The
Woman's Headcovering
Part
I
Elder
O. B. Mink
Retired
Sovereign Grace Baptist Pastor
"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. {2} Now I praise
you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances,
as I delivered them to you. {3} But I would have you know, that the head
of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head
of Christ is God. {4} Every man praying or prophesying, having his head
covered, dishonoureth his head. {5} But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth
with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one
as if she were shaven. {6} For if the woman be not covered, let her also
be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her
be covered. {7} For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch
as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the
man. {8} For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. {9}
Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. {10}
For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the
angels. {11} Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither
the woman without the man, in the Lord. {12} For as the woman is of the
man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. {13}
Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
{14} Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair,
it is a shame unto him? {15} But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory
to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. {16} But if any man seem
to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God."
(1 Corinthians 11:1-16)
Verse
1. "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ."
The
text paraphrased: "Be imitators of me, even as I imitate Christ." The apostle
Paul was a worthy follower of Christ, and great spiritual profit could
be realized by emulating the life of Paul; but Paul, knowing he was prone
to error, points to Christ as the perfect pattern of holiness. Christ is
the Christian's supreme example, and none other person can compare with
Him, but in following Paul the life of Christ would in a very great way
be manifested.
This epistle was written to the "Church of God which is at Corinth"
(I
Corinthians 1:2). The Corinthian church as an organized body could
follow Paul's godly example in many things, such as prayer, Scripture study,
charitableness, etc. Clearly the admonition contained in verse 1 applies
to every church member in his or her individual capacity, but it is truly
a wonderful thing when a minister is qualified to stand before the assembled
church and say: "Follow me." This is what Paul was doing by way of this
epistle. It was an apostolic communiqué to the official church at
Corinth. In a letter to the Philippian church, Paul says, "Brethren,
be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us
for an ensample" (Philippians 3:17).
It is good to follow any man as far as he follows Christ, for in so doing
one is following Christ; but where the best of men leave off in their example
of Christ, the saint must leave off following those men and go on into
maturity by carefully copying the life of Christ. Paul told the Corinthian
church "And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you ... abundantly
I love you" (II Corinthians 12:15). Paul's heart was heavily
burdened for the Corinthian church, for some members of the church had
by evil example caused much strife and division in the church (I Corinthians
3:3). While Paul says "Follow me," he warns the church of these evil
workers, saying: "Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate
..." (II Corinthians 6:17). The inflexible rule of Scripture concerning
those who walk contrary to the Word of God is, "Mark them ... and
avoid them" (Romans 16:17).
Verse 2, "Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things,
and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you."
While error permeated the Corinthian church, Paul yet finds something to
compliment them for. He does not approach them with an "holier than thou"
attitude but he says to them, "I am the least of the apostles, that
am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of
God" (I Corinthians 15:9). Even though infantile, Paul realized
the Corinthian church was as much an official and genuine church as the
church in Jerusalem or Antioch. Paul was careful not to wound their tender
conscience, and to win their confidence. He highlights a good element in
their character, and then strategically proceeds to reprove them for their
many and various deviations from truth.
"... Keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you." The word
"ordinances" in this verse is taken from the Greek word "paradosis," which
was commonly used in that era of the handing down of traditions. Paul uses
the word "paradosis" in I Corinthians 11:2 to refer to the handing
down of the
teachings
of Christ to the apostles.
The word "paradosis" is used in only two ways in the New Testament.
1.) The false traditions of the Pharisees being passed down (Matthew
15: 2-6; Mark 7:3-13; Galatians 1:14; Colossians 2:8).
2.) Secondly, the term is used in reference to the teachings and
commandments of Christ handed down to His apostles or church (I Corinthians
11:23; I Corinthians 15:3; II Thessalonians 2:15, 3:6).
It is in this sense Paul uses the word ("paradosis") in I Corinthians
11:2.
The word is in the plural (ordinances), and from a study of the immediate
context it is seen that Paul has in view the ordinances of a headcovering
for women, and the observing of the Lord's Supper. Both of these ordinances
are discussed at length and in great detail in this chapter, so it behooves
the saints who are seeking to honor God in all things to diligently study
this portion of Scripture and to obey the ordinances as applied to their
lives. Let us with delight magnify the ordinances of Baptism and the Memorial
Supper, but let us not neglect any of the ordinances handed down from the
all glorious Head of the church.
With insatiable disdain Paul refers to the many false and hurtful traditions
or commandments of the Pharisees which they had added to the Mosaic Law.
In one place Peter speaks of them saying: "Now therefore why tempt ye
God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers
nor we are able to bear?" (Acts 15:10). In Colossians 2:13-14
He refers again to the false traditions of the Pharisees, saying, that
the death of Christ was the means of "Blotting out the handwriting of
ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us, and took it out
of the way, nailing to His cross." But Paul admonishes the Corinthian
church to keep the "commandments of God" (I Corinthians 7:19),
and in verse 2 of our study, Paul says, speaking of the woman's
headcovering and the Lord's supper "Keep the ordinances as delivered
them to you." The traditions of men must give way to the commandments
of God (Mark 7:8). Let us obviate or withstand the traditions and
commandments of men, and be careful to never ridicule the ordinances of
God, but rather obey them, for "His commandments are not grievous"
(I John 5:3).
Verse 3, "But I would have you to know, that the head of every
man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ
is God."
Christ, in His glorified humanity seated at the right hand of His Father
in heaven, is the Head of man; but He is yet positionally subordinate to
His Head, which is God the Father. The omniscient counsel of God has made
man the head of the two sexes on earth, and the woman's headcovering is
the divinely appointed symbol of her submission to the headship of man.
The symbol does not in any way teach that the woman is subnormal, or that
she is a mere supplement to man; but that she is a complement to him, and
an honor unto God in obeying His ordinance.
Man looks up by faith to the Mediatorial throne to see his Head, and figuratively
speaking, a headcovering such as a hat would obscure the view of his Head.
But not so with the woman, she by sight looks horizontally or straight
out to see her head; and a headcovering does not in the least hinder her
in seeing her head. One day, as it is now with the faithful woman, the
saved man will look straight out to see his Head, and will communicate
with Him face to face. It is truly sad that so many otherwise faithful
and God honoring women, who in every way qualify to wear the God appointed
symbol, have not taken this distinction of excellence unto themselves.
God has given man headship over the woman, and charges him with the responsibilities
enjoined thereto. Man's headship over the woman is not like that of Christ's
over the man, for the headship of Christ is infallibly exercised. Nevertheless,
man's headship over the woman is God given and genuine, and the woman should
not usurp the authority God has vested in man's headship over her.
Woman's subordination to the man is the legislation of heaven. It is the
position God has placed her in, and she should have a mind suited to her
rank in God's economy. Such a mind will serve as a shield against vitiating
God's appointments as relates to the husband and wife relationship.
For a wife to be insubordinate to her husband is to manifest a desire,
not merely to be equal with him, but superior to her husband. Such insidious
conduct on the part of the wife will without variance effeminate her husband.
Who and where is the woman that would want Ahab for a husband? God for
bid! No spiritually minded woman would want an Ahabish husband, for such
a relationship demands role changes in the assignments God has given the
husband and the wife. Such perversion of God's ordinances is akin to blasphemy.
"... The head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the
man, and the head of Christ is God" (verse 3). What Paul has
in view in this text is not democratic equality, but graded authority.
The chain of command is plainly delineated and any infraction thereof is
an
insult,
not only to the immediate headship, but also to God, the originator of
the respective headships. However, let the man remember he is to love his
wife, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it (Ephesians
5:25). Conjugal love has no room for abuse, but is the author of respect.
Verse 4 "Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered,
dishonoureth his head." The word "covered" in this text is translated
from the Greek word "katakalupto." In using this word, Paul, in contemporary
vernacular says, "The man who prays while wearing a headcovering such as
a cap or a hat dishonoureth his head." The word "katakalupto" means "something
down on the head," and in Paul's time the customary head-dress for both
Jews and Greeks was a shawl for men and a veil for women. Surely, none
would contend that the word "covered" in this text is a reference to man's
hair, for such an interpretation borders on the ludicrous, and closes the
prayer access unto God to all men with unshaven heads.
It is an aberration of a serious nature for a man to pray while wearing
a humanly fabricated headcovering, for in so doing he dishonoureth his
Head and nullifies his prayer. For a man to appear in the official assembly
in apparel unbecoming to the rank God has bestowed on him is to reproach
the
authority
of Christ, and manifests disrespect for the church.
Verse 5. "But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head
uncovered dishonoreth her head: for that is even all one as if she were
shaven." Verse four plainly states it is wrong for a man to pray with
his head covered. Verse five reveals that the contrary is true as relates
women. It is wrong for women to appear in the worship service without the
symbol of submission on her head, which is katakalupto, or a covering that
a person can pull down on her head.
They who contend that the hair is what Paul was speaking of charge him
with being ridiculous, for it has him saying, "Women ought to wear their
hair to church, and men ought to leave their hair a home when they go to
church." I will not charge the inspired apostle with such absurdity, for
his argument had not to do with the hair of either sex, but with the divine
ordinance which requires a headcovering to be worn by women in addition
to their hair while they are in the worship service.
God is a God of order, and His order of headship as stated in Verse 3
must be adhered to so as to avoid confusion, and usurpation of the authority
omnisciently placed. For a man to question the authority and headship of
Christ would make him disobedient to, and ill respondent to the most merciful
authority ever established.
Likewise, the same charge can be levied against women who set aside the
authority and headship of man. For to do so would in essence be a rejection
of God, for it is God who made man the head of the woman.
When the Bible speaks of Christ and His honor, glory, and majesty; it also
and at the same time speaks in a secondary sense of redeemed men, for He
is their Head. Man should be willing for Christ to get all the glory, for
He is the all deserving one. But sadly, man will all too often forget his
place of subordination to his Head and endeavor to assert himself. This
is a terrible sin on the part of fallen man, for he is trying to take the
honor which belongs exclusively to His Head, Jesus Christ.
The Scripture speaks of a God honoring wife, saying: "A virtuous woman
is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rotteness
in his bones" (Proverbs 12:4). "Virtue" is more than sexual
fidelity, for such fidelity is sanctioned by the marriage vows of all people.
Virtue is more than moral excellence, for such excellence is the goal of
every society. Virtue is the avoidance of anything that cheapens or debases,
and nothing cheapens or debases the headship of a husband more than a defiant
and brawling woman. Virtue, as used in Proverbs 12:4 is manifested
by the woman owning the rank and station God that has assigned her. Then
and only then can it be said in truth, she "is a crown to her husband."
Any home where God's administrative appointments for the home are ignored,
cannot help but be in governmental disarray. In such a state quietude gives
way to quarrelsomeness, and quarrelsomeness is one of the bitter ingredients
which the recipe of marriage defeat calls for. A positive antidote for
such a shameful state is found in the one infallible marriage manual, that
is, the Word of God, i.e. Ephesians 4:31-32. "Let all bitterness,
and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from
you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving
one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
This is a sinful and adulterous generation in which we live, and when the
husband fails to recognize his Head and compromises the responsibility
or headship divinely vested in him by his Head, he is whether conscious
of it or not; aiding and abetting the evil and disruptive schemes of the
god of this world (II Corinthians 4:4). For marital peace and happiness,
the husband must acknowledge Christ as his rightful Head, and the wife
must recognize her husband as her God given head. When acknowledgment of
the respective headships which God has established is properly owned, the
result is a happy home, fellowship between husband and wife is the blessed
experience, and their blissful state is perpetuated by their faithful adherence
of God's ordinances.
Next Chapter
Return
To O. B. Mink Page
Return To PBC Home