Did Paul teach that women must wear a head covering in 1 Corinthians 11:1-16?
No! Paul makes no such command to the churches or women. Paul does not even suggest or hint that a woman must wear a cloth covering on her head. The problem is, people don't understand what Paul is saying in 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 and so they develop false teachings by twisting the text.
Even in Peter’s day people misunderstood Paul’s writings (2 Peter 3:15-16)
“…This is also what our dear friend Paul said when he wrote you with the wisdom God had given him. As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” -- The Apostle Peter
And people continue to misunderstand Paul's teachings today.
“…This is also what our dear friend Paul said when he wrote you with the wisdom God had given him. As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” -- The Apostle Peter
And people continue to misunderstand Paul's teachings today.
Can we understand Paul?
Yes! We can prove Paul never taught women to wear cloth head coverings by using Paul’s own words. We will let Paul define Paul.
Paul's definition of covered and uncovered
In 1 Corinthians 11:15, Paul said: “But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.” Paul defines a "covering" for women as long hair. Thus, the logical conclusion is that short hair or no hair (bald) is "uncovered."
So, using Paul’s definition let’s re-read 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 to understand the message as Paul intended.
Yes! We can prove Paul never taught women to wear cloth head coverings by using Paul’s own words. We will let Paul define Paul.
Paul's definition of covered and uncovered
In 1 Corinthians 11:15, Paul said: “But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.” Paul defines a "covering" for women as long hair. Thus, the logical conclusion is that short hair or no hair (bald) is "uncovered."
So, using Paul’s definition let’s re-read 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 to understand the message as Paul intended.
Editorial Note: We will translate 1 Corithians 11:1-16 using Paul's definition of "covered" being a woman's long hair (verse 15). Except we won't translate the last word for covering in verse 15, which is the Greek word "peribolaion" (per-ib-ol'-ah-yon). Peribolaion is only used once in chapter 11 and it describes something you throw over yourself like a mantle, veil, or vesture. This Greek word is used by Paul to show long hair is equal to a manttle, vesture, or veil.
When reading this passage the reader must understand the topic is about men and women when they pray or prophesy only. "Every man praying or prophesying (verse 4) Every woman praying or prophesying (verse 5)." Paul is addressing those who speak a prophetic word (speak on behalf of God) and pray in the church. This teaching is more about those who exercise gifts or perform ministries in the church, because after this teaching, Paul goes into communion in the church, then he discusses the operation of spiritual gifts in the church, follwed by unity of the body and many more topics related to the church meeting.
1 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 long hair, dishonoureth his head.*
5 Every woman praying or prophesying with short hair dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were bald. *
6 For if the woman does not have long hair, let her also be shaved: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shaved or bald, let her have long hair.*
7 For a man indeed ought not have long hair, 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 with short hair? *
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. *
Verse 4 - The Greek text means the man cannot have something flowing down from his head like long hair or veil.
Verse 5A - The Greek text means the woman does not have something covering her down from her head. The Greek word "akatakaluptos" means not coming down her head and covering her. Paul says long hair is a woman's covering, so not having a covering means either short hair or bald. We substituded shaven for bald because the Greek word used is "ἐξυρημένῃ"/exyremene, which is related to being clean shaven by using a razor.
Verse 5B - Most women that wear a cloth head covering pull up their hair into an ornamental head covering called a "Tichel," a head scarf, or a bonnet, but this verse is saying the head covering must flow down from the head. Long hair flows down from the head and is a natural cover, which is why Paul defines long hair as a covering (Verse 15). A proper covering according to Paul is having one that comes down from the head and covering to or below the shoulders like long hair. Pulling the hair up, using a tichel, scarf, band, hairdo, or having short-hair do not comply with Paul's definition of covering. Therefore, people that command women to pull up their hair into a tichel, etc., are telling women to do the opposite of what Paul taught.
Verse 6 - "ου (not) κατα (down from) καλύπτω (cover). If the woman does not have long hair down from her head as her covering, then let her be shaved (shorn) like a sheep. But if it's shameful for a woman with short hair to have her hair buzzed short/sheared like a sheep or to be shaved bald then let her have long hair. Having your hair "shorn" is having your hair cut off like Paul in Acts 18:18 who cut off his hair at the end of his Nazarite vow. Bald is completely shaven. Don't think that shorn is just a short hair cut, shorn is beyond short hair, it's no to very little hair.
Verse 7 - Man ought not κατα (down from) καλυπτεσθαι (cover/conceal). Man must not have long hair or a veil covering his head. Man is in the image and glory of God. Notice man is in the image of God, but Paul never says the woman is in the image of man. Man is created in the image of God (the Father/masculine) and should look like a man (masculine). The woman is not in the image of man so she should not look like a man with short hair. When Paul says a woman is the glory of the man he is teaching from the Old Testament and showing the importance of a wife in the Lord.
"A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones." Proverbs 12:4 KJV
"Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD." Proverbs 18:22 KJV
"House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD." Proverbs 19:14 KJV
"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies." Proverbs 31:10
A wife is the glory of a man, or as Proverbs 12:4 says, a wife is a crown to her husband. The glory or crown of a woman is her long hair (1 Corithians 11:15). A man does not hide his crown from the public and neither should a woman hide the crown/glory God gave her. There is another verse in the Bible that states hair is a crown of glory.
"The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head." Proverbs 20:29 KJV
"The hoary head (gray hair) is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness." Proverbs 16:31 KJV - gray haired people don't hide their crown of glory or beauty. So, why should a woman have to hide her crown of glory (long hair) or beauty?
Verse 13 - α (no) κατα (down from) καλυπτον (cover). Judge it for yourself, is it a lovely sight to see a woman pray to God without the glory he gave her (long hair)?
Verses 14, 15, are the main points Paul is making and are the keys to understnading his teaching. These two verses along with verse 16 summarize and conclude his message.
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.
Actually in the Greek verse 15 should read: "But if a woman has long hair (κομα): Glory it is to her; for the long hair (κομη) instead ( ἀντί) of a covering (περιβόλαιον) is given (δίδωμι) to her."
Notice it says a woman's long hair is given her instead of a covering, so Paul clearly saying a woman does not need to wear a fabric covering. Who gave the women the long hair? Obviously God and her long hair was given to her "instead of" a cloth covering because her long hair is her covering.
Paul DOES NOT teach a woman should wear a head covering. In fact, he teaches against it by saying a woman's long hair is given to her instead of a mattle or vesture wrapped over her head. Long hair is a woman's glory/crown, but long hair is shameful for men.
If anyone wants to argue and claim a woman must be allowed to have short hair like a man or a man must be allowed to have long hair like a woman or that both must be allowed to wear a cloth veil when they pray or prophesy. well, there was no such custom in the church during Pauls ministry.
"The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God." Deuteronomy 22:5 KJV
When reading this passage the reader must understand the topic is about men and women when they pray or prophesy only. "Every man praying or prophesying (verse 4) Every woman praying or prophesying (verse 5)." Paul is addressing those who speak a prophetic word (speak on behalf of God) and pray in the church. This teaching is more about those who exercise gifts or perform ministries in the church, because after this teaching, Paul goes into communion in the church, then he discusses the operation of spiritual gifts in the church, follwed by unity of the body and many more topics related to the church meeting.
1 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 long hair, dishonoureth his head.*
5 Every woman praying or prophesying with short hair dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were bald. *
6 For if the woman does not have long hair, let her also be shaved: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shaved or bald, let her have long hair.*
7 For a man indeed ought not have long hair, 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 with short hair? *
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. *
Verse 4 - The Greek text means the man cannot have something flowing down from his head like long hair or veil.
Verse 5A - The Greek text means the woman does not have something covering her down from her head. The Greek word "akatakaluptos" means not coming down her head and covering her. Paul says long hair is a woman's covering, so not having a covering means either short hair or bald. We substituded shaven for bald because the Greek word used is "ἐξυρημένῃ"/exyremene, which is related to being clean shaven by using a razor.
Verse 5B - Most women that wear a cloth head covering pull up their hair into an ornamental head covering called a "Tichel," a head scarf, or a bonnet, but this verse is saying the head covering must flow down from the head. Long hair flows down from the head and is a natural cover, which is why Paul defines long hair as a covering (Verse 15). A proper covering according to Paul is having one that comes down from the head and covering to or below the shoulders like long hair. Pulling the hair up, using a tichel, scarf, band, hairdo, or having short-hair do not comply with Paul's definition of covering. Therefore, people that command women to pull up their hair into a tichel, etc., are telling women to do the opposite of what Paul taught.
Verse 6 - "ου (not) κατα (down from) καλύπτω (cover). If the woman does not have long hair down from her head as her covering, then let her be shaved (shorn) like a sheep. But if it's shameful for a woman with short hair to have her hair buzzed short/sheared like a sheep or to be shaved bald then let her have long hair. Having your hair "shorn" is having your hair cut off like Paul in Acts 18:18 who cut off his hair at the end of his Nazarite vow. Bald is completely shaven. Don't think that shorn is just a short hair cut, shorn is beyond short hair, it's no to very little hair.
Verse 7 - Man ought not κατα (down from) καλυπτεσθαι (cover/conceal). Man must not have long hair or a veil covering his head. Man is in the image and glory of God. Notice man is in the image of God, but Paul never says the woman is in the image of man. Man is created in the image of God (the Father/masculine) and should look like a man (masculine). The woman is not in the image of man so she should not look like a man with short hair. When Paul says a woman is the glory of the man he is teaching from the Old Testament and showing the importance of a wife in the Lord.
"A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones." Proverbs 12:4 KJV
"Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD." Proverbs 18:22 KJV
"House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD." Proverbs 19:14 KJV
"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies." Proverbs 31:10
A wife is the glory of a man, or as Proverbs 12:4 says, a wife is a crown to her husband. The glory or crown of a woman is her long hair (1 Corithians 11:15). A man does not hide his crown from the public and neither should a woman hide the crown/glory God gave her. There is another verse in the Bible that states hair is a crown of glory.
"The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head." Proverbs 20:29 KJV
"The hoary head (gray hair) is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness." Proverbs 16:31 KJV - gray haired people don't hide their crown of glory or beauty. So, why should a woman have to hide her crown of glory (long hair) or beauty?
Verse 13 - α (no) κατα (down from) καλυπτον (cover). Judge it for yourself, is it a lovely sight to see a woman pray to God without the glory he gave her (long hair)?
Verses 14, 15, are the main points Paul is making and are the keys to understnading his teaching. These two verses along with verse 16 summarize and conclude his message.
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.
Actually in the Greek verse 15 should read: "But if a woman has long hair (κομα): Glory it is to her; for the long hair (κομη) instead ( ἀντί) of a covering (περιβόλαιον) is given (δίδωμι) to her."
Notice it says a woman's long hair is given her instead of a covering, so Paul clearly saying a woman does not need to wear a fabric covering. Who gave the women the long hair? Obviously God and her long hair was given to her "instead of" a cloth covering because her long hair is her covering.
Paul DOES NOT teach a woman should wear a head covering. In fact, he teaches against it by saying a woman's long hair is given to her instead of a mattle or vesture wrapped over her head. Long hair is a woman's glory/crown, but long hair is shameful for men.
If anyone wants to argue and claim a woman must be allowed to have short hair like a man or a man must be allowed to have long hair like a woman or that both must be allowed to wear a cloth veil when they pray or prophesy. well, there was no such custom in the church during Pauls ministry.
"The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God." Deuteronomy 22:5 KJV
Analysis of the Text
We use Paul’s definition for covering as long hair and uncovering being short hair, and the text makes sense. It makes no sense to claim Paul is teaching women to wear a cloth head covering between verses 4-7, and then see Paul reverses his teaching by stating: “for her hair is given her for a covering.” This would mean Paul is saying, “women you need to cover your hair with a cloth but on second thought you don’t need a cloth covering because your hair is your covering.” That would be double-minded.
Some will ask, “Well, if a woman’s long hair is her covering, then why does Paul say a woman needs a covering in verses 5-6?” Again, the answer should be obvious; Paul is addressing women who don’t have long hair and are uncovered by his definition.
So, why is Paul making such a big deal about hair? What does he care how long a man or woman's hair is? Because he's making sure men look like and act like men and women look like and act like women. Paul wants proper gender identification and does not want role reversals in the marriage relationship with the women usurping the role and stewardship of the husband. Therefore, women should not be praying or prophesying in the churches if women are not acting like women, or are strongly domineering toward their husbands. In the same way, men should not be able to prophecy or pray in the church if they look or act like a woman or won't take their proper biblical role in their household, according to Ephesians 5.
What Paul is likely saying in verse 10 is that a woman is obligated to live under (on/over her head) the authority of God’s word. A woman is not to usurp her husband’s role in the marital relationship. To do so puts her outside of God’s order (1 Corinthians 11:3). A Woman should live by the authority of God’s word because God’s messengers (the angels) are present. They are watching, observing, and reporting to the Father.
Note: In verse ten, some Bible translations claim a woman should have a symbol or token of authority on her head or head covering. However, none of these words (token, symbol, or head covering) appear in the original Greek text.
Some will ask, “Well, if a woman’s long hair is her covering, then why does Paul say a woman needs a covering in verses 5-6?” Again, the answer should be obvious; Paul is addressing women who don’t have long hair and are uncovered by his definition.
So, why is Paul making such a big deal about hair? What does he care how long a man or woman's hair is? Because he's making sure men look like and act like men and women look like and act like women. Paul wants proper gender identification and does not want role reversals in the marriage relationship with the women usurping the role and stewardship of the husband. Therefore, women should not be praying or prophesying in the churches if women are not acting like women, or are strongly domineering toward their husbands. In the same way, men should not be able to prophecy or pray in the church if they look or act like a woman or won't take their proper biblical role in their household, according to Ephesians 5.
What Paul is likely saying in verse 10 is that a woman is obligated to live under (on/over her head) the authority of God’s word. A woman is not to usurp her husband’s role in the marital relationship. To do so puts her outside of God’s order (1 Corinthians 11:3). A Woman should live by the authority of God’s word because God’s messengers (the angels) are present. They are watching, observing, and reporting to the Father.
Note: In verse ten, some Bible translations claim a woman should have a symbol or token of authority on her head or head covering. However, none of these words (token, symbol, or head covering) appear in the original Greek text.
Dangers of the Modern Head Covering Movement
In the last few years, there has been an increase in people advocating women wear head coverings for spiritual reasons. The problem with this modern day movement and teaching is that it's filled with personal interpretations and dangerous doctrines.
First, people will claim that Paul issued a commandment in the church ordering women to wear cloth head coverings. The only scripture they have to claim Paul gave a command for head coverings is 1 Corinthians 11, which we just read and analysed. In chapter 11, their is no commandment or ordinance by Paul in the text. In fact, we noted that verses 14-16 summarize Pauls teaching and in it he says: "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 (instead of a covering). 16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God." There is no such custom in the church for a woman to wear a head covering in addition to her long hair. If anyone wants to be contentious and claim women must wear a head covering when they pray of prophesy, then they are making that claim outside the traditions of the church during Paul's era.
Second, we have heard people make wild claims that their head covering has power. They claim it has power to heal, take away nightmares, protect the wearer from demons, it possess the ability to change a persons bad habits, halt lust and can do many magical things. To the head covering community, the head covering has become the equivalent of a Morman's magical underwear and a Catholics scapular, or medals of their patron Saints. Head covering advocates base this dangerous doctrine on 1 Corinthians 11:10, "For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head." To claim this verse is saying a head covering possess power is beyond a misinterpretation of the text, because the context of Paul's teaching and the verse do not validate this wild belief headcovers are claiming.
Headcoverers who believe their cloth head covering has power are making the same mistake as the people of Israel, who put faith in a garment. "And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house." Judges 8:27 KJV
If one needs healing they should not rush to put a head covering on. They should know that by the wouds of Christ they were healed. "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." 1 Peter 2:24. If one has a sin issue it will not get fixed with a head covering. Skip the head covering and put on Christ. "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof." Romans 13:14. Put on the spiritual armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-18) not a piece of weak cloth. If one needs protection from demonic influence then they need to learn about the authority they have as a believer and don't rely on head covering to protect you from spiritual wickedness. "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." Luke 10:19
Head coverings have become a snare for many women leading them away from God as their source for all things. It's blasphemy and idol worship to put faith in an inanimate object.
Third, we often hear head covering women claim they had to wear a head covering because they felt convicted. Convicted of what? What sin are you being convicted of by not wearing a head covering? There is not one commandment in the Bible clearly ordering women to wear a head covering. "He (the Holy Spirit) will convict the world concerning sin, and concerning righteousness, and concerning judgment." John 16:8 YLT
1. "Of sin, because they believe not on me." John 16:9 - If you believe the Holy Spirit is convicting you of sin then that means you have a serious problem with God that your head covering can't cure. You have a belief and relationship problem that can only be cured by repentance, relationship, and by getting God's word in your head and heart.
2. "Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you." John 16:10, 13-14 - If you believe the Holy Spirit is commanding you to wear a head covering, where do you find that in the teachings of Christ? Where is it in the word of God? The Holy Spirit will not contridict the Bible. he (the Holy Spirit) will guide you into all truth:" What is truth? "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." John 17:17.
One woman commented to us that she was told by God to never come before him again in prayer without a head covering. Really? Because that message she thought she got from God contridicts the Bible. "According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him." Ephesians 3:11-12 KJV and "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16 KJV and finally, "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh" Hebrews 10:19-20 KJV. It's not by a head covering a woman is given access to appear before the throne of God in prayer, it's because of the blood of Christ a woman can boldly go before the throne and make her petition before God. Any message, thought, dream, or teaching that tells a woman otherwise is contridictory to the Bible.
If a head covering could take away or prevent sin then God did not need to send Christ. If a head covering could give women open acess to the throne of God then Christ never needed to shed any blood. But Christ did need to come, shed blood, die, and be raised from the dead on our behalf so that we could be set free from sin and death. Christ did it so that we could be reconciled to the Father and have access to him. To put your faith in the power of a head covering is to put your faith in a powerless idol. Head covering can never do more or even equal to what Christ already did for you.
There is no biblical commandment for women to wear a head covering. There is no reason for a women to ever wear a head covering for a spiritual purpose.
In 1 Corithians 11, Paul is telling the women their long hair is a natural cover and should flow down from the head. Paul never suggests women must take this natural covering God gave them and tie it up in a cloth or hide it so men don't lust. Even in 1 Timothy 2:9-10 Paul never tells a woman to wear a head covering. "I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God." Dressing modestly, with decency, and propriety has nothing to do with head coverings because Paul is not against women having hairstyles, which means the hair is visble. In 1 Timothy 2, Paul is speaking against "elaborate hairstyles." What many headcovers don't realize is an elaborate hairstyle includes elaborate head coverings. Women wear tichels and head scarves with extenders, beads, fringes, and elaborate fabrics. Some head coverings are very expensive. So, these head covering are no different than a women with an elaborate hairstyle or expensive clothing that Paul talks against.
If Paul was commanding head coverings for all women, then he would not need to spend time correcting a woman's elaborate hairstyle. Paul could have simply reminded women of his command that all women must cover their hair, but he doesn't! Therefore, Paul never commanded headcoverings.
The requirement for women to wear headcoverings is a legalistic doctrine that has no biblical basis and purely founded on faulty interpretation of scripture.
First, people will claim that Paul issued a commandment in the church ordering women to wear cloth head coverings. The only scripture they have to claim Paul gave a command for head coverings is 1 Corinthians 11, which we just read and analysed. In chapter 11, their is no commandment or ordinance by Paul in the text. In fact, we noted that verses 14-16 summarize Pauls teaching and in it he says: "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 (instead of a covering). 16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God." There is no such custom in the church for a woman to wear a head covering in addition to her long hair. If anyone wants to be contentious and claim women must wear a head covering when they pray of prophesy, then they are making that claim outside the traditions of the church during Paul's era.
Second, we have heard people make wild claims that their head covering has power. They claim it has power to heal, take away nightmares, protect the wearer from demons, it possess the ability to change a persons bad habits, halt lust and can do many magical things. To the head covering community, the head covering has become the equivalent of a Morman's magical underwear and a Catholics scapular, or medals of their patron Saints. Head covering advocates base this dangerous doctrine on 1 Corinthians 11:10, "For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head." To claim this verse is saying a head covering possess power is beyond a misinterpretation of the text, because the context of Paul's teaching and the verse do not validate this wild belief headcovers are claiming.
Headcoverers who believe their cloth head covering has power are making the same mistake as the people of Israel, who put faith in a garment. "And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house." Judges 8:27 KJV
If one needs healing they should not rush to put a head covering on. They should know that by the wouds of Christ they were healed. "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." 1 Peter 2:24. If one has a sin issue it will not get fixed with a head covering. Skip the head covering and put on Christ. "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof." Romans 13:14. Put on the spiritual armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-18) not a piece of weak cloth. If one needs protection from demonic influence then they need to learn about the authority they have as a believer and don't rely on head covering to protect you from spiritual wickedness. "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." Luke 10:19
Head coverings have become a snare for many women leading them away from God as their source for all things. It's blasphemy and idol worship to put faith in an inanimate object.
Third, we often hear head covering women claim they had to wear a head covering because they felt convicted. Convicted of what? What sin are you being convicted of by not wearing a head covering? There is not one commandment in the Bible clearly ordering women to wear a head covering. "He (the Holy Spirit) will convict the world concerning sin, and concerning righteousness, and concerning judgment." John 16:8 YLT
1. "Of sin, because they believe not on me." John 16:9 - If you believe the Holy Spirit is convicting you of sin then that means you have a serious problem with God that your head covering can't cure. You have a belief and relationship problem that can only be cured by repentance, relationship, and by getting God's word in your head and heart.
2. "Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you." John 16:10, 13-14 - If you believe the Holy Spirit is commanding you to wear a head covering, where do you find that in the teachings of Christ? Where is it in the word of God? The Holy Spirit will not contridict the Bible. he (the Holy Spirit) will guide you into all truth:" What is truth? "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." John 17:17.
One woman commented to us that she was told by God to never come before him again in prayer without a head covering. Really? Because that message she thought she got from God contridicts the Bible. "According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him." Ephesians 3:11-12 KJV and "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16 KJV and finally, "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh" Hebrews 10:19-20 KJV. It's not by a head covering a woman is given access to appear before the throne of God in prayer, it's because of the blood of Christ a woman can boldly go before the throne and make her petition before God. Any message, thought, dream, or teaching that tells a woman otherwise is contridictory to the Bible.
If a head covering could take away or prevent sin then God did not need to send Christ. If a head covering could give women open acess to the throne of God then Christ never needed to shed any blood. But Christ did need to come, shed blood, die, and be raised from the dead on our behalf so that we could be set free from sin and death. Christ did it so that we could be reconciled to the Father and have access to him. To put your faith in the power of a head covering is to put your faith in a powerless idol. Head covering can never do more or even equal to what Christ already did for you.
There is no biblical commandment for women to wear a head covering. There is no reason for a women to ever wear a head covering for a spiritual purpose.
In 1 Corithians 11, Paul is telling the women their long hair is a natural cover and should flow down from the head. Paul never suggests women must take this natural covering God gave them and tie it up in a cloth or hide it so men don't lust. Even in 1 Timothy 2:9-10 Paul never tells a woman to wear a head covering. "I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God." Dressing modestly, with decency, and propriety has nothing to do with head coverings because Paul is not against women having hairstyles, which means the hair is visble. In 1 Timothy 2, Paul is speaking against "elaborate hairstyles." What many headcovers don't realize is an elaborate hairstyle includes elaborate head coverings. Women wear tichels and head scarves with extenders, beads, fringes, and elaborate fabrics. Some head coverings are very expensive. So, these head covering are no different than a women with an elaborate hairstyle or expensive clothing that Paul talks against.
If Paul was commanding head coverings for all women, then he would not need to spend time correcting a woman's elaborate hairstyle. Paul could have simply reminded women of his command that all women must cover their hair, but he doesn't! Therefore, Paul never commanded headcoverings.
The requirement for women to wear headcoverings is a legalistic doctrine that has no biblical basis and purely founded on faulty interpretation of scripture.
Resources:
Header image used by permission and available at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Book_of_Genesis_Chapter_2-10_(Bible_Illustrations_by_Sweet_Media).jpg
Header image used by permission and available at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Book_of_Genesis_Chapter_2-10_(Bible_Illustrations_by_Sweet_Media).jpg
