Transcription
[music] Dr. Bernard, I want to ask you a question about 1 Corinthians 11:5-6 where Paul wrote, "But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head. For that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. For 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."
I'm asking you about these verses because some Christian groups have interpreted this these verses to mean that a woman should wear a head covering when she's praying. And since of course Christian women should be ready to pray at all times, they then essentially then the the teaching extends that they should wear a head covering of all time at all times regardless of whether or not they're in church. Is that what Paul meant in 1 Corinthians chap 11 when he's talking about head coverings?
Let me give you two answers. My first answer which I personally think is no. Paul is not requiring a physical covering in addition to long hair. But in essence, he is speaking of the long hair itself as a symbolic covering or veil. And I'll I'll explain why I think that's the more accurate understanding.
However, there are some people and and especially in some other countries where they have different translations and different customs. it seems more likely to them there is a physical veil. In that case, what I would argue is this. Paul would be saying whatever is culturally appropriate for a woman uh including uh for modesty or gender distinction wearing a physical veil. But the reason for that is because God has given long hair. So in other words, the alternative uh interpretation would be yes uh in your culture, if that's what a woman should wear, I advise you to wear it because the underlying example that God has given for all cultures of all people everywhere is is the hair. So, we end up with the same thing. Um, that long hair would be expected for a woman in God's plan, but uh a physical veil in addition to long hair would not be expected unless that's what the culture requires. All right?
So, uh let's go back to my preferred understanding is that no, a physical veil is not required. If you look at the verses you just read from 1 Corinthians 11:5-6 doesn't actually use a noun covering or veil, although some translation do. It just says the woman should be covered. Her head should be covered. It doesn't say with what. Okay? It's a it's an assumption to say covered with a veil.
But if you keep reading and go down to um verse um 13, and I'm using the New King James, judge among yourselves, is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered. So you still have this adverb or this adjective covered versus uncovered. So earlier he's saying the woman should have her head covered. Now then he down here in verse 13, is it proper for her to have her head uncovered? Again, he didn't say veil. He didn't use a noun, although some translations jump in there, but he's simply using an adjective. So, all you know from that point, well, a woman's hair should be covered or woman's head should be covered. Uh, it shouldn't be uncovered.
And then he goes on to explain this. Does not even nature teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? So he's indicating that the long hair is the covering. But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her for her hair is given to her for a covering. Now that's the first time the noun is used covering. And he explicitly says her hair is given for a covering. So from that context, how would a woman be covered? Long hair. How would a woman be uncovered? Cutting her hair. So I think when you read the whole passage, he says her hair is given to her for a covering. And if you look at the Greek um preposition there, uh her for a covering, it's anti- a n ti, which in English we often use in opposition. So it literally means instead of a covering. So it doesn't mean as an additional covering. It means her hair is given to her to serve as a covering in place of a another covering in place of a physical covering.
So with that in mind, it's interesting. The New International Version actually gives an alternate translation and a footnote that says, "If you look at those subsequent verses, verses 13- 15, and interpret the covering to be the long hair as it explicitly says in verse 15, and then go back to the verses you quoted, here could be an alternate translation." So this is verses 4-7. 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 just like one of the shorn women. If a woman has no covering, let her be for now with short hair. But since it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair shorn or shaved, she shall grow it again. A man ought not to have long hair. So in the place of covered and uncovered, it actually puts long hair implied from the later verses.
And so there you can see um what I've explained that I really believe Paul and of course he's inspired by the Holy Spirit. And some have said it's a local custom. But if you go on to read verse 16, he says, "We have no other custom neither the churches of God." So what Paul has just described is what all the churches of that day taught. And at that time there were Jewish churches. There were churches in Asia Minor. There were churches in Greece. Uh which of course is where Corinth was. There were churches in Rome. So you had the Latin culture as well. And so you didn't just have one culture. You didn't just have one practice. But he said all the churches uh teach this same thing. If you want to argue about it, then you have no one to support you because all the churches agree with what I've just explained.
So from that perspective I would say clearly uh the teaching is that women should have long hair w men should keep their hair short. This is part of the gender distinction that goes back to Genesis chapter 1 when God created male and female. It's part of we see in the Old Testament Deuteronomy 22 that men should wear masculine clothing, women should wear feminine clothing and they should not blur that distinction. And so here we have another example of men should cut their hair short, women should let their hair grow long. And that is part of the gender distinction that God um has instituted as part of the creative order. And so the idea that you would uh put on a physical veil u instead doesn't seem to be required because the hair serves as the symbolic covering. U and and I think that's the the the best understanding of the passage.
But as I said, if for some reason people feel like women should wear a physical veil, they still the underlying teaching is well, it only makes sense in your culture because of what God has instituted for all cultures, which is the hair. uh and and and therefore we do have some in in apostolic churches, United Pentecostal churches, it's usually based on certain cultures where they have a a culture of women wearing uh head coverings of veils or um some type of headcloth, usually not covering their face, that's not what they're talking about, but just their hair a lot of times. Um and so if a culture does that, we respect that. And if a church wants to follow that cultural teaching, we don't think that's wrong. However, we don't think it's required. U it's not required by scripture.
And I've noticed that uh some people who follow this teaching, they will put on the the covering or the the head veil strictly for church services. But as your question indicated, why would you stop there? You're only going to pray when you're in church. Uh and then also I've noticed a trend that they will wear just um a very sheer very light uh sheer minimal covering which the hair is fully visible. So it's just really paying lip service to the custom and I appreciate their desire to conform to what they think is appropriate but it loses all meaning. Um, and but it doesn't really bother me because as I said, I don't think it's scripturally required. So, if it if a woman wants to wear that head covering and feels like she should, I'm not opposed to that. I don't think it's required by scripture. I do think the underlying teaching here in 1 Corinthians 11 is the woman should should have long hair.
Thank you for listening to this episode of Apostolic Life in the 21st Century. [music] If you enjoy this podcast, please take a moment to give us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. If you're watching on YouTube, make sure you subscribe to Dr. Bernard's channel, like this video, and leave a comment. We also encourage you to check out Dr. Bernard's books. Visit Pentecostalpublishing.com and search [music] for David Bernard to access a full list of titles. Don't forget to enter DKB10 at checkout to save 10% on your order. We look forward to seeing you again next week as we explore how modern-day believers can live out the teachings of [music] the first century church. [music]