First Corinthians “Solving Church Problems”

First Corinthians“Solving Church Problems” Lesson 14, Section Fourteen Problem Twelve: “Disorders in Worship: Coverings” First Corinthians 11:1-16 Page 69

Read First Corinthians 11:1-3 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.

Paul Praised Them...First Corinthians 11:1-2 • Paul told the Corinthians to imitate [follow] him as he imitates Christ (v1) • He denied himself of some things so he would not give an offense to others (10:32-33) • The Corinthians, and we, should do likewise • The church would be inclined to regard his apostolic authority by remembering the things delivered to them (2) • He encouraged them to keep the traditions [ordinances, teachings] as he had taught them (2)

God’s Line of AuthorityFirst Corinthians 11:3 • The head of every man is Christ (3) • Man subject to Him; and must recognize his subordination to Him • The head of every woman is man (3) • Similarly, woman is subordinate to man • The head of Christ is God (3) • Christ recognized God the Father as superior • “Head” means “ruler, master, chief” • God over Christ, Christ over man, man over woman • This line of authority stems from the creation and the sin in the garden of Eden

Read First Corinthians 11:4-7 4 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 her head were shaved. 6 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. 7 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.

Praying and ProphesyingFirst Corinthians 11:4-5 • When praying or prophesying, a man dishonors his head [Christ] with his head covered (v4) • When praying or prophesying, a woman dishonors her head [man] with her head uncovered (v5) • “Praying” means to approach God in prayer • “Prophesying” means to depart God’s word via a spiritual gift [“teaching,” or publicly speaking to the people on the subject of religion]

Covered and UncoveredFirst Corinthians 11:4-5 • “Covered” (v4) means “to cover up, to have something down the head, to veil” • As used here it is a verb transitive which describes the state or condition of something • Covered as a verb mean “an act of covering” • “Uncovered” (v5) means “to not cover up, to uncover” • “Un” is a negative particle added to covered - means the opposite of covered • It is a state of not being covered

The Woman Must Be CoveredFirst Corinthians 11:5-6 • If she prays or prophecies with her head uncovered, it is “as if” she were shaved (v5) • She dishonors her head [man] • Note: A woman, even a prophetess, also had to be silent in the assemblies of the church • Paul does not mention this point here but does in 14:34 and in 1 Tim. 2:12-13 • Since it is a shame for her to be uncovered, let her be covered (v6) • Not covered, her hair might as well be shorn [cut off] or shaven

The Man Must Be UncoveredFirst Corinthians 11:7 • If a man prays or prophecies with his head covered, he dishonors his head [Christ] (4) • Reason: He is the image and glory of God (7) • “The image of God” refers to the fact that man was made in the likeness of his Maker (Gen 1:27) • “Glory” means to give great honor [or respect] to God • The woman is the glory of the man (7) • She is to give great honor [or respect] to man

The Man Is Not From WomanFirst Corinthians 11:8-9 • Paul now breaks from his discussion that Christ is over man [in a state of being uncovered] and that man is over woman [in a state of being covered] • This order of authority did not come from man [Paul] but from God’s own creation - he now explains why

Read First Corinthians 11:8-12 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 symbol 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.

The Man Is Not From WomanFirst Corinthians 11:8-9 • Creation was the beginning of this matter of headships in Genesis 1 • Man is not of woman; woman is of the man (8) • Man was not created for woman; woman was created for man (9) • Remember - This is God’s order of headship, not man’s [man tries to undo this arrangement]

Because Of The AngelsFirst Corinthians 11:10 • For this reason [cause], the woman must show to the angels [invisible, ministering spirits of God] that she is submitting to the authority of man (v10) • She does this by having a sign or symbol of power [authority] on her head

But All Things of GodFirst Corinthians 11:11-12 • All things were created and arranged by him • Man is not without the woman and woman is not without the man (11) • Woman came from man [creation], but man came from woman [birth] (12) • Man and woman are mutually dependent upon each other in the Lord • Man and woman are both necessary in God’s plan • One cannot exist without the other

Read First Corinthians 11:13-16 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 seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.

Judge Among Yourselves... First Corinthians 11:13 • This subject was one they should have been able to judge among themselves (v13) • “Judge” means “to determine, to form an opinion” • Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? (v13) • This is another rhetorical question: • In verse 5, he said she dishonors her head [man] in this condition • In verse 6, he said she was the same a shorn or shaven

What Nature Teaches... First Corinthians 11:14 • Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? (v14) • Another rhetorical question - they should have known the answer • “Nature” is that sense of propriety [or natural instinct] which all men have, and which is expressed in any prevailing or universal custom • Customs change because they are the product of man; nature never changes because it is the creation of God • “Dishonor” refers back to verse 4 - with a covered head, he dishonors his head [Christ]

What Nature Teaches... First Corinthians 11:15 • But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering (15) • Her long hair “is given to her” by God • In verse 6, Paul said that it is a shame for a woman to have her hair shorn or shaven • Her long hair is her glory • The woman is a glory to man (v7) but her long hair is a glory to herself (v15) • A “covering” is a noun and means the object that does the “covering over”

We have no such custom... First Corinthians 11:16 • “But if anyone seems to be contentious [quarrelsome], we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.” (16) • The apostles or other churches did not have any such custom as that of women praying or prophesying without being covered • From verse 2, Paul reminded them to keep the ordinances which he had delivered to them earlier • This included the practice of the men being uncovered and the women being covered while praying or prophesying

End of lesson

First Corinthians “Solving Church Problems”