I Corinthians 11
Church Talk – A Study of I and II Corinthians
Pastor Brandon Ball
07/12/2023
(Preface)
Head Coverings
1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. 2 Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. 3 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. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, 5 but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. —1 Corinthians 11:1–5 (ESV)1 Corinthians 11 is not a chapter about cutting or not cutting hair. To make it about this is to miss the actual message that Paul is attempting to get across which is
.
1. Women in Public Ministry
The first contention I would like to deal with is that women cannot be actively involved in ministry. Not only do I personal disagree, but I believe such an assertion is not biblical or at best, a misunderstanding of what the bible is actual instructing on the matter.
12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. —1 Timothy 2:12 (ESV)
Qualifications for Overseers
1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, —1 Timothy 3:1–2 (ESV)ἐπίσκοπος – (bishop; overseer, watches over).
ποιμαίνω – (to heard; tend, watch over).
Shepherd the Flock of God
1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; —1 Peter 5:1–2 (ESV)I Timothy 2 should not be read apart from chapter 3. When read as a whole (as a letter is intended to be read) it might be that Paul in chapter 2 is qualifying what he is writing in chapter 3, and that is regarding the qualifications of an “overseer”. Therefore, Paul’s remarks in chapter 2 provide a qualifier as to why women should not be permitted to hold the office of “overseer” or pastor.
34 the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. 35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. —1 Corinthians 14:34–35 (ESV)
“Silence” in the church is not exclusive to only women!
Orderly Worship
26 What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. 27 If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28 But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. —1 Corinthians 14:26–28 (ESV)
4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, 5 but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. —1 Corinthians 11:4–5 (ESV)
Notice for Paul, both men and women “pray” and “prophecy”. Therefore, the issue is not whether or not a particular gender should participate in public ministry, but whether or not they participate in submission to spiritual headship!
Luke 8:1-3 lists Mary, Joanna, and Susanna as disciples of Jesus Christ.
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, —Joel 2:28
Acts 21:9 speaks of Phillips four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
Acts 21:10 Agabus is clearly called a prophet.
Romans 16:1-2 Phoebe was both a minister and deacon.
Not to mention women prophetess’ and judges in the Old Testament.My conclusion is that it is more biblically normative to see women in public ministry than women forbid from public ministry. Again, the issue doesn’t seem to be a prohibition against women in public ministry but rather a prohibition against disorder to include negligence of spiritual headship and authority.
2. Spiritual Headship
3 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. —1 Corinthians 11:3 (ESV)
This is God’s creative order. This is God’s divine design.
Men and women are different.
- There are biological differences
- There are emotional differences
God created men to do certain things and women to do certain things. When we tamper with this “God-wiring” we end up short-circuiting the church!
If men dominate the home and church life, decision-making, worship, and public ministry, the woman is devalued, made to feel useless, and the church handicapped of the woman’s purpose that was God-given.
If women dominate the home and church life, decision-making, worship, and public ministry, the men are devalued, made to feel useless, and the church becomes castrated.
If men forget their home, church life, decision-making, worship, and public ministry are to all be submitted to God, they walk in arrogance and pride and will inevitably fall; typically resulting in catastrophic collateral damage!
If women forget their home, decision-making, worship, and public ministry are to be submitted to their husbands, they step outside of God’s pattern and fall into one of the curses of original sin – “your desire shall be for your husband”.
16 To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.” —Genesis 3:16 (ESV)
A more easily rendering might read, “and that she will have desire against her husband, but he must respond to this evil desire by ruling her.
This curse is mitigated by mutual submission with an ultimate deferral in spiritual matters to the husband or man as it pertains to marriage and the local church. Such is the case with or seemly problematic verse.Orderly Worship
26 What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. 27 If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28 But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. 30 If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. 33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, 34 the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. 35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. —1 Corinthians 14:26–35 (ESV)The issue here is the rightly discerning of whether or not what was interpreted was to be considered being from God or not. This was not a matter public opinion within the church but rather a duty of church leadership.
What church history tells us is that there was chaos in the Corinthian church and operation in the gifts of the Spirit seemed license to essentially trump spiritual headship (i.e., “each on has a…”). Basically, a “I don’t need you because I also…” mentally was existing.
Paul will sum the argument by closing with, “and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. 33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace” (14:32).
3. A Woman’s Hair
Head Coverings
2 Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. 3 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. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, 5 but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. —I Corinthians 11:2-5The first word we want to focus on is “head”.
- This is pointing to what we’ve previously covered – headship.
- Eventually however, Paul clearly uses this word κεφαλή (kephalē) in terms of the
physical head moving away from the idea of head in statue or headship.The second word we want to focus on is “covered; covering”.
The major point Paul is highlighting is a lack of covering (“uncovered”).
Again, the issue is not whether or not women prophesy, but whether or not women prophesy properly submitted – are in accordance with spiritual headship. The same applies to men.
In this instance however, Paul underlines a woman’s hair as a demonstration of proper submission to headship.
Head Coverings
2 Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. 3 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. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, 5 but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. —I Corinthians 11:2-5What was common were veils used as coverings, worn by women in this time and still today in some parts of the world. At some point however, Christian women, according to Paul were to view their hair as a symbol of covering – or submission to spiritual headship!
15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. —1 Corinthians 11:15 (ESV)
Most scholars can only specular as to why this happens. Some healthy suggestions are as follows:
- No longer mandated to wear veils due to Christian liberty.
- Pagan worship practices often took place with men offering sacrifices with their head
“covered” (whether by veil or uncut hair who knows).- It has been said that prostitutes with cut their hair as a marker of their profession.
In verse 4, “with his head covered” in the Greek reads literally, “down from the head having”. Paul’s instruction and clarification in verse 15 might give cause to interpret this as hair.
- Gender distinction issues within Roman and Greek culture, so uncut hair was to clearly
separate women for men – men with cut and women with uncut.5 but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. 6 For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head. —1 Corinthians 11:5–6 (ESV)
Paul drives his point home. If a woman will not cover her head, then let that head be shorn. If she counts it a disgrace for her head to be shorn or shaven, let her understand that it is equally a shame to have her head uncovered at worship.
The conclusion might be made then that the “covering” for a Christian woman is
. And, from Paul’s viewpoint, cut and shaven are used as equals. In other words, to cut is to shave. 7 For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. 9 Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; 12 for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God. 13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. —1 Corinthians 11:7–15 (ESV)
Κομάω – “let the hair grow long.”
“Authority” (ἐξουσία) – power; permission; authority.
Vs.
“Authority” “Power” (δύναμις) – power; potential; ability.“Man was not created for woman, but woman for man” – Why?
- To serve him? “no”.
Because she has an authority in the spiritual dimension.
- Her prayers push back the attacks of the enemy!
- Her prayers directly benefit the man!
The church needs the prayers of godly women!
16 If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God. —1 Corinthians 11:16 (ESV)
Here’s what Paul is saying, this is not to be a matter of dispute. This is
if the churches of God.
Notes: