Should Women Still Wear Head Coverings? Rethinking Paul’s Words
When most readers come to 1 Corinthians 11, they immediately trip over the question of head coverings . Do men have to uncover? Do women have to cover? Is Paul laying down eternal dress codes? It's, however, important to slow down and ask a deeper question: What was Paul really saying about worship, men, women, and God’s glory? The Word “Head” (Kephalē) In verse 3, Paul sets up the framework: “The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.” The “head” here is best understood as source/origin , not “boss” or “authority over.” Christ is the source of man (creation through the Logos). Man is the source of woman (Eve taken from Adam’s side). God is the source of Christ (in His eternal mission and incarnation). Paul is grounding the discussion in Genesis and creation order, not in social hierarchy. Worship and Glory The real theme is glory in worship. Paul writes that man is the “image and glory of God,” while woman is the “glory of man” (vv. ...
