Hat-wearing (c)
Part 3 of 3
What is 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 about?
1st ordinance
Vs. 1 the apostle Paul’s authority comes from Christ
2nd ordinance
Vs. 2 keep the ordinances (meaning: A rule established by
authority) as delivered by him to the Church.
3rd ordinance
Vs. 3 Paul establishes the order between the head of
every man, the woman and of Christ
4th ordinance
Vs. 4 is about dishonor for every man’s head when “praying or
prophesying (teaching the Scriptures)”
5th ordinance
Vs. 5 is about dishonor for every woman’s head when “praying
or prophesying (teaching the Scriptures)”
Vs. 6 is about what is a shame for a women in regards to her
head
Vs. 7 is about what is the glory of God and what is the
glory of the man in regards to his head
Vs. 8 is about where the man comes from
Vs. 9 is about who was created for who
Vs. 10 is about how the woman has power “on her head
because of the angels.”
Vs. 11 is about not setting aside the man or the woman “in
the Lord”
Vs. 12 is about the order of creation
Vs. 13 is asking how is it comely (meaning: suitable form)
for a woman to pray
6th ordinance
Vs. 14 is asking what is a shame to a man
7th ordinance
Vs. 15 is about what is a glory for a woman
8th ordinance
Vs. 16 is about the church nor its members have the custom
to argue against its ordinances.
How Christians relate to these ordinances is a matter of honor
or dishonor and unfortunately, it challenges the understanding and
comprehension of the modern man and woman. Absence of an Inspired counsel from
the Spirit of Prophecy on this point on the subject of head covering during
worship should be a clear indication that this was common practice by all of Christ’s
disciples until about the 1930’s. In contrast with this well-known head-covering
subject the presence of counsel in the Spirit of Prophecy concerning which style
should compose the “reform dress” is a clear indication of its necessity, for it
is absent in the Bible.
Let’s consider what are all the elements present and
the ordinances that proceed from it:
1. Followers, Leaders, Christ.
2. The head (The hierarchal order among the parties
involved in these ordinances.)
3. Man, woman, angels, Christ, God.
3. What God approves when “praying or prophesying
(teaching the scriptures).”
4. The “head covered” and “uncovered” and “not covered”
5. dishonor
6. Shorn or shaving of the hair on the head
7. Shame
8. Glory
9. Power
10. No cause for disregarding the established hierarchy nor
the established ordinances (vs. 8-12)
11. “long hair”
12. Procedure, Judgment, comely (Suitable form), custom
13. The churches of God
I think when we take our time to identify all elements
concerned it becomes apparent that vs. 15 cannot grammatically nor logically be
in response to what is established by the 5th ordinance (in 1 Cor.
11:1-16) and the subject matter contained in vs. 6 as some allege. If we are
going to be consistent with what is written in vs. 14 the operative word in
common between vs. 14 and 15 is “shame” and the object of concern is “long
hair.” Let’s go over it together.
It is “a shame,” based on the implication of the 2nd
question found in verse 14, “if a man have long hair.” Vs. 15 “But if a woman have long hair, it is
[[not a shame but rather]] a glory to her: for [[because]] her hair is given her for a
covering.” Obviously, by the presence of the indefinite article “a”
grammatically means that there is more than one covering under discussion. The
first covering brought to our attention is not found in vs. 6 but rather in vs.
4. This “head” covering is something other than the natural hair. For if
vs. 15 part (c) is the rule in fact then logically men would have to use a wig
and remove it when “praying or prophesying (teaching the scriptures).”
Likewise, the
reason the first question is asked (vs. 13) is because of the establishment of
the 4th, and 5th ordinances as these relate not to “long
hair” but to the “head [being] covered” (vs. 4) or “uncovered” (vs. 5) or
“not covered” (vs. 6) as vs. 5, and vs 6 and vs. 4 relate to each other. Being
that is not the case nor what is meant, because no one will ever consistently
attempt to receive vs. 15 part (c) as “the” standard and apply it to vs. 4. No
one in their right mind would attest that there is only a single covering
involved in the presence of the indefinite article “a.” Therefore,
there is no escaping the conclusion, what is a glory to a woman in every
occasion is a shame for a man to possess the same in any occasion—“long hair.”
And what is not “comely” for a woman to do is an honor for the man to do
in a worship setting.
This conclusion is made positive by other texts. In 1 Cor. 11:4, 5, 13, the same apostle says: "Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head; for that is even all one as if she were shaven." "Judge in yourselves; is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?" {May 12, 1887 EJW, SITI 278.18}
In these verses, and the context, the apostle is giving directions for the proper conducting of public worship.—May 12, 1887 EJW, SITI 278.18, 19
From that time Paul was a truly converted man. God gave him a special work to do for the cause of Christianity. His instruction in his letters to the churches of his day is instruction for the church of God to the end of time (Letter 332, 1907).—6BC:1084.4
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