Alright everyone. Get to the nearest bible and read this next verse in the New Testament. 1 Corinthians 11:14. It reads "Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears his hair long it is a disgrace to him..."
Wait a second. Jesus. Didn't he have long hair? Does that mean he sinned? Does that mean that now I can use the bible to say that people with long hair are disgraceful? Elaborate...
2006-08-29 18:25:14 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
anyone who believes in God and Jesus will defend him by either demonstrating the vaguness of "long" or saying that there is no real proof that his hair was long.. or explain that the meaning may have another application either to a certain peoples or situation, etc... those who don't believe in them will tell you that it's just another example of how the traditional interpretation of the Bible is contradictory and often inapplicable to modern societal views...
The "vaguness" of many entries in the Bible helps to defend it while also allowing non believers to question its validity by giving both sides a way of applying different(personal) interpretations to virtually everything in it.
My personal take is this: If the word "long" can imply various lengths of which Jesus' hair may not have been a part of.. then the same idea should be applicable to let's say the word woman.. which can be applied to a variety of people with feminine qualities or who believe they are indeed a "woman" ...
and to those who continue to use the excuse that nobody knows how long his hair was as their sole answer to this question... my question is this... to use that as an excuse implies that you must believe that this interpretation of the passage is true... (since that reasoning becomes usless and invalid if you didn't believe the interpretation to begin with) so then why would a bunch of people portray Jesus as a sinner with long hair? .. more importantly why are you not out boycotting this long haired portrayal...
2006-08-29 19:28:51 · answer #1 · answered by K3vag 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
To date, there are no pictures or the like that survives today of Jesus. The closest is the Shroud of Turin, but that's been proven a fake anyway.
Most painters who have painted over the years have used models and traditions of their day. So if long hair for guys was in, then Jesus was painted that way. What many don't consider is that Jews back then wore their hair of an average length, but not actually long. But as it is with scholars, they leave out the culture of the Jews and decide to have their Jesus with long hair.
Just as Paul writes, it wasn't the style or tradtion of Jewish men to wear their hair long in any way. Therefore Jesus wore his short like any other Jewish man.
2006-08-29 19:48:58 · answer #2 · answered by Reuben Shlomo 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm sorry this is so long. I've tried to shorten it.
I don't really speak bible, but I know that the one people are reading has changed significantly over the last couple of thousand years, through:
A). translation
B). the influence of those in power
Razors, not hair-cutting shears, were available in the time of Jesus, so if he wanted to have any hair at all, it's likely he would have had a pretty shaggy -do. Try cutting your hair into a neat, feathered style with one sharp hunk of hand-held metal.
Not to mention, Jewish men don't shave with straight razors, and there's still some bantering over scissors and electric trimmers. I find it hard to believe that Jesus sported a buzz cut, so the long-ish hair stands, historically.
... but then again, the evidence of hypocrisy is likely an invention of time and wordplay. I don't know what "A great whore siteth upon many waters" means, but I have an idea that that translation is probably only a ghost of the intended metaphor.
2006-08-29 19:13:33 · answer #3 · answered by Em 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Just because artists have painted Jesus with long hair doesn't mean he had long hair. There is no physical description of him in the Bible and no one was taking any photographs yet. My guess is that the scripture is teaching you that Jesus did not have long hair. Good for you for reading it and finding out for yourself what the Bible really says.
2006-08-29 20:45:31 · answer #4 · answered by Sparkle1 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The whole context includes 1 Cor 11:11-16
For starters, we don't know what Jesus looked like or how long his hair was. An invalid question. No images were ever made. What pictures we do have come from painters' imaginations.
Secondly, what you've cited is only a small piece of a bigger picture that actually addresses the nature of men and women in relationship to one another and to God.
You've got it pretty twisted up.
2006-08-29 18:32:49 · answer #5 · answered by Augustine 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No Jesus did not sin. We don't know if he had long hair. It's kind of complicated. Just take what's said here and apply it to your own personal life if it convicts you of sin. Legalism is dangerous, because it takes away the focus on Grace. There is a verse that says to observe for yourself whether it is wrong rather than judge others. This is because it is a new revelation from Paul and he didn't want people arguing about it. Ironically there are arguments about it.
You are taking that verse somewhat out of context.
In the Old Testament, and before the Pentecost, when Christians received the Holy Spirit. Things were different. Men were to cover thier heads to honor God. After the Pentecost, Paul had a message to Christians telling them not to prophesy with his head covered. He also said that it's a disgrace for a man not to cut his hair. The Jews cover thier heads while worshiping, whereas the Christians should not.
11:4Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. 11:5But every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonors her head. For it is one and the same thing as if she were shaved. 11:6For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. 11:7For a man indeed ought not to have his head covered, because he is the image and glory of God, but the woman is the glory of the man. 11:8For man is not from woman, but woman from man; 11:9for neither was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. 11:10For this cause the woman ought to have authority on her head, because of the angels.
2006-08-29 18:41:36 · answer #6 · answered by The Bible (gives Hope) 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In talking about head coverings and length of hair Paul is saying that believers should look and behave in ways that are honorable within their own culture. In many cultures long hair on men is considered appropriate and masculine. In Corinth, it was thought to be a sign of male prostitution in the pagan temples. And women with short hair were labelled prostitutes.
You should read the life application bible to get a better understand.
2006-08-29 18:38:02 · answer #7 · answered by JasonLee 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No one knows what Jesus looked like. There is one passage that states his hair was like wool. I imagine like Lancelot in the movie King Arthur or a little frizzier.
And I've heard people say that passage is just addressing an issue in a particular group of people.
?? Besides, how long is long?
2006-08-29 18:30:41 · answer #8 · answered by Phoenix, Wise Guru 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It means that a man should not wear his hair in a feminine way. You should get a study Bible it helps you to understand things much clearer.
2006-08-29 18:52:13 · answer #9 · answered by hikaru908 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not saying that having long hair is a sin. Basically it's a reference to the fact that men with long hair which could also mean over grown facial hair looks wild and unkempt which to some may be considered a disgrace.
Your not going to hell because you had long hair. Besides the line you printed is vague.
2006-08-29 18:39:18 · answer #10 · answered by J Greenhood 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋