2 I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions just as I handed them on to you. 3 But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the husband is the head of his wife, and God is the head of Christ. 4 Any man who prays or prophesies with something on his head disgraces his head, 5 but any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled disgraces her head—it is one and the same thing as having her head shaved. 6 For if a woman will not veil herself, then she should cut off her hair; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or to be shaved, she should wear a veil. 7 For a man ought not to have his head veiled, since he is the image and reflection of God; but woman is the reflection of man. 8 Indeed, man was not made from woman, but woman from man. 9 Neither was man created for the sake of woman, but woman for the sake of man. 10 For this reason a woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man or man independent of woman. 12 For just as woman came from man, so man comes through woman; but all things come from God. 13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head unveiled? 14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair, it is degrading to him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 But if anyone is disposed to be contentious—we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God. [NRSV for three other translations see (here)]
Most of us find this passage "uncomfortable," to say the least. We also find it difficult to accept the premise that it is the Word of God because it is so at odds with the example of Christ generally and the way he related to women in particular. So what do we do with it? It doesn't seem wise to just ignore it, because that cedes this portion of scripture to those who will use it to unjust ends. It also doesn't seem wise to dismiss it out of hand, because then we deprive ourselves of the opportunity to discern the relationship between the words of scripture and the Word of God, Christ.What Paul wanted his readers to understand was what he took to be the proper relationship of men and women as symbolized by what they should or should not wear on their heads. Men have power over women and, therefore, men should not cover their heads and women should. It is important to note the sources of his argument. First, it was clearly his own personal opinion. Second, it was evidently one of the traditions Paul handed on to the Corinthian church (11:2). Third, his views on gender relations were to him self-evident, and Paul called on his readers to observe that fact for themselves (11:13). Finally, he argued that his views on the relationships of men and women were natural (11:14). Paul does not cite scripture (the Old Testament) nor does he claim that he received these teachings "from the Lord," something he does claim for his views on the Lord's Supper (I Cor. 11:23ff). In sum, Paul's views on gender relations were to him personal, traditional, self-evident, and common sense.
The passage does contain a theological principle, which seems quite at odds with the rest of what he wrote. He wrote, "Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man or man independent of woman. For just as woman came from man, so man comes through woman; but all things come from God." (11:11-12) When speaking theologically, Paul emphasized not the differences between the sexes but their unity. He emphasized their equality, each dependent on the other, rather than the authority of men over women. He noted that they both come from God. This is where we discern the Word contained in the words. We can hardly blame Paul for his first century attitudes and prejudices, and we shouldn't be surprised or disturbed by the fact that they show up in his correspondence. At the same time, we are not constrained by his cultural conditioning. Our culture is discovering a very different set of attitudes and practices, ones that are closer to the person of Christ, who is for us the Word.
The Bible is authoritative in matters of faith for most Christians, but it does not trump Christ. He is the Word in the words. This is why we must read the Bible critically—to discern the Word in the words. Amen.
(For an earlier stab at some of these same ideas, see "Answering Dr. Mohler").
