On Covering the Head in Worship

1 Corinthians 11: 1-16 can be read in its entirety here

In this passage we see Paul talks about head covering, a challenging passage to address even to this day as the views on this topic can be quite varied.

Please keep in mind, this post only goes into a surface level discussion of the basic principle behind Paul addressing head coverings.

The main principle we see Paul address here is the Headship of God, Christ, and Man.

Verse 3 “But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.” In this verse we find the foundational principle or truth which the rest of this passage is built on. It teaches us that God has established authorities. God is a God of order and not of chaos. We see the headship of the Father in the Trinity, the headship of Christ over the church, and the headship of man over woman (i.e the head of a wife is her husband). God has seen fit to structure authority to make our world as harmonious as possible.

Paul is speaking on God ordained structure, leadership, governance, harmony and order. He speaks on the differences between man and woman, which does not equate to either overvaluing or undervaluing one or another. The way Jesus treated women in a culture that was very patriarchal, speaks volumes of the respect, dignity and value he gave them.

We see authority and roles within the Trinity. Jesus is God the son, He is submitted to God the Father, though they are co-equal. Jesus said “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). Jesus also said, “Lord if it is possible, let this cup pass me. Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done” (Mathew 26:39). We see a beautiful display of headship and submission between Jesus and God the Father. Jesus was not forced into a position of subordination.

God designed things a certain way, He is the one who places this calling on the life of a woman to honour her husband as her head. It is not the place of man to force submission, because he has to be too busy laying down his life for her as he is called to love his wife as Christ loved the church.

In the biblical context, submission does not imply inferiority or subjugation, but rather a willing alignment with God’s order. The Corinthian church was probably grappling with disorder in their worship gatherings. Paul addressing this to remind everyone that worship is intended to bring glory to God and God’s design in the context of relationships.

In understanding this passage we have to look at What did covering your head communicate in the Greco-Roman culture of Paul’s day? 

Priests (who were Roman men with a high social status) pulled their togas over their heads when they led pagan religious ceremonies by praying or sacrificing. So, Christian men in Corinth must not adopt that custom and hence we get an understanding into why Paul instructed the men in the church there to keep their heads uncovered.

Wearing head coverings was the normal practice for modest women of the day. It symbolized her modesty, humility and submission to her husband. A wife who refused to cover her head publicly disgraced her husband. And the other type of woman who did not cover their heads were prostitutes.

The head covering symbolised something specific in that day and age. In applying this passage to our day, it is important to consider the principle behind what Paul instructs. What does the head covering mean in our culture today. While we come before God in worship, how do we dress and behave? Is God being honoured and is each one of us honouring God’s created order of authority?

Paul appeals to the Corinthian Christians that what is proper and not, should be something they should be able to figure out on their own when in verse 13 he says, “Judge among yourselves”. He urges them to use wisdom and discernment. And then in verse 16, Paul says “If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.” This verse speaks into not getting fixated, divisive or argumentative, this implies that rather than considering this a rule, using wisdom and discernment, consider what is appropriate in your culture so you are in no way being a detriment to your witness as a Christian and remaining within the appropriate bounds of humility and surrender in front of God and His designed order.

God Bless.