1 Corinthians 11 seems to say women should wear coverings in church?

Question

Why did this practice stop in so many churches?

Answer 1

If you look at the Greek word, and its etymology, you will discover that many translations that say "head coverings" could be translated "long hair."

For example, in verse 5, it talks about a woman being unveiled, and then the context also mentions that if she is unveiled, that she is like a woman with her head shaved. So, taking shaved (or shorn) in the context of the overall passage, it would seem to indicate long hair, as opposed to a veil or similar covering. Keep in mind that the women who had short hair in first century Palestine were often prostitutes.

In fact, some translations say it this way: "Every man who prays or prophesies with long hair dishonors his head. And every woman who prays or prophesies with no covering of hair on her head dishonors her head - she is like one of those shorn women. If a woman has no covering, let her be for now with short hair, since it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair shorn or shaved, she should grow it again. A man ought not to have long hair, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man." (I Corinthians 11:5-7 NIV footnoted reading)

Needless to say, we're not going to solve the riddle here, but you can see that it doesn't necessarily mean a hat, veil, or other covering.

Answer 2

I believe that many churches look at this passage in terms of what was Paul really concerned with: was it the literal head covering (i.e." the piece of cloth) that was his main concern, or was he concerned with what it represents?

The general gist of the passage is that Paul seems to be concerned with modesty & submission (or rather, a lack thereof), since this is what the veil represented in first century Corinthian society. Paul seems to be concerned that the Corinthian women were abusing their new found equality in the church by acting in a way that would have been seen as disrespectful & irrelevant in that culture.

Most churches focus on keeping the spirit & intent of the passage, rather than the literal letter, since it was Paul, after all, who was big on following the spirit of the law rather than the literal letter. Paul has to be interpreted in a way that is consistent with his own writings.

The mention of the veil, or head covering, appears only once in the Bible, but the mention of “modesty” occurs many times, so many people think that Paul was simply telling the Corinthian women to dress modestly in church (and many modern women ignore even that simple command by dressing inappropriately in church!).

I think that some churches ignore it altogether, seeing how that the passage seems to be politically incorrect in this day & age. Many churches have no spine, because they don't want to be labeled as cult-like or controlling.

Answer 3

I'm not really sure. I remember when all of the ladies at church wore hats. If a lady came in without a hat, she was probably talked about as being disrespectful of the Lord's house. Then I remember when women would have never thought of going to church in slacks. Now we see shorts, miniskirts, jeans, and I even saw a see through blouse at one service. I really think we should get back to where we were, when there was a holy respect for God instead of treating Him like our buddy.

Answer 4

The Brethren denomination are pretty hot on this. The conversations I've had about this because I go to a Baptist church (we don't wear hats) have been pretty intense but interesting! It's to do with culture back then too, if yu think about it, in lots of countries back then, the women wore headcoverings. It's a sign of respect to men and in the church, God.

Answer 5

We live in a completely different culture and times, but this can also be extrapolated to women in the ministry, and perhaps even homosexuality for the extremely liberal churches. Unfortunately the Bible authors have spoken their piece and left the building, leaving us to interpret what was really meant, especially for our day and age.

Answer 6

Well it was long time ago pratice and it was suppose be that, the angels use to look down on earth and have thoughts of being with human woman. When they did have relations with human women the out come was that they would turn out to be giants.That's where the bible story came about david and golith.Besides even ministers are temted by the flesh because we are all human.

Answer 7

Because women wanted it to stop. The parts of the bible where women had to be subservient to men were abandoned by most a long time ago, at least in the US. Hopefully, it's only a matter of time before the rest of it is thrown out, too, and people advance to the point that they don't need 2,000 years old books to give their lives meaning.

Answer 8

They've reinterpreted it now to mean that she should either leave her hair or shave it off. It seems to me to say she should cover her hair too. Women covered their hair in churches until the 1960s. Some elderly women still do, out of respect.

Answer 9

I think this means that a woman should dress like a woman and decent especially when going to church....the women should not wear tight mini skirts and low cut shirts to church...she should dress appropriately......

Answer 10

because women r sposed 2 set a good example 4 every1 but when they get out of church they go home and change in2 a miniskirt so its good in church but every where else SCREW IT!!