1 Corinthians 11:4-5-To Cover or Not to Cover—Is That the Question?

[newton3005]

Life seemed much simpler in Genesis’ times. There were no established traditions, no Laws that people were obligated to comply with, and people could eat any food regardless of whether the hooves of certain animals were cloven, or sea creatures that crawl on the ocean floor, or the timing of eating meat relative to eating dairy. The Lord didn’t make his people into poster boys for the world to see how people behave in His Presence.

The people who loved the Lord were His Chosen, starting with Abraham. There were no laws that dealt with relations with strangers in the Genesis era. God didn’t tell Abraham how to treat those that worked for him.

The traditions of the Old Testament didn’t really start until the Lord rescued the Hebrews from Egypt. Then, the Lord unloaded 500-some-odd laws. From those laws emerged traditions based on the understanding of the leaders. So, among many Jews it became mandatory for men to cover their heads when they prayed in the synagogues. But consider that in Genesis, Adam didn’t need to cover his head when he talked with God. Neither did Eve for that matter when she spoke with him, particularly when she explained why she and Adam were hiding from the Lord as He walked in the Garden of Eden.

There is an irony here. In Hebrews, the Hebrews are told in Chapter 6 Verse 1 to ‘leave the elementary doctrine of Jesus’. That doctrine, though, encompasses the established traditions of the Jewish leaders to a certain extent. Yet, along comes 1 Corinthians 11:4-5 which dictates which gender should cover their heads and which shouldn’t. That introduces traditions of sorts to Christians. What value to the Lord is covering or not covering one’s head? It certainly isn’t one of the great commandments of Jesus. Did Jesus say in the Bible, ‘Men who don’t cover their heads will form a line on the right and enter heaven, along with women who DO cover their heads. On the other hand, men who cover their heads will form a line on the left, along with women who don’t cover their heads, and they shall go into the Lake of Fire for eternity.’

And the hierarchy leading up to 1 Corinthians 11:4-5 is intriguing. 1 Corinthians starts by saying, in Verses 2 and 3, “Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.” Traditions? Women being beneath men? Seems Galatians 3:28-29 would have something to say about that, along with Jews, Greeks, slaves or freemen.

What are the first few Verses of 1 Corinthians? They might be interesting things to ponder. But does it address the essence of what God expects from us? To what extent does covering or not covering our heads help us to love God and love our neighbors? Are the clergy saying to those who want to be Christians, ‘OK, but if you’re a man you should not wear a hat in church, and if you’re a woman you should cover your head. Then you shall be saved’?

 

[Aunty Jane]

What are the first few Verses of 1 Corinthians? They might be interesting things to ponder. But does it address the essence of what God expects from us? To what extent does covering or not covering our heads help us to love God and love our neighbors? Are the clergy saying to those who want to be Christians, ‘OK, but if you’re a man you should not wear a hat in church, and if you’re a woman you should cover your head. Then you shall be saved’?

Interesting topic....
What was the purpose and significance of a head covering in Bible times?

When God created humankind, he did not require covering of any sort, until sin entered the picture....then God required covering the whole body, replacing the fig leaves with “garments of skin”, indicating the skin of an animal, which was going to protect them from the harsh environment outside the garden after their eviction. (Gen 3:21)
As humans increased in number, head covering then took on special significance.
Aside from being an item of dress, head covering had a spiritual significance among God’s servants at that time in connection with headship and subjection....something that in today’s world of gender equality seems ridiculous....but of no less importance to a God who does not change, and who assigned the roles he did that were gender specific.

Eve was created as a “complement” of her husband, which means that she balanced out his God given qualities so that the two were one unit....the beginning of a family.

Apparently faithful servants of God in ancient times knew about God’s headship arrangement as the Patriarchs presided over their clans with God given authority. Such men as Noah and Abraham were given instructions by God, which they followed implicitly. Their women folk were obedient to the leadership that God placed over them. They respected God’s arrangement and their place in it was not demeaning at all, but a supportive role ordained by the Creator himself. It maintained the correct balance of the sexes so that there was no rivalry with their menfolk.

Headship was not dictatorship however, so that the man was placed in a position of responsibility towards his household, treating them with respect and taking their individual needs into account with his decisions.

So what about Christian headship? Since all of the first Christians were Jewish, the headship arrangement was carried over. As Paul stated....
“But I want you to know that the head of every man is the Christ; in turn, the head of a woman is the man; in turn, the head of the Christ is God.” (1 Cor 11:3)

There is order in everything God does....someone is always accountable for their behavior if they occupy a position of responsibility.....the children to their parents....the wife to her husband....the husband to Christ.....and even the Christ has God as a head over him.

So if a head covering is a sign that one recognises headship, it is a silent statement, showing respect for God’s arrangement, especially in the congregation. A woman should cover her head if she is praying on behalf of others because a male is not present, showing her recognition of the headship arrangement....who sees and appreciates such respect? God does....but so do the angels. (1 Cor 11:10)

Is it a salvation issue? It is a respect issue and an acknowledgment that we are part of God’s arrangement, not man’s. When we disrespect God’s arrangement, we disrespect Him.

There are times when a head covering is appropriate and times when it is not. We have to know when it is appropriate in a balanced way, so that we don’t become weighed down by law, instead of love, like the Pharisees did.

 

[ScottA]

Life seemed much simpler in Genesis’ times. There were no established traditions, no Laws that people were obligated to comply with, and people could eat any food regardless of whether the hooves of certain animals were cloven, or sea creatures that crawl on the ocean floor, or the timing of eating meat relative to eating dairy. The Lord didn’t make his people into poster boys for the world to see how people behave in His Presence.

The people who loved the Lord were His Chosen, starting with Abraham. There were no laws that dealt with relations with strangers in the Genesis era. God didn’t tell Abraham how to treat those that worked for him.

The traditions of the Old Testament didn’t really start until the Lord rescued the Hebrews from Egypt. Then, the Lord unloaded 500-some-odd laws. From those laws emerged traditions based on the understanding of the leaders. So, among many Jews it became mandatory for men to cover their heads when they prayed in the synagogues. But consider that in Genesis, Adam didn’t need to cover his head when he talked with God. Neither did Eve for that matter when she spoke with him, particularly when she explained why she and Adam were hiding from the Lord as He walked in the Garden of Eden.

There is an irony here. In Hebrews, the Hebrews are told in Chapter 6 Verse 1 to ‘leave the elementary doctrine of Jesus’. That doctrine, though, encompasses the established traditions of the Jewish leaders to a certain extent. Yet, along comes 1 Corinthians 11:4-5 which dictates which gender should cover their heads and which shouldn’t. That introduces traditions of sorts to Christians. What value to the Lord is covering or not covering one’s head? It certainly isn’t one of the great commandments of Jesus. Did Jesus say in the Bible, ‘Men who don’t cover their heads will form a line on the right and enter heaven, along with women who DO cover their heads. On the other hand, men who cover their heads will form a line on the left, along with women who don’t cover their heads, and they shall go into the Lake of Fire for eternity.’

And the hierarchy leading up to 1 Corinthians 11:4-5 is intriguing. 1 Corinthians starts by saying, in Verses 2 and 3, “Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.” Traditions? Women being beneath men? Seems Galatians 3:28-29 would have something to say about that, along with Jews, Greeks, slaves or freemen.

What are the first few Verses of 1 Corinthians? They might be interesting things to ponder. But does it address the essence of what God expects from us? To what extent does covering or not covering our heads help us to love God and love our neighbors? Are the clergy saying to those who want to be Christians, ‘OK, but if you’re a man you should not wear a hat in church, and if you’re a woman you should cover your head. Then you shall be saved’?

Newton, all good questions!

The biblical narrative is revelation (regardless of the topic).

As covering/hair goes, it is a parable example cast into the creation of mankind of the image of God. About the hierarchy--not actually between men and women--but between God and mankind. Which He has arranged for us to learn by the experience of our own lives under a similar hierarchy.

So, by example, a man who covers "himself" is like making himself his own god, at the same time casting off God; yet not covering his head shows him in need of God and receptive to His covering. While a woman who covers her head is an example of allowing herself to be covered by God, and not covering her head is like casting off or refusing God.

 

[Behold]

There is an irony here. In Hebrews, the Hebrews are told in Chapter 6 Verse 1 to ‘leave the elementary doctrine of Jesus’.

Hebrews 6:1

The Apostle is telling you to leave the fundamental aspects of baby christianity.
To GROW UP into a more mature Christian Faith.
To get your faith right.
Whereas the Hebrews 6:1 stage...is where the carnal believer worries about losing salvation, and you believe that water baptism is required for Salvation.. And its that diaper stage where the baby believer is uselessly confessing sins (repenting from dead works)... believing that this is going to help you not lose your salvation.
Reader, God is not looking for another confession......He's looking for your FAITH, as its "faith that pleases God".....not redundant useless confession of sin, that He does not charge you with, ever again.

Read Romans 4:8 and Believe it.

Read 2 Corin 5:19 and Believe it.

Read John 3:17 and Believe it.

And...the carnal baby christian......will also believe this nonsense....which is......that you are in charge of keeping your fellowship with God.
In other words, its that you believe that peace with God gets interrupted if you are not good enough, behavior wise..

See that ?

That is baby believer MINDSET.........the "carnal mind", that does not understand the Blood of Jesus or the NT, or the New Covenant, or Paul's Gospel.

So, if im talking to someone, then you are stuck in theolgical reverse.. along with your commentaries and your CHURCH..... So, You literally have not yet begun to understand God's "Gift of Salvation,""" even if you have it.

See, Salvation is to be "worked out" because you have it.........and that MEANS that you learn what it means........what God has done........
When you've learned it, you'll hear this..

"Jesus is Salvation" and you'll understand it perfectly.

So....Start Here. :

Romans 3:21-28, and try to use a KJV for this lesson, or perhaps an Amplified "Classic" version can dial it in for you.