" (a denomination of sorts started by a former Amish man and, interestingly, a renegade Hyles-Anderson grad named Denny Kenaston). Their teachings have blessed me tremendously, BUT... they are really hung up on the headcovering issue to where it is their "distinctive doctrine."
What especially irked me was that they acknowledge a biblical-era headcovering would more closely resemble a nun's habit or a Muslim woman's headcovering, where every strand of hair is concealed. However, Charity Ministries' statement of belief dictates that women should wear a distinctively Christian covering, which by default is the "coffee filters" their target demographic of Amish and Mennonites already wear (how convenient).
pressing on in Christ . . . Gary
PS: Are you familiar with the interpretation of I Cor 11:10 that says the covering is to stave off a repeat of the Genesis 6 scenario where angels lusted after earth-women and thus created the Nephilim? Verse 10 is a notoriously difficult one to understand.
Off subject, but , I, too, am in favor of you dragging your hind end to a Portrait Studio to get an updated family portrait done, with all 6 kids!
Whether or not to cover has been something that I have druggies with. This post was clearly written and informative.
I made similar comment on Zsuzsanna's blog, so that is not the main reason for my comment. I am another one of Zsuzsanna's readers who are commenting to get you into the portrait studio. :) If not now, then perhaps in October ... As a Christmas present for your sweet wife?
I found this post to be very interesting. My husband and I were both raised Amish, but had to leave after becoming born again and being told to recant our "strange belief" or else become excommunicated and given to Satan. The choice whether to cling to Jesus or family and traditions didn't require a lot of thought. We left and have never regretted our choice.
It has been quite a journey of faith since we left. I continued to wear some type of headcovering for a while until it simply felt wrong to continue and I have now been headcovering free for quite a while.
Pastor...you called this article "Why Women Should Not Wear Head-Coverings"...but it could better be titled, "Why women are not commanded to wear head coverings".
There's nothing wrong with a woman covering her head.
James 2:17 "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
James 2:24 "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
James 2:26 "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."
Surely Judas Iscariot had faith that Yeshua is the Messiah. However, I highly doubt that he will be saved. In fact, he will be judged according to his works just as everyone will.
I recently began to cover my head after a lot of prayer on this issue. I have chosen to do so, because I feel that it is God's calling to women, and that He wanted me to do so. If He had not, then this passage of scripture would not have been included in His Good Book. This is the same reason that I obey other scriptures about other things like submitting to my husband, tithing, dressing modestly, etc.
My hair is very long, but I did not feel that it was the covering for two reasons. It does not make sense in the context of vs. 6-7 for it to be long hair. If it were hair, you could not be uncovered. The second reason is more personal, I felt God was telling me too. I do not wear bonnets, but headscarves and wraps that match with whatever I am wearing that day. I do this because I do not like the way I look in hats. I dress very modestly, but modern (think about that family with a million kids on TLC) and attend a Baptist church. I feel that if it is in the Bible it is there for a reason and being God's Word, we better pay attention to it. This is a personal coviction of mine, not one taught by my church.
I pray that God will convict you to rethink this matter and change your attitude toward women who do choose to cover. Remember you can either be quick to judge or quick to love, there isn't time to do both.
I cover because my heart convicts me to do so. I believe it is a proper expression of respect for the headship arrangement established by God. It is my choice, which I respectfully discussed with my husband -- out of respect for the headship arrangement. All over the world, women cover. This is primarily an issue here in the United States, where feminist, individualistic, selfish, thinking has added to the erosion of the family unit. It is also an issue where women are forced to cover. You might not think the Bible condones it, but it is a decision for each woman to make based on her own heartfelt prayers to God and, where married, the approval of her husband. It is a sacrifice; a very difficult one. It's unfortunate that because you feel uncomfortable, you are condemning women who have chosen to abide by something that relates to their personal relationship with God. You'd do a lot better spending time writing about all of the various types of immodest dress and conduct of women in the world today and how that truly erodes their spirituality.
You're entitled to your opinion, brother, but what do you do with all the historical evidence that the sister wore a head covering in the early church?
The fact of the matter is many contemporary women are caught up in vanity and would NEVER submit to covering their beautiful locks.
Read your old commentaries, they weren't just guessing, they knew it and saw it in church history and practice.
Just my two cents worth,
a brother,
Ben
I completely understand your comments and can't disagree with anything but this one:
"I have never seen or heard of any church that preached Bible salvation that taught women to wear head-coverings. Therefore, wearing a head-covering will lump you in with unsaved false teachers such as the Amish, Pentecostals, etc."
What makes a Pentecostal a "unsaved false teacher"?! I've been part of Pentecostal denominations for about 5 years now. The churches have all taught Biblical salvation- by faith, not works.. really, it was like being Baptist except that they also agree with gifts of the Spirit (which IS Biblical and from the same God who was yesterday, is today, and will be tomorrow) but Baptism in the Holy Spirit isn't required for salvation... that's the only thing I could see you argue with. I've never ONCE been told to cover my head.
That comment made no sense!
Keeping my head covered for the first time in my life takes my focus away from my appearance and focused on God. I do it because it feels right. I believe you are entirely wrong in saying women do it to draw attention to themselves. It takes the focus off my appearance.
After a serious study of 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, I now believe that women should cover their heads in worship. I would be afraid to handle the text as you have (writer of lead article). The head covering was for real. Paul only compared the hair to the head covering, he never meant it took it's place when praying or prophesying. I'm sure those who don't want to believe in the covering take great comfort in your telling them it's only the hair. Go ahead now and tell them there is no Hell! That should make them feel good as well.
Take care,
Mike Baggett
Mike Baggett,
Did you even read this article? In the Old Testament the Bible COMMANDED the priests to wear bonnets on their heads while worshiping, etc. That completely contradicts your interpretation of 1 Corinthians 11. You need to read the article.
From Pentecost to the present, there is only one 'law': the law of the Spirit. Selah.
For two thousand years women followed Paul's admonition to cover their heads in church.
Not until recently, in the "modern" church have women forsaken this practice.
It is a sign of the times. The endtimes.
It seems that people forgot 1 Corinthians 11:16 that says, "But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God." It looks like I will be wearing my head scarf at home when I pray so not to offend someone and to prevent all this back and forth. Just my opinion.
Uh....allow me to state what should be obvious....
Letters from Paul to the various churches are not "In the Bible" The Christian bibles (all versions) end with whatever is the last Gospel. All those letters are simply bonus features
like when you b uy a movie on DVD and there are hours of bonus material. commentary, etc...but they are not the movie, and those letters are NOT Sacred Scripture. The Bible is the word of God when it says GOD SAID: or JESUS SAID: etc. Letters from one believer to another are not Scripture. If that were true all letters by all Christians would be also. It is no accident that Jesus' words are seldom mentioned in Church. If you want to know the true importance of the message of the cross, check how many times Jesus teaches it. Get a red letter edition of the Bible, and read the Gospels and study the words in red. Everything else is opinion and commentary.
"Emanuel, God with us", "and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us", "In the beginning...and the Word was God". Considering God Himself taught the disciples what to say & do in the New Covenant, I say that it's not "Bonus Material" but "Glad tidings of good news" as the angels of God were created and instructed to say ----by the directing of God. "Bible" means "Truth" and God is ALL TRUTH.
1 Corinthians 11:15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her as a covering.ll of God's word is truth. Her long hair is her covering. Keep man's teachings seperate from God's word. There is so much false teaching out there.
My hair is baby fine and stick straight. The longer it gets, the worse Iit looks, so I keep it short. If I had to have long hair, I would cover my head simply because I would be ashamed of the way I look. I would even keep my head covered in the bed and in the shower! Guess I'd save money on shampoo.
With all due respect, pastor, I think your are totally mistaken on this one. Paul is clearly stating that the women should have a covering over their head. If it was just long hair, what about those women whose hair doesn't grow? The text clearly states the case of Eve, she sinned and needed to have a sign of obedience or submission to her husband, who the Father made the head.
You also state that any church that teaches a head covering is a false church because it teaches:
-you can lose your salvation: There are so many texts in the bible that teach that you must obey the word of the Father, otherwise you will not be saved that it would take me a long time to quote them here. Look them up in a concordance, if you have one.
-you are saying that no one needs to repent of their sins in order to be saved. What bible are you reading. If one does not repent of their sins there is no salvation. What gospel do you teach.
-You also teach that believers do not have to surrender their lives to the Savior. Why follow Him then. Are you kidding me!
-Salvation is by faith in the Savior, but after you believe you have to do the works that He did and the apostles did. You have to live a sanctified life. You have to stop practicing what the ungodly practice.
I honestly think you are a nut case. I hope no one follows your logic or teaching, otherwise the scripture that says: "that if a blind leads the blind they both will fall in the same pit" will be fulfilled in you. You need to reassess your beliefs. Please stop teaching scriptures. You are not qualified to do so.
It's a shame that you are so smart and can't see your nose despite your face, its extremely clear that the bible does not teach women to use a cloth on her head as a covering, and is talking clearly about hair here.
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