Besides women teaching in the Church, women wearing a veil in a Church service are the two most hotly debated topics in Christianity today.
The early Church had problems concerning the roles of men and women in the Church after Jesus Christ had set both men and women free from the bondage of sin into glorious liberty!
People from all walks of life began filtering into all the churches everywhere. There was a city in which Paul visited called, “Mitylene” (Acts 20:14). Mitylene was a city on the island off the coast of Greece called, “LESBOS”. Lesbos is where we get the word “LESBIAN”. This island of lesbos had a very large group of women who dressed as men and kept their hair “short” like found on a man.
It was an abomination to God for women to wear men's clothing, and for men to wear women's clothing! (Deut 22:5) Men are supposed to look like men, and women are to look like women! This was God's divine order.
There is no doubt that some of these women got saved and became part of one of the churches founded by the Apostle Paul. In this context, Paul addresses the Church at Corinth which was in Greece.
1Co 11:3 But I want you to understand that THE HEAD OF EVERY MAN IS CHRIST, THE HEAD OF A WIFE IS HER HUSBAND, and the HEAD OF CHRIST IS GOD.
1Co 11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his HEAD COVERED, dishonoureth his head.
1Co 11:5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with HER HEAD UNCOVERED dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
1Co 11:6 For if the woman BE NOT COVERED, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
The problem here is in not understanding what it means to have a head “COVERED” or “UNCOVERED”
Three times in this chapter the word, “HAIR” is referred to. Hair is the subject of this discourse.
1Co 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that if a man has LONG HAIR, it is a shame unto him?
1Co 11:15 But if a woman has LONG HAIR, it is a glory to her: for HER HAIR is GIVEN HER FOR A COVERING.
Then we find that a woman's “LONG HAIR” was given to her for a “COVERING”
What covers, or uncovers a head? Hair!
The entire half chapter is talking about “HAIR”!!
We know it has nothing to do with a cloth-made veil or any kind of hat because God told Moses how the High Priest and other priests served in the Tabernacle that they were required to wear hats!!! (Exo 39:28)
The last time I checked God has made us (as there is no male or female in Christ) (Gal 3:28) to be kings, and priests! (Rev 5:10)
A man praying with his head covered has nothing to do with any kind of veil or hat. It had to do with his hair!!!
Both women and men have hair on their heads, but it is it's “LENGTH” that makes the difference whether it dishonors. Women with “SHORT”, or shaved heads were considered to be immoral, adulterers, and worldly.
Just to make sure we don't get it wrong to what Paul is talking about he says this...
1Co 11:14 DOTH NOT EVEN NATURE ITSELF TEACH YOU, that, IF A MAN HAVE LONG HAIR, IT IS A SHAME UNTO HIM?
1Co 11:15 But IF A WOMAN HAVE LONG HAIR, it is a glory to her: for HER HAIR IS GIVEN HER FOR A COVERING.
A man to have “LONG HAIR” was a shame to him! But a woman with “LONG HAIR” it is her glory, and IT IS HER “COVERING!!!!
For a man to pray with his head “COVERED” means for him to have long hair like a woman which is a shame to him and it dishonors his head which I Christ!
1Co 11:6 For if the woman BE NOT COVERED, let her also be shorn: but if it is a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
For a woman to “BE NOT COVERED” means she has short hair like a man! You can NOT cut, or shave a piece of cloth material!!!
A woman with long hair is her cover and it is her glory.
