1 Corinthians 11:1-16

Head of Every Man

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1You are to imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

2Now I commend you for remembering me in everything and for maintaining the traditions, just as I passed them on to you.

3But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

4Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head.

5And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for it is just as if her head were shaved.

6If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off. And if it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head.

7A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man.

8For man did not come from woman, but woman from man.

9Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.

10For this reason a woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels.

11In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.

12For just as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.

13Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?

14Doesn’t nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him,

15but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering.

16If anyone is inclined to dispute this, we have no other practice, nor do the churches of God.

Berean Standard Bible

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Paul calls the Corinthians to imitate him as he imitates Christ, then commends them for holding to the teaching he passed on. He addresses how men and women honor God while praying and prophesying.

He begins with a relationship of headship: the head of every man is Christ, the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. His instructions about covered and uncovered heads belong to that argument. A man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head; a woman who does so uncovered dishonors hers. Paul compares the latter with the shame of having her hair cut or shaved off.

These are real instructions, not merely a request to follow whatever fashion is popular. Paul appeals to creation: woman came from man and was created for him. He also refers to the angels, though he does not explain that reference in detail. His concern reaches beyond what the Corinthians find convenient.

Then he guards against treating men as self-sufficient. In the Lord, neither woman nor man is independent of the other. Woman came from man, and men are born of women. Everything comes from God. Genesis also identifies both male and female as made in God's image; Paul's discussion does not remove that dignity from women.

Paul takes women's praying and prophesying seriously and addresses how it should be done. He closes by appealing to what is fitting and to the practice of the churches. Christians differ over the precise significance of the covering and how the instructions apply today. We should work through those questions carefully, keeping his stated reasons in view.

The passage calls for worship that honors God, receives His ordering and recognizes our dependence on one another. Neither dismissing its difficult words nor using them to humiliate people is a faithful response.

Questions

1 What relationships of headship does Paul name?

AnswerHe says the head of every man is Christ, the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

2 What instructions does he give about heads in prayer and prophecy?

AnswerMen should pray and prophesy with heads uncovered, and women with heads covered. Paul connects these instructions with honor, creation and the churches' practice.

3 How does Paul guard against one-sided independence?

AnswerIn the Lord, neither man nor woman is independent of the other. Woman came from man, men are born of women, and everything comes from God.

4 How should Christians approach the difficult details?

AnswerThey should take Paul's instructions and reasons seriously, study the passage carefully and avoid using disagreement about its application to demean others.

What This Means for Us

A difficult passage deserves more than a quick dismissal or a confident slogan. Read Paul's reasons alongside the creation accounts, and ask trusted church leaders to explain how your congregation understands and practices this teaching.

Listen carefully to someone whose practice differs from yours. You can hold a conviction while asking sincere questions and recognizing their desire to honor Christ. In worship, seek His honor rather than attention for yourself, and receive the contributions of men and women with the mutual care Paul describes.

Prayer

God our Creator, help us receive Your word with humility and care. Teach us to honor Christ in worship, understand difficult instructions faithfully and serve together without pride or contempt. Amen.

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