(8) An Expanded Version of 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 in the light of the Ancient Context
The “Context” Interpretation
The following is based on the RSV translation, assuming that the
passage should be read as a whole, that it contains Paul’s own words, and that
he was not quoting or paraphrasing comments from people at Corinth. We have expanded as we think Paul would have
done had he been asked, taking into account the context of the times and
attempting to solve many of the problems of interpretation listed on pages
14-20. The suggested explanatory comments are in italics within the square
brackets. We start with chapter 10 from verse 31, where Paul is encouraging
every one to behave in a manner which brings glory to God, and to take care not
to cause offence in any direction.
So, whether you eat or drink, or
whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offence to Jews or to
Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please all men in everything I
do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. Be
imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
I commend you because you remember
me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to
you. But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the
head of a woman is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. [If any of you Corinthian wives think that,
because you can pray and prophesy just as your husbands do, you are thereby
independent from your husbands, note that this is not the way things are. Your
husbands are not independent in themselves, for they have Christ as their head,
nor is Christ independent for he has God as his head. Similarly each one of you
has your husband as your head and it is necessary when you are addressing the
brothers and sisters in praying or prophesying that you dress in the recognised
manner as respectable married women.] Any man who prays or prophesies with
his head covered dishonours his head, [because
this is how Romans worship their gods and you brothers must not give the
impression of worshipping pagan gods. Your head is Christ.] but any woman
who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled
dishonours her head [i.e. her husband]
– it is the same as if her head were shaven. For if a woman will not veil
herself, then she should cut off her hair; but if it is disgraceful for a woman
to be shorn or shaven, let her wear a veil. [For otherwise you give the impression that you are like women accused
of adultery or like Corinthian prostitutes, who do not show allegiance to
husbands and some of whom cut their hair short to look like men and to
demonstrate their independence from men.]
For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory
of God; [As it says in Genesis 2, God
made a man, moulding dust into an image and breathing into it the breath of
life. A man should therefore act so as to give God glory, showing his proper
relationship to God his creator. Therefore he must not follow the pagan Roman
practice of wearing a veil when he prays or prophesies, for this gives the
impression that he acknowledges not his creator but the Roman gods.] but
woman is the glory of man. [By wearing a
veil she honours her husband in public and shows that she respects him and her
marriage vows to him.] For man was not made from woman, but woman from man.
[Eve from Adam.] Neither was man
created for woman, but woman for man. [Eve
was created because it was “not good that the man should be alone” and husband
and wife should be “one flesh”. It is therefore not appropriate for wives to
reject their married state or act in a manner which could be thought to be
rejecting their married state.] That is why a woman ought to have authority
on her head, because of the angels. [The
angels are God’s agents and are concerned to see proper order in society. By
wearing her veil a wife has the authority of a married woman, authority in this
instance to stand respectably in the meeting and speak in praying or
prophesying.] Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor
man of woman; for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And
all things are from God. [So far I have
been talking about husbands and wives. However, although Eve was created from
Adam, men are now born from women, which illustrates the interdependence of men
and women – we are all created by God – and in the ecclesia sisters are not
independent of the brothers nor vice-versa. Both pray and prophesy, but what is
important is that when doing so, no impression is given that wives do not
support the God-given institution of marriage. For speaking in public is not
normally considered acceptable for wives. When there is so much immorality in
society it is important that we believers set a high standard. While,
therefore, you have new freedom in Christ, it is important not to act in such a
way that believers could appear to be making light of marriage. As I said
above, “Whether you eat or drink, whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Give no offence to Jews or to Greeks or to the ecclesia of God.” (1 Corinthians
10:31-32)] Judge for yourselves; is it proper for a woman to pray to God
with her head uncovered? [You are
sensible people; make your own judgment. You know what is considered proper in
respectable society.] Does not nature itself teach you that for a man to
wear long hair is degrading to him, [By
nature man is masculine. I consider that men should not grow their hair long
and look like women.] but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? [Naturally long hair is a sign in our society
that the woman is respectable; only immoral women cut their hair short.]
For her [long] hair is given to her
for a covering. [Nature thus agrees with
what is considered respectable: a wife should keep her hair long and cover her
head with it as is considered respectable.] If anyone is disposed to be
contentious, we recognise no other practice, nor do the churches of God. [Normal practice amongst all the ecclesias is
for the brothers who pray and prophesy to do so without the Roman-style
covering, for the women who pray and prophesy to do so wearing their veils to
indicate their married status; brothers
keep their hair short, sisters their hair long. If anyone wants to be
contentious about this, please act as I instructed above when I said that I try to please all
men in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that
they may be saved. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.]
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