Why do Christians ignore theorders of Paul in first Corinthians?

Question

for instance women aren't allowed to pray without hats on (1 Corinthians 11:5) or have short hair and men aren't allowed to have long hair (1 Corinthians 11:14)

It says in the Bible women should wear hats when praying, but men should not wear hats when praying.

Paul was not Jewish

Answer 1

Hats? No, the Greek says "unveiled." This may mean a hat, but contextually, it means "long hair," or "tresses." Paul even (in verse 11:6) discusses that those who were contentious about it, should be like a "shorn" woman. At the time, a woman who had her head shaved was considered shameful.

Paul even goes further in his explanation, which further makes the topic contextually about hair. He says that nature itself teaches that a man shouldn't have long hair. Going further, he says long hair is for the woman's glory.

Verse 15 concludes, "But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering." And the "covering" he speaks of is the same as "veil."

So, while the potential for the Greek word to mean "hat," is there, it is more correctly translated "hair."

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

I think there are differences in etiquette and doctrine. Clothing and hair styles change over time. It is proper for churches to adjust to these. The teaching of Christ is that the spirit of the law is more important than the letter of the law. The important doctrines in Corinthians should not be ignored. He said women should not talk (preside) in Church. He gave a long list of offenses that society now tolerates. He said that modern Churches would have a semblance of godliness while denying the power thereof.

Answer 3

You won't find any better answer to this question than why they let women talk in church, which is also expressly outlawed by Paul.

This is part of the grab-bag that is Christian religion. They walk a fine line between reason (on somethings like praying with hats on) and blind faith (gay people are bad). They want there cake and to eat it too, all at the expense of intellectual honesty for themselves.

It would be sad if it weren't so pathetic.

Answer 4

Paul was Jewish people, he was under the Jewish laws. Jewish women had to keep their hair covered because it was cause for lust in men. I don't recall that long hair part, but Jewish men at that time had short hair like the Romans.

If we're not Jewish, we're not under Jewish law. The 10 commandments are for everyone, but the Levitican law is Jewish law.

* Jewish women were not allowed to learn Hebrew and the Torah was only in Hebrew, which is why women weren't allowed to speak in church. They couldn't teach something they couldn't read, so they had to depend on their husbands/father's to tell them what was in it.

Answer 5

Well, the definition of long hair in the Bible is not what you think it is. Many Christians of the time had what we would consider long hair today, but it was normal back them. And nobody should pray with hats on, it is disrespectful.

Answer 6

This came up in another question, and one of the Christians followed up on the answer I had written that Paul's admonitions to women were only his opinion, not the law. Actually, that was the law, and sometimes Christians don't know their own bibles [emphasis mine]:

"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. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church."

Answer 7

There has been 2000 years of church history since St. Paul's letter to the Corinthians. Some rules have evolved over the years based on culture and society as the church is constantly evolving.

Answer 8

In 1 Corinthians 11:2, he is telling people to adhere to _their_ traditions in Christ. These are not commandments, that must be obeyed, regardless of cost. These are traditions, that one should adhere to --- when it is appropriate to do so.

They are not ignoring a commandment. They are ignoring a suggestion.

Compounding the problem, it is fairly easy to construct a theology of the Gospels, and a theology of the Pauline Epistles, that have few, if any, points in common.

Answer 9

Welp. Back then prostitutes were recognized by their hair. I believe that they cut off their hair or something like that. Now, some prostitutes converted to Christianity and so as not to point them right out by their hair, Paul said that all the women should cover their heads. It was a church practice and not a biblical law.

Answer 10

Good question have to study up on it and get back to you on why i dont.. however i have seen Christian women with head coverings and long hair and have seen Chritian men with short hair.....

So not ALL Christians ignore the teachings of Paul