1 Corinthians 11:15

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

A few rapid fire questions for now. Be back later to elucidate.
So then what is the covering? is it hair?, a veil?, the husband?

Paul is instructing Christian women to wear a headcovering when they pray or prophesy, and Christian men to not wear a headcovering when doing the same.

What about unmarried women? widows? etc? How are they covered in the divine order of things?

Unmarried women can certainly wear a headcovering.

What about the nazarite vow for women in the ot? She shaved her hair. Then women not cutting hair cannot be universal.

Years ago, either here, or on nFCF, or on FCF, we had an interesting discussion about this. Brother Bassett and I were discussing the Nazarites in particular and it's relation to Paul's statement that if a man have long hair it is a shame to him. I have no idea where that discussion is located, but it was very enlightening, imo. By having uncut hair, a Nazarite became a 'gazing stock' so to say. Similarly to when people wore sackcloth and ashes, it was out of the ordinary. By taking a Nazarite vow, a man devoted himself to God and became an 'aberration' of sorts compared to the surrounding society, thus picturing that being devoted to God meant being out of the ordinary, an outcast of sorts. I really wish I knew where that discussion was, it delved into Bible, history, culture, etc.

What would be wrong if these verses were about "customs"? Would God allow something for some and not for others based on customs?

1Co_11:16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

Paul gave a teaching and an instruction about the proper way to do something. If anybody wanted to contend against his instruction, he had a final appeal, that neither him and his ministry team, nor any of the churches of God, had any such custom as would be contended for by the contentious one in opposition to Paul's teaching.

Jesus regularly opposed those who taught as doctrine the traditions and commandments of men. The apostolic churches followed Christ and His apostles. Christ led his apostles to teach, and their teachings were indeed the teachings of God. They laid down 'ordinances' or traditions that were to be followed, and which were independent of 'cultural customs' of the day, and which had the seal of God's approval. The Pharisees had their own traditions, but those traditions usually led people into ways to violate the written commandments of God. There is a Pharisaic halachah, and there is the halachah of Christ, delivered by his apostles.

Paul's instructions regarding headcovering during prayer and worship were contrary to the culture of the day. Among the Gentiles, some men and women both practiced covering, whereas some practiced uncovered prayer and worship. And some practiced a divided custom, where men and women had opposite practices (usually men being covered and women being uncovered). Jewish women were covered at all times anyway, and usually would not be allowed to offer prayer or to prophesy (sing?) in the synagogue. So again, Paul's teachings were contrary to EVERYBODY'S 'cultural customs'.

The church has it's own customs, it's own culture, that is often completely independent of any secular custom or culture of the day (or any day, for that matter).

1Co_11:2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.


2Th_3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

There is such a thing as apostolic tradition, handed down by the apostles, recorded in the New Testament, that the churches of God are expected to follow.