By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher
Text: 1
Corinthians 11:1-16
1
Corinthians 11:2
Now
I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the
traditions even as I delivered them to you.
(ESV)
When in Israel in 2008,
as a man I had to remember to wear a head covering when visiting a Jewish holy
site. From this context, one could view Paul’s teaching that men do not wear a
head covering when praying or prophesying as a deviation from this rule.
However, the rule that Jewish men wear a head covering was not a tradition at
the time of Pual because the tradition only began about 1800 years ago.
This text begins with
Paul telling the Corinthians to imitate him to the extent that he imitates
Christ (1
Corinthians 11:1). Many believe this verse is a concluding statement to the
text at the end of the previous chapter and has nothing to do with the
subsequent text regarding head coverings. Paul then commends the Corinthians
for maintaining the traditions as delivered to them by the Apostle Paul (1
Corinthians 11:2). Since Paul delivered these traditions to them, they are
most likely Jewish traditions. In the context of these traditions, Paul states that
the head of every man is Christ, the head of the wife is her husband, and the
head of Christ is God (1
Corinthians 11:3). A man dishonors his head by praying and prophesying with
his head covered while a wife dishonors her head by praying or prophesying with
her head uncovered (1
Corinthians 11:4-5). If a wife will not follow the tradition of head
coverings, she should cut her hair short but that too is disgraceful so she
should cover her head (1
Corinthians 11:6).
A man ought not to cover
his head for he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man (1
Corinthians 11:7). God created woman from man and for man and why a wife
should have a symbol of authority on her head (1
Corinthians 11:8-10). However, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor
man independent of woman because God created woman from man, but man is now
born of woman, with all things coming from God (1
Corinthians 11:11-12). Nature itself teaches that a man wearing long hair is
a disgrace whereas a woman with long hair is her glory because God gives her
hair for a covering (1
Corinthians 11:13-15). The text concludes with Paul stating if anyone is
inclined to be contentious, Paul nor the Church have such a practice (1
Corinthians 11:16).
We must ask the question
of why a discussion of head coverings would follow Paul’s previous discussion
of doing all for the glory of God. The answer believed by some theologians is
that 1
Corinthians 11:2-26 begins teaching about particulars regarding public
assemblies. Subsequent teachings will include,
1)
Lord’s Supper (1
Corinthians 11:17-34)
2)
Spiritual Gifts (1
Corinthians 12:1-11)
3)
One body with many members (1
Corinthians 12:12-31)
4)
The way of love (1
Corinthians 13:1-13)
5)
Prophecy and Tongues (1
Corinthians 14:1-25)
6)
Orderly Worship (1
Corinthians 14:26-40)
Some could consider this
text as sexist in the context of our modern society but according to the
traditions of worship in Jewish synagogues during the time of Paul, these rules
regarding head coverings were normal and in no way demeaned women. In 1
Corinthians 11:11-12 Paul reminds us that while God created woman from man,
every man born since Adam came from a woman, including Jesus the son of God.
This passage does not establish a doctrine of the man as the master and the
woman as his slave with men and women having an equal status with God having
different roles to play in the Church. The rules regarding head coverings are
not theological doctrine but instead the interest of Paul for the Church to
maintain traditions in practice in synagogues at the time of Paul, something
Paul commends the Corinthians for (1
Corinthians 11:2).
Adherence to traditions
in the Church occurs because these traditions lead to orderliness in worship
services. However, these traditions vary from culture to culture and can change
over time. If differing traditions or their changes do not lead to violating
doctrinal truths in Scripture, these changes are okay and expected. Head
coverings are not an adhered to tradition in modern Church culture and the
abandonment of this tradition does not hamper the mission of the Church to
spread the Gospel and make disciples (Mark
16:15; Matthew 28:19-20). Therefore, one should not interpret 1
Corinthians 11:2-16 as theology but instead adherence to a tradition at the
time so as not to create a distraction during worship services preventing
people from hearing the Gospel message. Traditions in the Church such as dress,
or styles of music must not become divisive issues distracting the mission of
the Church with all done for the glory of God (1
Corinthians 10:31).
If you are reading this
and have never prayed to receive forgiveness for your sins leading to death (Romans
3:23, 6:23) and made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ as your savior,
I encourage you to do so now by praying with me,
Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans
3:23)
and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans
6:23). I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse
me as you promise in your Word (1
John 1:9). I believe
you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now
declare you Lord of my life.
May God challenge,
convict, and encourage everyone reading this post.
References:
1. Jewish Community Center. The Kippa. jccmb.com.
[Online] Jewish Community Center. [Cited: October 9, 2023.]https://www.jccmb.com/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/1328088/jewish/The-Kippa.htm.
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