Bootstrap wrote:Feel free to try explaining the passage I quoted verse by verse, that would be more helpful. I really don't think I'm trying to twist anything. It would be interesting to see if those who practice head covering could come to agreement on how it is to be understood. Try focusing on the verse instead of claims about other people's motivations.
This was aimed at Valerie, I know. And she can answer it separately if she wants. But I thought I'd throw in my understanding of this, for what it's worth.
Norman Geisler said one time that the problem with a lot of people is that they spend so much time reading between the lines of scripture that they ignore the lines themselves. I find it a bit frustrating how that some people tend to spend so much time in dissecting and analyzing what is fairly clearly stated. I think they manufacture their own confusion.
3 But I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of the woman, and God is the head of Christ.
I’ve explained my interpretation of this earlier in this thread. This is Paul’s thesis, or his topic sentence, and leads me to believe that the rest of the passage should be interpreted in light of this.
God [head of] Christ
Christ [head of] man
Man [head of] woman
4 Every man who prays or prophesies with something on his head dishonors his head.
Men should show deference to their head by uncovering it in times of prayer and prophesy. Note that covering the head cannot apply to the hair or all Christian men would need to shave their heads. Nor does it seem likely that it means a weather protection head covering, since that wouldn’t really work in some climates. Anyway, throughout this passage the idea of covering assumes a recognizeable symbol, which a weather protection doesn’t really supply.
5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head…
He head is man, and especially her husband or father (if she is single). It also dishonors the whole principle of headship if she doesn’t cover.
…since that is one and the same as having her head shaved. 6 So if a woman’s head is not covered, her hair should be cut off.
This assumes that the woman feels that it would be a disgrace for her to have her hair shaved off. Which is why women in general will wear a wig if they lose their natural hair. This again shows that the hair is not the covering in focus because if she isn’t covered, then she should cut off all her hair. If the hair is the covering, then it is already gone.
But if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, she should be covered.
Again, Paul assumes that it is disgraceful for a woman to have all her hair cut off.
7 A man, in fact, should not cover his head, because he is God’s image and glory
This also makes the most sense if we realize that we are talking about a covering that has special significance, such as the Jewish prayer cap.
but woman is man’s glory. 8 For man did not come from woman, but woman came from man.
Refers to the order of creation as one reason for the headship process.
9 And man was not created for woman, but woman for man.
ditto
10 This is why a woman should have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.
The covering should be a symbol that is understood by onlookers, not something like a toque or a bandana.
11 In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, and man is not independent of woman. 12 For just as woman came from man, so man comes through woman, and all things come from God.
In all of this, men should not take advantage of their position in God’s order by lording it over the woman. Rather, the Christian life, and the Christian home is a team effort.
13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?
Rhetorical question: assumed answer is NO
14 Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair it is a disgrace to him,
Rhetorical question: assumed answer is YES
15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory?
Rhetorical question: assumed answer is YES
For her hair is given to her as a covering.
This covering is not talking about the symbol covering but her “natural glory covering.” It is part of her appeal to man and is to be kept for her husband. This is part of the headship emphasis.
16 But if anyone wants to argue about this, we have no other custom, nor do the churches of God.
Don’t bother arguing about this, because this is the only custom we have as the church of God.