A very well-known and experienced pastor warned me many years ago about 1 Corinthians 11. No, not the instructions about the Lord’s Supper in the second half of the chapter. It was the first half of the chapter – Paul’s words about head coverings – that he had in view. He warned me that there is no passage in the Bible which arouses such passions among evangelical Christians.
He told me of his own experience. ‘I’ve had Christians angry with me about lots of things I’ve preached, but I’ve never seen such fury as when I’ve preached on that passage.’ He advised me, ‘If you want to divide a church, the quickest way to do it is by speaking about hair and hats in 1 Corinthians 11.’
Well, maybe things have changed since then. I’ve preached on that passage a few times without provoking the reaction he’d experienced. Maybe the reason for that is that many Christians simply assume that it’s got no relevance today so they don’t get worked up about it. But I’m still nervous when anyone asks me what I make of it. Well, I’m going to take the risk and offer you my take on the passage. Here are the verses in question, as found in the Authorised Version.
Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 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. 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. 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. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
Difficult to understand
I think anyone reading through those verses is going to admit that they are difficult. It’s difficult to be sure what particular words and phrases mean (covered? all one as if she were shaven? power on her head? because of the angels?). Even when we understand all the words in a sentence, some of the sentences seem to make little sense (‘if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering’).
