For Angels: An Explanation of the Tradition of Prayer Coverings According to 1 Corinthians 11:1-16

November 9, 2011 · Books, Vestibule, Sermons, Contemporary Persecution, Salvation, Church

Explanation of the Ordinance of Prayer Coverings According to 1 Corinthians 11:1-16.

In 1 Corinthians 11 the Bible speaks of two ordinances of worship in the church. The word ordinance used here comes from the Greek word paradosis, meaning a direction or command given once and then passed down from generation to generation. The purpose and aim of a moral direction is to establish order. Based precisely on this meaning, the translators of the Authorized Version of the Bible chose the word ordinance as the equivalent of paradosis in the original. The word “tradition” or “ordinance,” as it is translated in the Russian version, conveys the same meaning.
This is a dictated order, intended to bring harmony and peace to those who revere and keep it.

Both ordinances, or statutes, given to the church in this chapter pertain to our worship of God. The first concerns prayer coverings, and the second—the Lord’s Supper.

In this book we will speak of two coverings: the spiritual prayer covering and the physical covering of hair, which are mentioned in verses 4-16 of this chapter.

There are three reasons why we should give attention to this subject. First, there are very many different opinions and interpretations regarding coverings, and many modern Christians are losing the understanding of their true meaning. Second, as evidenced by the numerous questions I have been asked about coverings, interest in unfolding this topic retains its freshness even to this day. And finally, third, recently several erroneous teachings have appeared, as well as groundless discontent toward those who wear coverings. Most who mock prayer coverings do so in a harsh, unchristian spirit and offer no biblical grounds to support their indignation. Brothers who regard prayer coverings as a rule that every sister should follow are worthy of praise and, without a doubt, will receive it from God on the day of judgment.
Any Christian who slanders the coverings and reproaches a sister for her obedience to this ordinance violates the clear instruction of Paul, who said: “But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.” (1 Corinthians 11:16).
We share this description and explanation of prayer coverings in order to show the existence of several good biblical motives that justify the coverings.

PART 1. COVERINGS. THE ORDINANCE OF THE SPIRITUAL COVERING

If the prayer covering is an ordinance (tradition) of the church, as the apostle Paul asserts (1 Corinthians 11:2), then it is of great importance. In this same chapter we find the explanation of the Lord’s Supper, to which we attach special significance. No less important is the first of these two ordinances, which Paul speaks of in verses 4 through 16.
It is easy to notice that in this passage (4-13) the apostle Paul is speaking not of the hair as a covering, but of a covering over the hair. Some Christians who do not accept the teaching on the prayer covering insist that hair is the only prayer covering Paul mentions here. There are many arguments demonstrating that this is not the case.
The subject of Paul’s message in this place is the covering, not the hair. Hair is mentioned at the end of his instructions on the prayer covering to illustrate the spiritual covering. If you read this passage without bias, you will notice this fact: Paul says that a covering is necessary for women when they pray or prophesy, and that brothers should pray with an uncovered head.
This fact is easily discovered if one simply takes and reads verses 4 and 5, without reading the others in this chapter. These verses contain a complete thought.

«(4) Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head; (5) But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for it is one and the same as if she were shaved.» (1 Corinthians 11:4-5).

Paul explains that for a woman to pray with an uncovered head is the same as not having hair on her head (being shorn).
If the covering is the hair, then this statement is completely senseless. If Paul were speaking of hair, this passage could be read: “And every woman who prays or prophesies without hair … , for it is the same as if she were without hair.” Likewise, verse 4 makes no sense if the covering is hair. Try it yourself.
Let us briefly consider in the text the meaning of the words “covering” and “hair”:
Kata (covered, verse 4) — a general term, including covered.
Katakalupto (to cover oneself, verse 6) — to cover, to conceal.
Peribolaion (covering, verse 15) — a mantle or veil.
Akatakaluptos (uncovered, verse 13) — unveiled, disclosed.
Komao (hair, verse 15) — long locks, long hair.
The word “hair” is not used in the text until verses 14 and 15, where it is mentioned 3 times as an illustration of the prayer covering.

Now it is absolutely clear that Paul’s subject is prayer coverings (akatakaluptos), and not hair (komao). A person with a heart honest before God cannot deny the covering as something put on the head and removed from it. Everyone knows that one cannot put on and take off hair only for the time of prayer or prophecy.
Paul’s instruction here relates to an ordinance. Therefore, it would be a serious distortion of the Word of God to teach that he merely refers to a “social custom” or “fashion” characteristic of his culture. At best, this is an ignorant statement, as the following facts about coverings found in the text will show.

THIS IS AN ORDINANCE

«I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you.» (1 Corinthians 11:2).
Any tradition of the church, for example, water baptism, the prayer covering or the Lord’s Supper, must be upheld in the church as a meaningful tradition, which is a reminder to the church of specific features of the Gospel. Jesus does not want us to be careless about these features. A tradition has one remarkable quality: it reminds the church of a purpose (water baptism reminds of the death of the human “I”) or of a promise (the Lord’s Supper reminds of Christ’s coming and of the “last supper” that will take place at the end of the church age). The covering reminds of many, many enduring (eternal) truths!

The tradition of the coverings has become a subject of jokes for people who ought to have understood it better. And I strongly recommend that brethren not mock the traditions or offend any of «these little ones» who desire to please the Lord by their obedience. Traditions given by God to the church are very serious things. Scoffing in unbelief at the Word of God is a common thing for sinners, but it will bring punishment upon the heads of His children who grumble and reproach brethren for striving to live in accordance with the traditions of the Word.

The covering is a tradition (paradosis: an instruction, an ordinance of traditions) of the church. It is not «a custom of that time,» as some ignorant people claim.

THE ENDURING ESSENCE OF THE COVERING

If the prayer covering were merely a “custom” or a “fashionable” piece of cloth wrapped around the head, then all of Paul’s assertions are simply fantasies.

1. THE IMAGE AND GLORY OF GOD:
«For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.» (1 Corinthians 11:7).
Paul tells us that the covering is connected with the image (likeness or resemblance) and glory (dignity, honor and praise) of God. The tradition of the coverings, both for men and for women, reflects the holy dignity and reverence of God and points to our devotion to Him. It is a sign of our submission to God and His governing influence in our lives (11:3).

The tradition of the coverings, pertaining both to men and to women, is linked to the image and likeness of God, … and not to «the customs of that time,» as some say.

2. PRAYER:
«Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head; (5) But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if she were shaved.» (1 Corinthians 11:4‑5).

The ordinance of the coverings is to be observed when a man or a woman is praying, that is, when they enter into the presence of God to address Him and share in His greatness. The covering must be on the woman when she prays … this is not just «a custom of that time,» as some erroneously teach.

3. PROPHECY:
«And every woman … who prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head.» (1 Corinthians 11:5).
The word “to prophesy” means to speak while under the influence of the Spirit, or to be used in the vocal gifts of the church. So from this Word we conclude that a woman is given authority to speak in the church while under prophetic anointing. And when she does so, she must be covered. Here we see that the covering is to be honored when a woman prophesies … it is not simply «a custom of that time,» as some assert. How can hair serve as a covering if a woman is obliged to put it on only during prayer or prophecy?

4. CREATION:
«For man was not created for woman, but woman for man.» (1 Corinthians 11:9).
Paul links the subject of coverings with the order of creation, reaching back to the very beginning of the human race. An order of special relationship between man and woman was established from the beginning, so that the woman was a helper to the man. This does not mean that the woman is a being of a lower order than her husband; it means that she is a helper to her husband (and not the other way round, regardless even of the fact that she may be ahead of her husband in many ways). The order of creation is established, and we remind ourselves of this original order (in order to maintain it) by keeping the tradition of the coverings. The covering reminds us of the order of headship that God established in the very beginning … this is not just «a custom of that time,» as some say.

5. MARRIAGE:
«But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head.» (1 Corinthians 11:5).
In order to understand better what really lies behind the expression “dishonors her head,” let us see what a Greek dictionary says about the word kephale:
«Since the loss of the head destroys life, this word is used in expressions pertaining to especially severe punishments. Literally: something predominating, ruling, outstanding; of people – lord, master; husband – in relation to wife; of Christ – Lord over the husband and the church; of things – corner stone.»
The woman dishonors her husband when she prays or prophesies with her head uncovered. And of course she shows disobedience if the ordinance for her is not to honor her husband by observing the covering. The covering is an acknowledgment of authority and a sign of respect for the husband … and not simply «a custom of that time,» as some say.

6. AUTHORITY:
«For this reason the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head.» (1 Corinthians 11:10).

7. ANGELS:
1 Corinthians 11:10b. Angels are ministering spirits sent by God. They serve for communication between God and man under the direction of the Holy Spirit. Angels are characterized by a very holy and uncompromising nature. They are completely devoted to carrying out God’s instructions and do not enter into any reasoning about the commands they receive. In no way should we cause these holy messengers to stumble! The covering is closely connected with the ministry of the eternal angels of the Kingdom of God. How then can it be that the covering is merely a temporary “custom of Paul’s day,” as some say.

All these arguments leave no room to reduce the significance of this holy commandment to the level of a mere human “custom,” “cosmetic adornment,” or “cultural tradition” of Paul’s time. In some cultures there are traditions similar to this commandment, but regardless of traditions and cultures, the coverings are a commandment of enduring significance, and therefore, their violation leads to serious consequences.

IN THE EYES OF THE ANGELS, ANY DISOBEDIENCE TO THE WORD OF GOD IS REBELLION.

ANGELS SEE REBELLION IN EVERY DISOBEDIENCE TO THE COMMANDMENTS AND TRADITIONS IN THE CHURCH.
They know whether I have enough intelligence and discernment to understand what is written in the Word of God, and they know exactly the reason for my disagreement with the traditions of God. If it is pride, they know it. If it is fear of what others will say, they know it. If it is my foolishness and rejection, they know it. If it is my stubbornness, they know it. If it is my desire to please someone among people, they know it. Nothing is hidden from the angels!

The angels remember well the war that Lucifer brought to heaven when he rebelled against the heavenly rule of God.

The memory of the angels holds the entire history of sin from the very beginning to this day. The sounds and scenes of the heavenly battles still flash in their memory with chilling detail.

They recall the gigantic clash of the armies of angels;

How eternal bliss was shattered to pieces. Angel’s sword against angel’s sword!

Oh, how well they remember the thunderous power of God’s wrath, driving out the rebels, casting them into the abyss of the black eternity of oblivion; singing angels of light turned into shrieking demons of darkness and torment.
They remember well how the rebellion of a creature disrupted the order of the golden streets and turned the sea of glass into a battlefield, how that rebellion snatched Paradise from man’s hands, and finally, how it drove their Prince out of the City of Light to the suffering and darkness of Golgotha. They remember how they hovered in the sky, looking helplessly at Him, dying the most terrible of deaths … for human “rebels.” 1 John 3:4.

EVERY TIME THE ANGELS SEE MAN’S REBELLION AGAINST THE WORD OF THE CREATOR, IT STIRS UP BAD MEMORIES IN THEM.

If the human race, including Israel and the church, is depicted in Scripture as having a dominant moral weakness, how can we not call this “rebellion”?

The angels still fight against rebellion wherever it breaks out today. And they pitch their camp around those who trust in Christ and “fear God.” Psalm 36:4. Read Hebrews 1:14-2:3.
There are 106 different qualities and types of activities of angels recorded in Scripture. They are observers of the church. They not only watch over us to protect us, they are witnesses of our obedience in faith. 1 Peter 1:12. We can deceive ourselves and others, but the angels know perfectly well how we respond to His Word!

For a man it is a shame to pray with his head covered. That is, in a turban, hat, or any other head covering. For a man it is unthinkable to enter the church wearing a head covering, and if he tried to go forward for prayer with a cap on, he would be looked upon as abnormal and, of course, would be asked to remove it.

At the beginning of this century, it was unthinkable for a woman to pray in church with her head uncovered. Today, however, in the modern Western church, women enter the house of God not only without a covering, but also with short haircuts. Until the beginning of this century, women in fundamental churches wore both coverings. But now, as in many other things, the church has become careless and fallen into error. They say, “All this time God has not convicted me or struck me dead with lightning, so He must approve of my actions.” But God’s silence does not mean His approval. ‘These things you have done, and I kept silence; you thought that I was just like you. I will rebuke you and set your sins in order before your eyes.’ Psalm 49:21 and Luke 6:46.

DEFINITION OF THE COVERING

While for a man it is a shame to pray or prophesy with his head covered, it is an even greater shame for a woman to pray or prophesy with her head uncovered, having nothing on her head or over it. The Greek word that is translated as covered or uncovered is akatakaluptos and katakalupto, meaning “veiled, covered” and accordingly “uncovered.” This has nothing to do with hair.

THE NATURAL AND SPIRITUAL COVERING

The text in 1 Corinthians 11:3-16 speaks of two coverings. In verses 3-13, Paul addresses spiritual principles in connection with coverings in general and the cloth covering in particular. In verses 14-15 he speaks separately of the natural covering, i.e., the hair.
A man has one commandment regarding coverings and one spiritual head—God; a woman has two heads: God is her spiritual head (authority), and man is her natural head (authority).

Man is the natural head of woman, and her hair is a natural covering, demonstrating to God her submission to the natural head, as God ordained in Genesis chapter 3.
God (Christ) is the spiritual head of the woman, and the veil (covering) is her spiritual covering, which indicates the woman’s submission to the spiritual head. For this reason Paul required that the woman wear a head covering (a cap or some other suitable covering) “on her head” (verse 10) over her natural covering (hair) when praying or prophesying.

AN UNEXPECTED DISCOVERY

When I set out to write on this subject, I consulted standard reference works and, to my astonishment, discovered that all the authorities I turned to recognized two coverings. (See Eerdman’s concise Bible Handbook, p. 87; Barnes Commentary On The Old Testament, p. 312 (contains a direct reference to 1 Corinthians 11:3-15); The Pulpit Commentary, Deuteronomy, p. 355.)

“NATURE TEACHES US” (verse 14)

There are many physical reasons why a man should have short hair. Originally, God ordained a physically strenuous lifestyle for the man. He was to work “by the sweat of his brow,” which makes short hair more suitable for this purpose. Moreover, we now live in scientifically enlightened days, when Paul’s words are wonderfully confirmed by modern scientific research. The genetic makeup of a female embryo contains two hair genes, while the male’s makeup contains only one such gene. This is why baldness is a common occurrence in men, whereas in women it is virtually nonexistent. God gave the woman two hair genes from the very beginning in order:

To provide her with practical warmth and comfort from her hair (40% of body heat is lost through the top of the head; hair acts as a heat insulator).
To preserve the hair given to her as a covering.
For her “glory” (natural beauty). What if God had given the woman only one gene, and the man two?!? How true Paul’s words are even now, in the 20th century: “Does not nature itself teach you…?”

THEOLOGY OF VERSE 15

“Her hair is given to her as a covering” (KJV – the primary English translation of the Bible, accepted by fundamental Christians adhering to strict teaching.). However, some modern translators interpret this statement of Paul as follows: “Her hair is given to her instead of a covering.”

THE “54” WERE RIGHT!

Why did the 54 translators of the authorized English King James Version translate the Greek word anti as FOR a covering, and not INSTEAD of a covering? Simply because the grammar of this sentence demanded it. Modern translators prefer the word INSTEAD as a translation of this Greek preposition. But why then did the 54 excellent, devoted theologians who translated the English King James Version choose FOR when translating the Greek preposition anti? Answer:

First of all, because the rule of hermeneutics would not have allowed them to do otherwise. Here is that rule: you cannot interpret all of Scripture on the basis of one part of it; on the contrary, the whole of Scripture determines the meaning of its individual parts. In our case, the 12 preceding verses give the precise meaning to the preposition, and not the preposition to the 12 verses.
INSTEAD simply means either-or, and thus acknowledges the existence of two coverings. If we choose the hair instead of the head covering, then we need not wear the “other covering.” But if this erroneous translation were correct, it would also include the reverse: you may cut off your hair if you wear a head covering. Such a translation will land you in great difficulty. Moreover, it conflicts with the general meaning of its textual context.

In a quiet setting, ask yourself an honest question: “Why did Paul need to speak of two coverings if only one was needed? Why did he speak of two coverings if he intended to exclude one, or even both?” … The truth is that he pointed out two coverings, excluding neither of them. Sincere Christian women should begin to use a covering during private prayer and test whether the Lord grants a new sense of His presence. The next time you withdraw for prayer, place something over your head, and then enter His presence, and you will discover the blessing of obedience.

PART II. HAIR.

THE TRADITION OF THE NATURAL COVERING — HAIR

Hair is mentioned 83 times in the Bible.

In verses 14-15 Paul directly mentions hair 3 times, saying that for a man it is a shame (dishonor) to have long hair, but for a woman it is an honor.

OBEDIENCE IN THE SPIRIT LEADS TO THE DEATH OF THE FLESHLY “I”

Spiritual obedience is always contrary to the lusts of the fleshly life. Galatians 3:17. Hair is an object of pride and attention in the fleshly lifestyle. It is precisely this feature of a person’s appearance that God chose as a test of his or her devotion.

The primary moral purpose expressed by the church fathers and theologians of the past regarding coverings is to establish the distinction between the sexes.
This sets apart Christians who, by this tradition, proclaim Christ as part of God and place Him as the direct head of the man (11:3). Thus, this teaching of Paul belongs to the New Testament. It did not come to us from the Old Testament. It is a tradition of the New Testament church, which places Christ as the head over the man and as the mediator between man and God. See 1 Corinthians 11:2 and 14:37.

WHAT IS SHORT HAIR?

Based on observation, I usually use three criteria (quite acceptable to any thinking person) as to what may be considered short hair (verses 6, 14):

Hair that does not descend below the natural hairline (the boundary of the hair growth on the skin).
Hair that does not hang.
Cut or trimmed hair that is distinguished by the fact that it does not cross the natural hairline as a result of the haircut.

A man may cut his hair as short as he wishes, or not cut it at all, yet have short hair and not violate this definition of short hair.

WHAT IS LONG HAIR?

This refers to hair that falls below the natural hairline.
This is hair that hangs down.
This is long hair resulting from a lengthy period of not cutting it.

Any haircut that originates in worldly fashion should be avoided by people who believe that Christians must not be conformed to this world (Romans 12:1‑2). Besides not wearing long hair, the hair should be allowed to grow to its natural length and not be smeared with oils and lacquers the way punks do. Some Bible colleges that teach moral standards, including those about hair, ought to pay as much attention to curled and slicked hair on students studying holy disciplines as they do to the length of their hair. Young people who lack depth of devotion generally do not realize that such a haircut is no less wicked than growing long hair. To be holy is to be clean. And to be clean is to be natural. When we depart from the natural, that means we are worldly.

The world teaches its own attributes, but the church has grown weak in teaching biblical discipline. The result is that our youth copy the godless laxness of punks and harlots, which clearly does not resemble the garment of holiness.

CORINTH: ASTONISHINGLY WORLDLY

Newly converted believers who came into the Corinthian church brought with them the influence of the carnal Corinthian culture. This is the same thing we see today, when the influence of new converts exceeds our ability to teach new Christians the ways of holiness. Moreover, the women of that prosperous port city were damaged by the evil influence of the temple prostitutes of Diana. The priestesses shaved their heads bald, while women of that time wove into their hair (braided hair, 1 Timothy 2:9) brightly colored ribbons and did so in a deliberately ostentatious, pompous manner.

Whenever a culture or religion becomes morally corrupt and materialistic, one of the first signs of selfish obsession is a bent toward showy hairstyles for both men and women.
Paul’s instructions here, as in other epistles (1 Timothy 2:9), speak of the apostle’s concern over the wearing of lavish hairstyles and the disregard for the spiritual principles he had taught them (as indicated in verse 2): “And keep the traditions, as I delivered them to you.”

“BUT IF ANYONE WANTS TO BE CONTENTIOUS”

(verse 16)

Correct interpretation. Dr. Jesse Moon says: “There is one very popular mistaken interpretation of this verse that goes something like this: ‘Paul is saying here: “I would prefer you women to wear long hair and head coverings, and you men to have short hair. However, this is not so important as to start arguments over it.” This interpretation portrays people who prefer long hair on women and short hair on men as fussy disputants’ … This twisted view is shared by liberals and apostates. Yet it does not stand up to scrutiny either spiritually or from sound reasoning.
The original Greek text, as well as any commentarial commentary worthy of attention on this verse, clearly show that the grammar itself does not support the above false interpretation that Dr. Moon carefully quotes. See Pulpit Commentary Vol. 44, p. 363; Clarke Vol. 6, pp. 253, 254.

Here is what the apostle Paul actually meant: P. C. Nelson states Paul’s words with absolute clarity: “But if anyone wants to start a dispute with me, to such I answer: your opinion is against the custom of the Assemblies of God.” (Letters of Paul by P.C. Nelson, pp. 79, 80). 1 Thessalonians 2:15. Neither Dr. Jesse Moon nor we have such a custom, nor do the churches of God.

Should the Lord return for the twentieth‑century church, will He find those who have kept the traditions given to the early apostolic church.

Bill Burkett

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Statute on the Head Covering:

1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
2 Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you.
3 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
4 Every man praying or prophesying with his head covered dishonors his head.
5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if she were shaved.
6 For if a woman does not cover her head, let her also have her hair cut off; but if it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut off or be shaved, let her cover her head.
7 A man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.
8 For man is not from woman, but woman from man.
9 Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man.
10 For this reason the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels.
11 Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord.
12 For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.
13 Judge among yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?
14 Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him?
15 But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering.
16 But if anyone wants to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God. (1 Corinthians 11:1‑16)

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About Angels

14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?
1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.
2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward,
3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,
4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? (Hebrews 1:14‑2:4)

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