THE MEANING OF HEADGEAR AND HEADDRESS FOR WOMEN

By Jason Jimenez, Op-Ed Contributor Friday, February 09, 2024 Iraqi Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter Saturday at the church of the ancient Mar Matta monastery of Saint Matthew in the village of Bashiqa, some 30km northeast of the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, during the night of April 23, 2022. | SAFIN HAMED/AFP via Getty Images 

The Apostle Paul discusses the issue of head coverings for women in 1 Corinthians 11: 2-16. It has been the subject of much debate, confusion, and incorrect interpretation throughout time. My aim is to provide an appropriate interpretation and exegesis that upholds the integrity of the text and is in keeping with the way we show unity and equality among men and women to truly understand Paul's intent.

Unlike those wrongly understood, Paul did not mean to denigrate women or diminish their role in society or the home. Instead, the issue of proper respect in worship and marriage was discussed. However, returning to the previous chapter is only to set the stage before studying 11: 2-16.

"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not take offense at the Jews, the Greeks, or the Church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, Seeking not my own benefit, but the benefit of many, that they may be saved," Paul wrote in verses 10: 31-33.

Paul sets out the basic principles to guide Christians in daily life before speaking of" headship "and"head covering". As we spread the Gospel to the dead, we must honor God in everything we do and love others.

Considering this guiding principle, let us try to understand what Paul says in Chapter 11 verses 2-16.

In this context, it is clear that Paul sought to correct abuses of freedom that led to conflicts and inappropriate actions. The focus is not on men and women (in general), but on the testimony of a husband and wife who faithfully live their marriage before God in church and society.

"But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God," Paul wrote in the third verse.To understand the term "leadership" that Paul uses, we need to understand its cultural and historical context. The Greek word kephalé means "head", but it also means" authority "or" source."

Paul has an interesting approach because he refers to the relationship that exists within the Triune Godhead before acknowledging the important role of husband and wife.

Paul did this to connect our relationship, which should show our perfect unity together with the Triune Godhead.

Each individual Trinity comes from the same substance. The father, the son, and the Holy Ghost, however, each have different functions (operational roles) in the economy of salvation. "When all things are subject to him, then the Son himself will also be subject to him who subjected all things under him, that God might become all things", says Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:28.

Similarly, Paul emphasized that leadership is essential within the framework of God's divine order when it comes to marriage. Paul says that husband and wife have different roles and duties, which shows the diversity and unity in the Triune Godhead. He does not mean that leadership means the husband rules his wife or that the qualities of women indicate that they are intrinsically inferior to men.

The Apostle Paul emphasizes the sacrificial love that a husband must have for his wife in Ephesians 5: 21-33, while emphasizing how important it is for a wife to voluntarily honor her husband. In this passage it is explained that the purpose of marriage is to show Christ's relationship with his church, where husband and wife have the same value before God even though they have different roles. Therefore, it is very important that both partners have a harmonious partnership in which they respect and support each other.

"Because if a wife does not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. but since it is shameful for a wife to cut her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head" (11:5), is the second controversial verse from Paul.

It is very important to study the historical and cultural context if we want to truly understand the meaning and principles contained in the headgear of this section.

Corinthian women were not as used to covering their heads as Jewish women. Greek upper-class women often flaunted their hairstyles, which led to conflicts with disadvantaged women and Jews. It was customary for women (in the ancient Mediterranean) in Paul's time to cover their heads in public or in the presence of strangers as a sign of modesty and submission. Genesis 24: 65 tells of Rebecca covering herself before Isaac.

Women demonstrate their recognition of social norms and their commitment to honor their husbands as leaders of the household by wearing veils or covering their heads during worship or public gatherings. Jewish women who show their long hair in public are often seen as mourning or being humiliated as accused adulterers. In addition, if a woman takes off her head covering, such as a veil or shawl, during worship, it may indicate that she is moving away from her husband and is "available".Therefore, if a wife goes to church, she will close her door so that people do not think about the following: 1. he abused his Freedom, 2. the grace of God, and 3. disrespect for her husband by showing in public that she does not vote.

In addition, temple prostitutes were known when Paul wrote because their hair was very short and did not cover their heads. This forced Paul to counsel others not to have the same appearance to avoid giving the wrong impression and causing others to stumble.

It is very important to understand that the topic of head coverings is not related to the direction that Paul gives Christians today, but rather to cultural norms. The recommendation to wear a head covering is based on the principle that a person should behave properly and avoid actions that could lead to conflict or annoy others.

As Paul mentioned in his overarching principle in 10: 31-33, our testimonies are irreproachable in marriage, family, and society when we honor God and strive to do good for others.

Taking these considerations into account, it is clear that Paul's teaching on leadership and head coverings is based on an attempt to create harmony in marriage, not to enforce gender inequality.

Respecting and respecting each other in relationships, especially in marriage, is important, although cultural practices may differ from society to society.

In keeping with Bible teachings, we can appreciate the importance of covering our heads and maintaining equality and respect between spouses by understanding these principles.

In addition to being a faculty member of Summit Ministries, Jason Jimenez is the founder and president of Stand Strong Ministries. He is also a respected speaker of the Christian Worldview. His bestsellers, Hijacking Jesus: How Progressive Christians are Remaking Him and Taking over the Church, Challenging Conversations: A Practical Guide to discussing controversial topics in the church, and parenting Gen Z: guiding your child through a hostile culture, are three books he has written.

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