A gracEmail subscriber asks about Paul's instruction to the Corinthians that women be veiled in public worship (1 Cor. 11:2-16).
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When I was growing up in the Churches of Christ in North Alabama
in the1950's, many preachers taught and many women believed that this text
required the sisters to wear a hat or veil on their head whenever they were "in
church." If asked why, these Christian women would explain that it was a symbol
of their submission to men, or at least to their husband if they had one. On the
other hand, these particular sisters never said a word aloud "in church" (except
as part of congregational singing), based on the non-contextual reading of
another verse found in 1 Corinthians 14. Ongoing study through the years since
has led me to conclude that Paul's intended message was almost exactly opposite
to the above -- in more ways than one.
Paul's instruction is not to women in general but to those who are publicly
praying or prophesying (1 Cor. 11:5). The significance of their head-dress is
stated in verse 10 -- it is "a symbol of authority." Rather than laying down a
universal rule that silent women are to wear a symbol of submission in the
assembly, Paul is telling these particular Greek females, when they pray or
prophesy aloud in church meetings, to wear a covering as a badge indicating
their divine authority to do so. If anyone should question their public
ministry of praying and prophesying aloud in the church assembly, their covering
would say in effect: "I am acting under divine guidance, gifted by the Spirit
of God, not behaving presumptuously, and so I wear this symbol of authority to
do what I am doing."
Paul's dual concerns at Corinth are that believers freely exercise their
callings in Christ, and that they do so in a manner considerate of local
customs, so as not to hinder the gospel's spread among the general
population. Both principles remain applicable today. God has poured out his
Spirit on his sons and daughters alike so that all may serve him
based on giftedness and opportunity (1 Cor. 1:4-9; 12:4-13). And we are to do
this in a spirit of gentleness and reverence, mindful of the culture in which we
live so that the gospel might not be hindered but have its full course (1 Cor.
9:20-23).