What’s Up With Head Coverings? First Corinthians Eleven
by G.S. Augustine
Should We Be For or Against?
One of the most difficult passages to interpret for twenty-first century readers is First Corinthians 11:3-16 regarding head coverings as they concern men and women. Some interpreters simply relegate Paul’s instructions to the culture setting. Some take Paul very literally here saying that women should have their heads covered in church to this day.
There are problems with both of these views making a definitive answer as to the best way to understand the instruction challenging. We could take the approach that it is better to err on the side of caution and take Paul at his word. But even this approach rarely ends up having us do what Paul refers to. The head covering mentioned wasn’t a doily pinned to the crown of the woman’s head in a token attempt to follow the instruction. It was a veil that covered the face as well.
Priestly Robes Too?
The problem with the literal approach here is that it makes some physical accouterment have spiritual meaning all by itself not unlike wearing the robes and turban of the Old Testament priesthood. That clothing was required by Aaron and his sons to wear when serving in the temple because it was a “sign” of their authority to be in the temple. But Christians are now a “royal priesthood,” yet we are not less priests if we don’t wear robes because robes are no longer a sign of it.
Of course, there is no where in the New Testament that command believers to wear robes, but it is interesting that pastors in various denominations still wear them. Do robes make those pastors more spiritual than those who don’t wear them? My point is that physical dress in and of itself can’t be the determining factor for godly behavior. Many charlatans have worn priestly robes.
A Cute Hat Won’t Cut It
But there is another problem. It is likely that the “covering” that Paul is referring to didn’t just cover the head but the face as well. The word used for “covering” is more properly translated “veil.” A married woman covered her face as well as her head in public. A cute hat not only wouldn’t cut it but likely be offensive.
And even as recently as the middle of the 20th century, women gave a nod to this. Until the mid-sixtiesm, my mother always wore a hat to Mass with a netting-like veil that covered at least part of her face. Even though it wasn’t a full veil, it picked up the sentiment.
The Logical Extreme
And indeed, Muslims take this idea to its logical end. Those who wish to make veiling a requirement indicate the Islamic custom is correct, whether they realize it or not. Islamic practice however has also be part of reducing the value of women in their culture. Husband own their wives and daughters and can even kill them for the sake of their honor. Clothing in Islamic culture has had a greater effect than just insuring piety.
It could be argued, however, that Paul only says the woman should do this when praying. But he doesn’t limit the idea to being in a church meeting. Anytime a woman prays, or as we will see below prophesies (which would include speaking about insights from Scripture), is in mind. The only way to insure this would be that she wore a veil all the time or at least had a shawl on her shoulders she could pull up over her head and face at a moments notice.
A Sign of What?
Paul says this “veil” was a sign of authority on her head which is best to understand as her husband.
Now I want you to realize that the head of every man in Christ and the head of every woman is (her!) man and the head of Christ is God … Every woman (wife) that prays or prophesies with head uncovered dishonors her head …
It is possible to understand the above as all men having authority over all women, but nothing else in Scripture argues this position, since that would mean that any men would have authority over other men’s wives—even in regard to their bodies, which is clearly not biblical.
A Woman Prophesying?
The woman would dishonor her head, that is her husband, if she prayed or prophesied unveiled. It is interesting Paul indicate the woman might prophesy. Three chapters later, Paul instructs woman to be silent in church, but here he says she might pray or prophesy. Clearly, the idea that a woman is not to participate in the speaking life of the church is not what Paul can mean there unless we assume he hopelessly contradicts himself. And yet there are some who also take a woman’s silence about verbal spiritual expression literally.
So, Ignore The Whole Thing?
But on the other hand, Paul can’t mean “nothing” by his words either. And it has had an influence to this day. Amish women wear a head covering at all times. Men everywhere regularly take off their hats when they pray. Most see it as dishonoring to God to keep a hat on when praying.
Of course men take their hats off for the singing of the national anthem as well! These are customs that show respect to God or country. And for the most part, this is appropriate to the gospel. Unbelievers notice when a person it respectful or not, and they usually don’t like when a person isn’t.
Headship: Authority and Responsibility
In a marriage, the woman is to be subject to her husband’s authority (Ephesians 5:22), but this only puts on the husband great responsibility. He is to love her as Christ loved the church, laying down his life for her (Ephesians 5:25-33). This brings us to the heart of the matter. The woman is never to dishonor her husband in her place in the kingdom of God. Her praying and prophesying must never be in conflict to her duty to honor her husband.
In past cultures, to do those things without a veil would be a slap in the face to her husband and it would also shame her. It would be as if she went about with her head shaved. Only slaves had their heads shaved. And only prostitutes went about without a veil—that was a physical sign they were available for the right price. In that case a married woman that went about with out a veil would dishonor her husband and it would shame to her. And to pray or prophesy without a veil would suggest a broken situation at home.
Cultural Differences
These things however are not exactly true today. A woman without a veil doesn’t indicate she’s a prostitute. And a woman with a shaved head today might likeIy indicate a medical condition like alopecia or cancer treatment. It could also represent solidarity with those suffering these things or some other social concern, but it would not likely bring slavery to mind.
But Paul indicates that this “veil” is a sign of authority. In most Western cultures, a veil or head covering would not typically be a sign of anything beyond fashion. I think this is why what is going on here in 1 Corinthians 11 can’t quite have a universal application since head coverings are not a sign of anything to our culture. Of course, Paul’s sign statement could refer to God or “because of the angels.” But it is hard to see exactly how that is the case. For one thing, we have no idea what Paul meant by “because of the angels” in the first century and maybe that is by design.
The cultural difference, of course, doesn’t automatically negate the instruction, but it does eliminate at least two of the ramifications the community might conclude in seeing an unveiled woman. And our present culture does not see a veil as a sign of authority to her husband. So that aspect is no longer in play either.
What About a Wedding Band?
But, is there something that could represent a sign of authority today. Some have suggested a wedding band. From our cultural point of view, this has some weight. I was once working in a flower bed and my wedding ring came off without realizing it. When I discovered it missing, I dug though the bed but couldn’t find it.
A while later I was preaching a sermon and a divorcee visiting the church saw I wore no wedding band and wondered if I would be interested in a relationship. (I’m not sure how much attention she paid my sermon but she was sure attentive any indication of my marital status!) I bought a replacement wedding ring soon after.
Not Quite Good Enough
However, a wedding band doesn’t seem to be enough to meet the requirements of the passage. Though a wedding band does indicate the woman is married, it doesn’t indicate any sense that she submits to her husband’s authority. Paul’s words seem more weighty.
It’s possible to think in terms of modest clothing. And there is some weight to this as well. A woman might dishonor her husband if she came to church dressed as a hooker and flirted with the interesting guys in the room. We might argue that dressing in a way that honors her husband might represent a sign of authority, but only if she matched it with her demeanor as well. However, we could and probably should apply the passage along these lines.
But this still doesn’t quite capture the essence of Paul’s instruction. One man might need his wife to ankle length skirts to avoid dishonoring him whereas another may be fine with knee length skirts. That makes it hard to pin down a particular physical “sign.” And other things uniquely dishonoring to only to one man are possible like wearing something given her from another man, or something that is reminiscent of shame in their past, or something covertly challenging his authority. But these things would not indicate any universal physical sign of authority.
The Concern For Unity
And lastly, Paul fits the whole discussion of head coverings in his Corinthian correspondence into his desire for unity not only among the Christians at Corinth but a standard of practice among all the wider body of Christ:
If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God (11:16)
This verse may help us understand of Paul’s overriding concern. His whole first letter to Corinth centers almost entirely around those things that make for unity and oneness of the body of Christ (See My Article). This practice of veiled wives praying and prophesying is the practice of all the churches. To do something else may threaten the oneness of the body so important to the gospel that Paul is committed to. However, when we attempt to apply this passage, our concern for unity of the body should play an important role.
Employing A Bit of Wisdom
Today, head coverings could end up and has ended up dividing believers. For some, it becomes boast of superior spiritual piety. I know of a woman who wore a head covering who regularly dishonored her husband and eventually divorced him. She used the custom to suggest she was more spiritual than he, and shamed him every chance she got. He would have been more honored if she ditched the head covering and spent her energy building him up.
Given what appears to be more important issues at sake, it seems we need to judge which is more important: ritual clothing or proper Christian relationships. Paul does suggest that some of our own judgement is involved.
Judge for yourselves: Is is proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? (11:13)
I think today, most Christians would answer that question in the negative. It just doesn’t appear wrong.
If The Issue Is No Longer An Issue
Of course, that doesn’t mean we are right, but it does suggest that at least culturally, Paul’s concern is no longer an issue. It can’t be culturally offensive to propriety if no one’s offended. And it can’t be a rejection of authority if a woman isn’t aware she is rejecting it. As far as I know, women who commit to the “complimentarian” idea of men’s and women’s roles have not felt the need to express that position through head coverings. Again, not proof that Paul principle isn’t universal, but I think his central concern about unity at Corinth in the first century was the important concern. If that is the case, it seems wise for us to emphasize that in our treatment of Paul’s instructions here.
Still Not Definitive
All this being said, however, this is only the best I can do with the difficulties of this passage in either advocating for or against head coverings for women. As the Church Father Origen of Alexandria use to say, “Maybe someone else can do a better job with it.” Much of the context of Paul’s concern is lost to us, especially the phrase “because of the angels” (11:10). He doesn’t say why the angels might need the woman to wear a veil and it won’t do to speculate—especially if we want to make that aspect of it biblically binding.
It is certain however, that if a believer believes she should wear a veil or head covering to honor her husband, or her husband feels it necessary for her to have some sign of authority on her head, it is a good idea to consider it and pray through it. But even then, a time of negotiation is advisable because the principles of Ephesians 5 still must guide the result. The wife should be subject to her husband and a husband should love his wife as Christ loved the church by laying down his life for her.
