A) INTRODUCTION.

B) TO THE BIBLE.

C) TO THE COVERING.

 

 

A) INTRODUCTION

 

 

Contrary to Mennonites, Muslims, Roman Catholic (Nuns), Orthodox Christian (Nuns), Judaism (as taught by the “Hebrew Tzniuth”), Taliban, Quakers, and any other denomination or sects I may have missed, the Biblical “covering” of a woman is NOT a “veil/vail.”  By contrast, according to First Corinthians 11:5-15, it is her LENGTH OF “hair,” and specifically verse 15, which states, “for her hair is given her for a covering.”  Her “hair” is her covering (don’t shave it off ladies; verse 6).  Thus, for women to think that they have to wear “vails” today is pushing the text. However, women did use “vails” as a form of modesty and covering in our ancient past (see Genesis 24:65; 38:14 & 19; Ruth 3:15).

 

 

B) TO THE BIBLE

 

 

By contrast, the real issue here is, that if a woman should appear publicly being “uncovered,” First Corinthians, verses 5 & 13, she would give the impression that she acted without “modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety,” First Timothy 2:9.  Paul reasons that by discarding her “covering,” a recognized emblem of her sex and position, she would be showing a lack of respect for her husband, her father, the female sex in general, and ultimately Christ (Note also:  For a man to cover his head [First Corinthians 2:4], would be to set himself up as a woman).  For a woman in ancient times to appear with a “shaven,” verse 5, head, is what was done by temple prostitutes.

 

Thus, for a woman to shave her head (First Corinthians 11:5 & 6), would be to impersonate a harlot, or fashion herself like a man.  However, verse 7 becomes the real purpose of this discussion, in that “a man” was created in the “image” of God and should remain so; while the “woman is the glory of the man,” and should bear that likeness which becometh womanhood.

 

Here the relation of a woman to a man is dealt with, not her relation to God.  A woman then, reflects the glory of her husband, and through him, (the man) the glory of God.  Therefore, we have a glimpse of the high responsibility to which God has called men.  First Corinthians, verse 11 states, “in the Lord,” and verse 12 states, “all things of God,” teaching us that God would still have men and women hold to their individual sexuality’s.  In today’s line of thinking on the spiritual side, the bottom line is that women should be modest in apparel, leaving no lines in their clothing that leans towards sexual implications.  One of my teachers used to say of women, “If you are not in the business, don’t advertise.”

 

 

C) TO THE COVERING

 

 

In regards to a woman being “covered,” First Corinthians 11:6, the Greek here is “katakalupto,” and means, “to cover wholly,” that is, with a “veil.”  In a literal sense, it means to “hide.”  It is completely translated as, “to cover with something which hangs down,” hence, to “veil.”  I grant that the context of that word alone is discussing the “head,” and our Middle-Eastern brethren have understood it so, in what we can still observe today.  And that is, that a woman should be “veiled,” such that it covers not just her head, but her face also, as “katakalupto” implies.  However again, First Corinthians 11:15, CLEARLY teaches that the length of a woman’s hair is meant, and not a “veil.”

 

Herein lies the most important point and what I believe Paul is alluding to.  To disregard this practice of wearing or not wearing the “veil,” either man or woman, is to dishonor one’s own head.  The question then comes forth, “Which Head?”  Speaking spiritually, in the case of the man, he would be dishonoring Christ if he wears “long hair,” First Corinthians 11:14, since Christ is the “head” of the man.  While in the woman’s case, if she does not wear “long hair,” First Corinthians 11:15, she would be dishonoring the man, who is a representation of Christ.  And, the woman who refuses to wear “long hair,” by this act, is in a sense, attempting to place herself into the man’s position (for he is the one who was not to wear “long hair”), thus usurping his authority.

 

Here is a gem from my favorite Bible Commentator:  “I was shown that the people of God should not imitate the fashions of the world.  Some have done this, and are fast losing their peculiar, holy character, which should distinguish them as God’s people.  I was pointed back to God’s ancient people, and then was led to compare their dress and apparel with the mode of dress in these last days.  What a difference!  What a change!  Then the women were not so bold as now.  When they went in public they covered their face with a vail.  In these last days fashions are shameful and immodest.”  SG4b:35; 2SG:228.

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