Introduction
I mentioned last week that it’s our practice here at Shiloh to teach through books of the Bible passage by passage. In this way we can be exposed to and learn the whole counsel of God.
Now, that method of Bible teaching is not always easy. Because sooner or later you’re bound to run across a passage of Scripture that’s a challenge to interpret and apply to 21st century Christianity.
We encounter such a passage this morning. I refer to 1 Corinthians 11:2-16. Dr. Thomas Schreiner is a Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He considers 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 one of the most difficult and controversial passages in the Bible.
Is Dr. Schreiner correct? Let me read the passage to you and let you decide. In 1 Corinthians 11:2, Paul writes, “I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings, just as I passed them on to you. Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is just as though her head were shaved. If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head. A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head. In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God. Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.”
What does Paul mean by all this? What is this head covering that he insists women wear? What does her wearing it have to do with angels? And what is the deal with men’s and women’s hair length? And what does all of this have to do with us today?
We’ll answer these questions this morning as we work our way through this passage verse by verse. But first let’s discover the context of this passage.
Last week we concluded our study of chapters 8-10 where Paul deals with Christian liberty. And now, in chapters 11-14, he deals with decorum and order in the church in regard to worship—11:2-16; the Lord’s Table—11:17-34; and spiritual gifts—chapters 12-14.
So in 11:2-16, Paul teaches the Corinthians concerning decorum and order when the church meets together for worship. And the main point that Paul is emphasizing is this: Women should wear head coverings during public worship.
Look at verses 5 and 13. “And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head.” Verse 13: “Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?”
Why does Paul say this? Well, I think we need to understand the significance of a head covering in the 1st century. Back in Paul’s day, a head covering was not a veil that covered a woman’s face—like a bride would wear on her wedding day. Rather, a head covering was more like a shawl that covered the top and back of a woman’s head. And in the culture of that day, a woman would wear a shawl—a head covering—in public as a sign of submission to her husband. And Paul says the Corinthians should follow that practice when they meet together for public worship.
And in verse 3-16, Paul gives 5 reasons why the Corinthian women should wear head coverings in public worship to demonstrate submission.
The first reason for the head covering is because of …
1. ESTABLISHED AUTHORITY
I see this in verses 3-6.
Verse 3 says, “Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.”
There is a certain order or established authority ordained by God. The head of the woman is man; the head of the man is Christ; and the head of Christ is God.
Now, this order does not indicate inferiority. Rather, it reveals how the church is to operate. A woman isn’t inferior to a man anymore than Jesus—God the Son is inferior to God the Father. The Father and the Son are the same in essence or substance, but they have different functions in operation. It was Jesus who willingly submitted to the Father’s authority and left heaven, came to earth, and died for our sins. In the same way, women are not inferior to men. But they do have a different function in the order and operation of the church.
Verses 4 and 5: “Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head.”
Paul states that it is wrong for a man to pray or prophesy wearing a head covering. Why? Because that is what women wear. And so a man wearing a head covering would be shamefully depicting himself as a woman. And that dishonors the one over him—Christ.
Equally so, Paul says it’s wrong for a woman to pray or prophesy without a head covering. Why? Because culturally, the head covering demonstrated her submission to her husband and her submission to God’s established order in the church.
Paul continues in verses 5 and 6: “… it is just as though her head were shaved. If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head.”
If a woman didn’t wear a head covering, that indicated rebellion—the opposite of submission. So Paul is being sarcastic in verse 6—“if you’re not going to wear a head covering, then you might as well go all the way and cut your hair off or shave your head!” You see, in that day only extreme feminists or prostitutes would have shorn or shaved heads.
Paul goes on to give a second reason for head coverings in verses 7-9. It is …
2. CREATION ORDER
Beginning in verse 7 Paul states: “A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.”
Paul here appeals to the creation account to further reveal God’s established order. Genesis 2 tells us that God created Adam first. Then he took one of Adam’s ribs and made Eve. Genesis 2:18 states that God created Eve to be Adam’s “helper.” She was to assist him and complete him. So, she was created from Adam and for Adam.
So a woman is to wear a head covering to show her acceptance of and submission to God’s created order.
Verses 10-13 give a third reason for head covering. It is …
3. ANGELIC SPECTATORS
Verse 10 says, “For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head.”
Why does Paul mention angels? Because angels watch and observe how the church behaves. We see this in such Scriptures as 1 Peter 1:12. You see, angels are completely submissive to God. And they are offended by insubordination. They desire to see proper submission when Christ’s church assembles.
Now, all of this does not mean that God created woman to be man’s doormat. Remember, submission does not equal inferiority. Notice what Paul says in verses 11 and 12. “In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.”
Paul points out the equality and mutual dependence of man and woman. Women are not intellectually, morally, or spiritually inferior to men. And Paul reminds us that men and women need each other. There is a partnership as well as a headship in God’s creation.
Paul once again states his main point in verse 13: “Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?” And the answer is “No.” She is to show her submission to and respect for God and her husband. And she does this by covering her head during public worship.
The fourth reason for head covering is …
4. NATURAL REVELATION
Look at verses 14 and 15: “Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering.”
Mankind distinguishes between gender in various ways such as hair and dress. Now, I don’t think the real issue here is length of hair so much as it is distinction. Men and women instinctively want to represent their gender. So there ought to be a noticeable difference. A man should not look like a woman and a woman should not look like a man.
Women have a natural covering of long hair, and she should wear a physical covering in public worship.
Paul’s last reason for head covering is found in verse 16. It is …
5. CHURCH PRACTICE
As Paul states in verse 16: “If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.”
Paul says it was the teaching of the Apostles and the custom of all churches for women to wear head coverings. So the Corinthians should follow this common church practice and not be contentious.
Application
Okay. That’s the interpretation of verses 3-16. But what is the application for us? Should women still be required to wear head coverings in church? What does God expect from a woman today?
That’s what I’d like to address for the remainder of our time this morning. Ladies, let me share with you what God expects of you.
First, God expects you to …
• Experience Meaningful Ministry
I notice in verse 5 that women were involved in prayer and prophesy in public worship. They experienced meaningful ministry.
And likewise, God wants you to be involved in ministry that gives you an opportunity to exercise your spiritual gift. And I praise the Lord for the wonderful ministry that is carried out by our Shiloh ladies. I think of all the ladies involved in our music ministry—singing in the choir, singing solos, singing in our praise teams. And I think of the depth of talent we have in our accompanists—Chris Knepley, Kathy George, Bernie Thomas, Joan Zech, Caroline Creasy.
And I think of all the women who minister in Christian education here at Shiloh, such as the ladies who serve on our Board of Christian education—Denise Whitfield, Mim Bieber, Brenda Ross, Sharon Ail, Kathy Smith, and Joyce Hopper. And all the ladies who teach Sunday school, and children’s church, and Vacation Bible School.
And we’ve started a drama ministry under the direction of Laurie Wallace and Mary Anne Helfrich.
And I think of the army of women here at Shiloh that serve behind the scenes—ladies such as Kay Dyer and Dolores Sneidman who faithfully prepare the bread and juice for us each month as we celebrate the Lord’s Table.
And the list goes on and on and on and on and on!
So God expects you to experience meaningful ministry. Secondly, God expects you to …
• Demonstrate Godly Submission
Verses 5 and 13 call for the Corinthian women to wear head coverings in public worship. Would Paul expect ladies to wear head coverings in churches today? No, I don’t think so. Why? Because a head covering doesn’t have the same connotation today as it did in the first century. The head covering signified submission in the first century. If you wore a shawl over your head at Shiloh this morning no one would equate that with submission. People would probably ask you if you were cold or just having a bad hair day!
So what would be a 21st century equivalent to a 1st century head covering? Let me suggest 2 things. First, ladies, wear a wedding ring. A wedding ring indicates that you’re spoken for—you belong to your husband. Another tangible way to demonstrate submission is to take your husband’s last name when you get married. I know of a woman who not only refused to take her husband’s last name, but also insisted that her husband change his last name to her last name. That doesn’t demonstrate godly submission.
Thirdly, God expects you ladies to …
• Understand Spiritual Equality
In verses 11 and 12 Paul stresses the fact that submission does not mean inferiority. John MacArthur wrote, Paul “makes no distinction between men and women as far as personal worth, abilities, intellect, or spirituality are concerned. Both as human beings and as Christians, women in general are completely equal to men spiritually. Some women obviously are even superior to some men in abilities, intellect, maturity, and spirituality. God established the principle of male authority and female [submission] for the purpose of order and complementation, not on the basis of any innate superiority of males. … A church may have some women who are better Bible students, better theologians, and better speakers than any of the men, including the pastor. But if those women are obedient to God’s order they will submit to male leadership and will not try to usurp it—simply because that is God’s design. A wife may be better educated, better taught in Scripture, and more spiritually mature than her husband. But because she is spiritual, she will willingly submit to him as head of the family.”
Ladies, you are as precious to Christ as your husband is. The ground is level at the foot of the cross. You have spiritual equality with men. So, submission does not indicate inferiority.
Finally, God expects you to …
• Display Feminine Distinction
Verse 14 encourages women to be distinct from men. Ladies, don’t dress like a man. And don’t try to act like a man. People should be able to look at you and see a feminine distinction. They should be able to say, “Now, there’s a lady!”
Experience Meaningful Ministry; Demonstrate Godly Submission; Understand Spiritual Equality; and Display Feminine Distinction. That’s what God expects of you ladies today.
Let’s pray.
Let me give you a moment of silent meditation. Ladies, I know I’ve been primarily addressing you this morning. So, take time right now to ask yourself, “Do I experience meaningful ministry? Do I demonstrate godly submission? Do I understand spiritual equality? Do I display feminine distinction?” Take a moment of silent meditation.
Conclusion
Ladies, we men at Shiloh want you to know how much we love you in the Lord and appreciate you. And at this time I’m going to ask all of our ladies here at Shiloh to stand—all of our female children, teens, adults—please stand right now. And men let’s show them our appreciation of them by a round of applause. Men, let’s stand together with them and we’ll be dismissed with a word of prayer.
