From one of my blogs: Quote:
I Corinthians 11
Why Should One Cover?
My husband and I were introduced to the concept of the covering through friends of ours. We knew a couple of people who covered. So we decided to study it. We came to the conclusion that it was what the Lord would have us to do…indeed that it was commanded that we do it. We have seen the blessings ever since. My personal testamony on it comes out inadequate every time. Instead, scriptural, historical, and exegetical references do it so much better…I offer that here for you to study it for yourselves along with your husbands. I want you to see it for yourselves…I want the UNDERSTANDING to be in yourr hearts…not just stick something on your head believing that that is what makes one holy. My headcovering is NOT essential to salvation. It IS between God, my husband, and myself. It is simply an act of obedience and (if you will) a reminder to my husband and myself (of his duties to me and my submission to him).
So many people want to make excuses for it,
Let’s start with I Corinthians 11. Paul starts out…
1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
He is stating here that he is giving ordinances.
1 Corinthians 11:3 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.
Showing order of headship authority. Man’s position, woman’s position, Christ’s position, God’s position.
1 Corinthians 11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
As we know this is different from the tradition of Jewish men covering their heads. The first is his physical head that sits upon his shoulders. The second is his authority over him. Also to this day (Christian) men uncover their heads when in a church, at a funeral, and when praying. To do otherwise would be dishonoring to Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:5 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.
We know that a woman’s hair is her glory…therefore we know that it would be shameful for her to shave it. The two “head”s mentions here are two separate types of heads…two different meanings. The first is her physical head that sits upon her shoulders. The second is her authority over her. Just as her husband would be shamed if she were to shave her hair off.
1 Corinthians 11:6 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.
This is carrying on the example of the physical to understanding the need for the symbolic. Covered here is katakalypto meaning to cover (the head), to cover wholly, to hide.
1 Corinthians 11:7 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.
1 Corinthians 11:8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
1 Corinthians 11:9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
Again showing positional roles.
1 Corinthians 11:10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
Here we will refer to differences between man in the presence of God and the angels in the presence of God.
Isaiah 6:2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
Ezekiel 1:11 Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.
Notice that even the angels covered themselves in the presence of God…only man does not. The angels observe us.
1 Corinthians 11:11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 11:12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.
Showing a spiritual equality even though not positional equal.
1 Corinthians 11:13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
1 Corinthians 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
1 Corinthians 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
Here again the natural is being used as an example for the need of the symbolic.
1 Corinthians 11:16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
Here it is letting us know that they are not being legalistic. That this is not cultural (custom). Personally I think this also shows that this is to be a matter of the heart. It is a command, but if you are contentious about it then there is no point.
And then Paul goes on to the other ordinance mentioned in this passage-Communion.
1 Corinthians 11:17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
1 Corinthians 11:18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
Funny, isn’t it…that ppl see one ordinance as cultural, but the other as a command never to be broken?
| You can find much more beneath my own explanation at http://apuritanlady.wordpress.com/i-corinthians-11/ I pull from Sproul, Calvin, McGee, Knox, A week's worth of devotionals (with permission) from TableTalk, and a list of historical church figures that spoke on the topic.
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JC - PCA - PA...homesick for SC
A we n' de Ya, ho; I mak sikker; Deus juvat
Indicabo tibi o homo quid sit bonum, et quid Dominus requirat a te: Utique facere iudicium, et diligere, misericordiam, et sollicitum ambulare cum Deo tuo. Michaeas 6:8
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