As the Apostle Paul is touching upon questions which the church at Corinth requested clarification, we see a situation which further caused division among the assembly; women assuming or usurping the man’s place. This changing of places God assigned was apparently with those who were “under inspiration”, and prayed and prophesied even in their assemblies.
We saw in 1 Cor. 11:3 the ‘head’ of the man is Christ and the ‘head’ of the woman is man. Metaphorically speaking, God is the Supreme being, Christ being supreme above mankind, and a man being supreme over the woman. This is the design God made. Thus in verse 4 a man praying or prophesying with his head covered dishonored Christ. It is as if a man set himself in the place of Christ (making himself supreme over Christ) instead of being in subjection as a lower positioned being.
Likewise, the woman who sets herself in a position above her proper placement in God’s society dishonored her ‘head’, the man. 1 Cor. 11:5. 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. (‘shaven’ is reference to her distinction above angels, vs. 10; her hair sets her above the angels) This behavior of changing places from which God assigned them was not normal for Jewish women who had and held to the Law of Moses. However, Gentile women perhaps were not so restrained in their behaviors. Apostle Paul is needing to further instruct all women in the manner God intended for women in God’s society.
Paul will instruct further in this same letter concerning the woman’s position and behavior in the assemblies of God; she is to keep silent. 1 Cor. 14:34. 34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. Gentle instruction on the subject seems to be the order Paul takes to not discourage the women from learning and keeping with the righteousness God desired in the assemblies. A great deal of confusion was apparent in the assemblies and probably from inspired women feeling they, too, as inspired, could hold a conference with the best of the men. Apostle Paul speaks of much confusion happening in the assemblies; God does not want confusion in the assemblies. 1 Cor. 14:33. 33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Confusion and its divisive forces bring brother against brother, causing some to not desire to be a part of such an assembly, and is not a proper Christian characteristic. Paul discusses this more in depth in chapter 14. However, to address this problem, he first had to adjust the minds of the diverse congregation toward a further discussion and rebuke without discouraging any. In our attempt to rebuke and discourage unacceptable behaviors, we need to study Paul’s way to correct and encourage the weak in knowledge and faith.
Young in faith female members, zealous and eager to begin a life dedicated to God and Christ, and who felt they were inspired and at liberty to speak, tried to take a place in the assemblies. Women who knew the Law of God who defined their societal position apparently did not like the boldness of the new Gentile converts. Divisions again developed. This disallowing of these behaviors needed tact to not discourage their zeal to teach, pray or prophesy. So, how does Apostle Paul deal with the situation at this time? He turns his instruction to the men first.
1 Cor. 11:4-7. 4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 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. 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. 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.
With the positions in which God placed everyone in his society, man was the head of woman; man was created in the image of God; woman was made for the glory of man. Therefore, women were to become the subordinate sex and be ruled by man; even in the assemblies of God. This lesson must be taught first to this diversified congregation. Each participant should not assume the other’s role and not disguise the proper position by appearing as the other. A woman should not uncover her head for she was not the glory of God, man was. Woman was the glory of man. Therefore, she should take the role and display that role in the assemblies. Likewise, the man should not take the subordinate role and cover his head as the woman for he is the image and glory of God.
Quick review: Let us notice the term ‘head’ and of whom or to whom does it refer. Vs. 4. 4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
The first ‘head’ is the physical part of the human body which houses the mind. Covering a man’s head–position and place of the mind; brain, is covering the glory of God because man is made in the image of God. (vs.7) The dishonored ‘head’ is Christ, the HEAD of the church–body of Christ.
Likewise, for the woman, the ‘head’ she dishonors is the MAN. 1 Cor. 11:5a. 5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head. Vs. 7c. …but the woman is the glory of the man. Metaphorically she dishonored the man; of whom she was made.
Once again, we must understand the societal position we were placed and designed to dwell by God Almighty. Believing we have authority to change our position, or to give authority for others to change God’s design for mankind is wrong and should never be allowed.
A note from Matthew Henry’s Commentary over 1 Cor. 11:4-7. Note, The sexes should not affect to change places. The order in which divine wisdom has placed persons and things is best and fittest: to endeavour to amend it is to destroy all order, and introduce confusion. The woman should keep to the rank God has chosen for her, and not dishonour her head; for this, in the result, is to dishonour God. If she was made out of the man, and for the man, and made to be the glory of the man, she should do nothing, especially in public, that looks like a wish of having this order inverted.
Each gender cannot survive without the other. It requires both to propagate the earth. 1 Cor. 11:8-12. 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.
In God’s society, there is a rank of authority. God, Christ, man, woman, then all other creatures on earth. There is also a separation of women and angels. The women are to have power on their heads because of the angels. Vs. 10. Inspired women must not have any authority over spirits such as angels. Angels are in a different realm–Spirit Realm. It appears God wanted a definite distinction between the woman–man’s helper–and the angels, his helpers. A woman’s hair was the defining distinction between woman and angels. It is an honor for the woman to have long hair. It not only distinguished her from angels, it showed who she was, the glory of man.
All future men were born of a woman, thus, man is by the woman. However, all mankind is by, or of, God who created them. (vs. 12)
Paul enforces this argument further: 1 Cor. 11:13-15. 13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? 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.
Excerpt from Matthew Henry’s Commentary: 1 Cor. 11:13-15. “Judge in yourselves—consult your own reason, hearken to what nature suggests—is it comely for a woman to pray to God uncovered? Should there not be a distinction kept up between the sexes in wearing their hair, since nature has made one? Is it not a distinction which nature has kept up among all civilized nations? The woman’s hair is a natural covering; to wear it long is a glory to her; but for a man to have long hair, or cherish it, is a token of softness and effeminacy.”
Personal note, It should be our concern, especially in Christian and religious assemblies, to make no breach upon the rules of natural decency. God has placed his design and rules upon mankind–man and woman. Modern culture has no right to attempt to change it. Christians should attempt to adhere to all God’s guidelines to be in His favor. We need to teach these truths more fervently than we have because Satan desires to change the society God demands and designed. If we do not stand for righteousness, we condone unrighteousness. Could this be the cause of so much unrighteousness in society today?
1 Cor. 11:16. 16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. To be contentious concerning these things which are custom in the churches of God is to allow the appearance of quarreling as a normal in the assemblies of God, ‘or against a custom in which they all concurred, and that upon the ground of natural decency.’ Matthew Henry Commentary
Attempting to change the nature God designed for man and woman is in violation to the design God wants. We, being subordinate unto God, do not have the right to make these changes no matter how much the world changes that order. We cannot make the slightest appearance of changing that pattern.
Quarrelling, backbiting, and confusion can never be in the assemblies of God. Apostle Paul will touch further upon this topic later in this letter to Corinth.
