A simple explanation of headcovering

Augusta · #41 (**permalink**) 12-03-2008, 03:37 PM

Jessica makes a good point. I don't cover all the time but only in corporate worship since the text makes plain that my normal covering by the light of nature is my hair. I only need the second covering in worship for the reasons given. So any covering outside of worship is going to be cultural, and I would honor that if I lived in a culture where it was unseemly for me to not be covered.

However, our culture is not like that at all anymore. Now a days it doesn't mean anything to cover. It used to be that matrons (married ladies) covered and it was apparent who was married and who was not. I kind of wish that was still the case but it's not.

satz · #42 (**permalink**) 12-03-2008, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by he beholds

One that I recall was about prophesying: According to him, prophesying is reading aloud God's word. If women are singing Psalms or even hymns with scripture, then they would be prophesying.

Hi Jessica,

Can I ask what was Dr Bacon’s reasoning for defining “prophecy” he way he did? I have tried in post #34 to explain why I do not believe that is the correct definition of prophecy in 1 Cor 11. Can prophecy be defined that way? Yes. Does the bible sometimes use the word prophecy in that way? Again, yes. But I would say that the context of 1 Corinthians as a book would require a narrower definition.

Quote:

The most convincing point, which I can now wrestle with, was about the glory aspect.
1) God's glory is man, so if a man covers his head while praying, he is covering God's glory.
2) Man's glory is the woman, so when she covers her head, man's glory is being covered before God.
3) Woman's glory is her hair, so again, when her head is covered, so is her own glory.

In this way, man and woman's glory is hidden, and God's is not.

I think, though, that to make an argument for all the time covering would be the same as saying that a man can never wear a hat or have his head covered...

I would also add that this cannot be an argument for “all the time” covering. The key to understanding 1 Cor 11 is, from what I currently believe, to identify the “pray and prophecy” in verses 4 to 5. Because all of Paul’s arguments are meant to support the point he specifically tells us - the treatment of the head by the two sexes during prayer and prophecy. While Paul’s arguments can teach us principles, they cannot, as far as headcoverings go, be forced beyond what Paul intended them to teach, whether that is covering outside of worship, or even within worship when not “praying and prophesying”.

he beholds · #43 (**permalink**) 12-03-2008, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by satz

Quote:

Originally Posted by he beholds

One that I recall was about prophesying: According to him, prophesying is reading aloud God's word. If women are singing Psalms or even hymns with scripture, then they would be prophesying.

Hi Jessica,

Can I ask what was Dr Bacon’s reasoning for defining “prophecy” he way he did? I have tried in post #34 to explain why I do not believe that is the correct definition of prophecy in 1 Cor 11. Can prophecy be defined that way? Yes. Does the bible sometimes use the word prophecy in that way? Again, yes. But I would say that the context of 1 Corinthians as a book would require a narrower definition.

Quote:

The most convincing point, which I can now wrestle with, was about the glory aspect.
1) God's glory is man, so if a man covers his head while praying, he is covering God's glory.
2) Man's glory is the woman, so when she covers her head, man's glory is being covered before God.
3) Woman's glory is her hair, so again, when her head is covered, so is her own glory.

In this way, man and woman's glory is hidden, and God's is not.

I think, though, that to make an argument for all the time covering would be the same as saying that a man can never wear a hat or have his head covered...

I would also add that this cannot be an argument for “all the time” covering. The key to understanding 1 Cor 11 is, from what I currently believe, to identify the “pray and prophecy” in verses 4 to 5. Because all of Paul’s arguments are meant to support the point he specifically tells us - the treatment of the head by the two sexes during prayer and prophecy. While Paul’s arguments can teach us principles, they cannot, as far as headcoverings go, be forced beyond what Paul intended them to teach, whether that is covering outside of worship, or even within worship when not “praying and prophesying”.

First, I'm sorry, but I cannot remember exactly his reasoning that singing God's word is prophesying. And I do not personally know what the meaning of prophesying in that passage is. I have always thought that our current prophesying is simply teaching or proclaiming God's truth--which I guess is being done when singing his word [his truth]??? Whether Paul was specifically speaking of the prophesying of old, I don't know and I don't know what Bacon would say. Sorry! I'm sure I'll give it another listen soon enough, and maybe I could recall it better.

And your second point, Bacon was not arguing (as far as I could tell) for all time head covering, and I agree that this passage does not argue that, either.

SpokenFor · #44 (**permalink**) 12-16-2008, 04:59 PM

I find this an interesting discussion, and a timely one for me, too, as I have been pondering this very issue for myself.

A question I have is, if we are to have our heads covered during prayer, then would it not then follow that we should have our heads covered continually since we are to "pray without ceasing?"

rescuedbyLove · #45 (**permalink**) 12-16-2008, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpokenFor

I find this an interesting discussion, and a timely one for me, too, as I have been pondering this very issue for myself.

A question I have is, if we are to have our heads covered during prayer, then would it not then follow that we should have our heads covered continually since we are to "pray without ceasing?"

I've wondered that, too. I know a lot of women who cover do so continually for that very reason.