Honoring God’s Design
October 6, 2024
1 Corinthians 11:2-16
2 I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you. 3 But 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. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. 6 For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.
7 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 did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9 neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12 For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.
13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 16 If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.
Read 1 Corinthians 11:2-6
1. What traditions do you imagine Paul passed on to the Corinthians? How would you summarize the heart of Paul’s message to all the churches?
2. Verse 3 lays out a rather hierarchical description of the relationship of Christ, men, and women. How do the doctrine of the trinity and the fact that Jesus was submissive and obedient to the Father (Philippians 2:6-8) help us understand this relationship?
3. Ephesians 5:21-26 discusses the relationship of men and women in marriage. How does what Paul says there affect the way we understand this passage in 1 Corinthians?
4. Click to read the explanation of verse 6 found here: BibleRef. What were the cultural/social implications of uncovered heads and shaved heads? How does this shape our understanding of what Paul is saying?
Read 1 Corinthians 11:7-12
1. This passage is a mish-mash of theological presuppositions, cultural understandings and expectations, and difficult references. How do verses 11-12 resonate with Ephesians 5:21?
2. How does Paul’s final sentence in verse 12 provide important context for this whole passage?
Read 1 Corinthians 11:13-16
1. Our culture does not experience long hair/short hair distinctions the same way that Paul’s culture did. How should we interpret passages like this that are so heavily influenced by ancient cultural perspectives?
2. Does this passage require us to share Paul’s perspective on long hair/short hair? Why or why not?