Im new here. I need some help regarding 1 Corinth 11:14

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John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,128
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You seem to think that your narrow experience is normative. It isn't. I've seen many pictures of Christians from that period... longer hair was normal on the men.
Every Christian from that period could have had long hair, but it doesn’t make it right. How about makeup and earrings? Dresses?
 

Randy4u2c

Active member
Sep 13, 2022
166
76
28
Ok...so im an 18 year old male. I converted to Christ two years ago so am still quite new to all this. So I don't know much in terms of general theological knowledge. With that being said, I need some help.

Ive always had super short hair, but my Girlfriend said I should grow it out, so I have been. It's currently at my shoulderblades, and I was going to go to mid back. I must admit my GF was right, I look the best I ever have. But then I read 1 Corinth 11:14. Where Paul says it's against God for a man to have long hair??? I know it's a sin for a man to look feminine, but I certainly don't. And long hair has nothing to do with that. So I'm confused.

Ive done research and I've found that nobody really knows. Some scholars say that it's fine and others say it's sinful. I don't have a pastor I can ask as I don't go to church yet (my parents are atheists) so I'm kinda stuck and just need help. Please. Someone!
The subject is much deeper than what is taught. The idea is that we must have power over our heads, which is Christ, for protection against evil. Do not overlook verse I Cor 11:10 where the woman must be covered to protect her from the ANGELS. This refers to Gen 6:1-4 when the sons of God, (fallen angels of Jude 6), came unto the daughters of men and took them as wives thus producing mixed children. This is what caused Noah's flood. In verse Gen 6:4 it mentions "ALSO AFTER THAT" meaning it will happen again in the future. This is why the woman must keep her head covered BECAUSE OF THE ANGELS that will come again in the end days, (Math 24:37-38). They are going to come looking for women to marry as before in the days of Noah.

Now understand that for a man to be covered with long hair at the time of their coming would be a shame, as it would mean they are looking to mix with the fallen angels which would be perverted. So the answer to your question is that it is okay to have long hair but understand what the scripture is referring to. Remember Jesus also had long hair and the head of Christ is God. Hope this helped. You and your girlfriend go in peace and keep the Lord as your head.
 
Oct 10, 2024
121
41
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17
USA, Indiana, Elkhart, Goshen.
Every Christian from that period could have had long hair, but it doesn’t make it right. How about makeup and earrings? Dresses?
Do you believe it's wrong to wear makeup, earrings dresses, etc? I can see the point you're trying to make when you say, "Every Christian from that period could have had long hair, but it doesn’t make it right.". But it also doesn't make it wrong either, does it? You may be thinking of the verse but what is very important is that Paul wasn't saying explicitly that it was wrong for men to wear long hair, for does it say in the Bible somewhere, "men shall not have your hair longer than [supposed amount, whatever that would be]"? No, it doesn't. I would strongly advise you and most people on here to read the whole chapter and understand what was the actual point Paul was trying to make.
 
Oct 10, 2024
121
41
28
17
USA, Indiana, Elkhart, Goshen.
The subject is much deeper than what is taught. The idea is that we must have power over our heads, which is Christ, for protection against evil. Do not overlook verse I Cor 11:10 where the woman must be covered to protect her from the ANGELS. This refers to Gen 6:1-4 when the sons of God, (fallen angels of Jude 6), came unto the daughters of men and took them as wives thus producing mixed children. This is what caused Noah's flood. In verse Gen 6:4 it mentions "ALSO AFTER THAT" meaning it will happen again in the future. This is why the woman must keep her head covered BECAUSE OF THE ANGELS that will come again in the end days, (Math 24:37-38). They are going to come looking for women to marry as before in the days of Noah.

Now understand that for a man to be covered with long hair at the time of their coming would be a shame, as it would mean they are looking to mix with the fallen angels which would be perverted. So the answer to your question is that it is okay to have long hair but understand what the scripture is referring to. Remember Jesus also had long hair and the head of Christ is God. Hope this helped. You and your girlfriend go in peace and keep the Lord as your head.
Finally! Someone actually understands that that wasn't Paul's main point here!
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,470
13,782
113
The question in my last post you responded to, which was, "Do you believe that Paul was making a 1st-century misunderstanding?".
Your wording is awkward. Paul wasn’t “making a 1st-century misunderstanding”; he wrote from a 1st-century perspective, which was apparently quite incorrect regarding biology.
 

Gideon300

Well-known member
Mar 18, 2021
5,343
3,147
113
Ok...so im an 18 year old male. I converted to Christ two years ago so am still quite new to all this. So I don't know much in terms of general theological knowledge. With that being said, I need some help.

Ive always had super short hair, but my Girlfriend said I should grow it out, so I have been. It's currently at my shoulderblades, and I was going to go to mid back. I must admit my GF was right, I look the best I ever have. But then I read 1 Corinth 11:14. Where Paul says it's against God for a man to have long hair??? I know it's a sin for a man to look feminine, but I certainly don't. And long hair has nothing to do with that. So I'm confused.

Ive done research and I've found that nobody really knows. Some scholars say that it's fine and others say it's sinful. I don't have a pastor I can ask as I don't go to church yet (my parents are atheists) so I'm kinda stuck and just need help. Please. Someone!
I dislike really short hair. Some hairstyles look ridiculous. However, God required Samson never to cut his hair. On the other hand, Absalom grew his hair out of rebellion.

Generally speaking, really long hair is not masculine. What length is appropriate for you is between you and God.
 

Everlasting-Grace

Well-known member
Dec 18, 2021
5,938
1,872
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one must remember historical context. In the church Paul spoke too. The pagan community had alot of "gay" or Homosexual men, they even had male prostitutes looking for other men. they would advertise by having long hair. Imagine pauls horror when he saw all these men coming into church with Long hair. knowing the community would see this church as being full of male prostitutes.
 

Mem

Senior Member
Sep 23, 2014
7,159
2,174
113
one must remember historical context. In the church Paul spoke too. The pagan community had alot of "gay" or Homosexual men, they even had male prostitutes looking for other men. they would advertise by having long hair. Imagine pauls horror when he saw all these men coming into church with Long hair. knowing the community would see this church as being full of male prostitutes.
In that sense, I think of the song inspired by Ezekiel 37, Dem Bones, "the shoulder bone is connected to the neckbone, and the neckbone is connected to the headbone..." and this explanation makes sense in a case such as a headbone attempting to pass itself off as a neckbone.
 

JohnDB

Well-known member
Jan 16, 2021
6,214
2,522
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Not in the body of Christ…
Even in the body of Christ. Just because the preachers on television didn't wear such hairstyles didn't mean a thing.

God isn't going to exclude people based on their hair length.

Some women get alopecia. Meaning they can't grow hair. That's not going to exclude them from heaven.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,128
3,689
113
God isn't going to exclude people based on their hair length.
I would never suggest such a thing. God will not exclude anyone who has chosen Christ as their Savior. We're talking about Christian living principles and how one presents themselves is part of it. Ultimately, it's a heart issue. Is a man wearing long hair because he has searched the scriptures and is not convicted, or does a man have long hair because he's trying to fit into the world's standard.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,470
13,782
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I would never suggest such a thing. God will not exclude anyone who has chosen Christ as their Savior. We're talking about Christian living principles and how one presents themselves is part of it. Ultimately, it's a heart issue. Is a man wearing long hair because he has searched the scriptures and is not convicted, or does a man have long hair because he's trying to fit into the world's standard.
Or neither, and he simply hasn’t had a haircut recently. Your false dichotomy is silly.
 
Oct 10, 2024
121
41
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17
USA, Indiana, Elkhart, Goshen.
Or neither, and he simply hasn’t had a haircut recently. Your false dichotomy is silly.
Well, it's possible for the man to have not cut his hair recently and also read the scriptures at the same time. But it's still a heart issue though, on whether or not he is convicted of it because if he does feel like it's wrong, he's being convicted by the Holy Spirit for nothing in our own nature would think we shouldn't do this.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,470
13,782
113
Well, it's possible for the man to have not cut his hair recently and also read the scriptures at the same time.
You’re sidestepping the issue on behalf of another person. Don’t interfere.

But it's still a heart issue though, on whether or not he is convicted of it because if he does feel like it's wrong, he's being convicted by the Holy Spirit for nothing in our own nature would think we shouldn't do this.
Does the man feel shame for having long hair BEFORE he reads the verse in question? That is the key question. If he does not, then “nature” does not teach him as Paul claims. What he feels AFTER reading the verse is in response to the verse, not to “nature”.

I suspect that some people won’t understand the nuance.
 

daisyseesthesun

Well-known member
Aug 23, 2024
657
382
63
Long hair has always been associated with feminity.

Even if are culture normalizes it today Men with long hair it will never be normal.

The only culture I can think of that men had long hair was are American Indians, the mongolians, and Chinese that eventually lead to the song dynesty were it was normal for men to wear flowers in their hair.
 
Oct 10, 2024
121
41
28
17
USA, Indiana, Elkhart, Goshen.
You’re sidestepping the issue on behalf of another person. Don’t interfere.


Does the man feel shame for having long hair BEFORE he reads the verse in question? That is the key question. If he does not, then “nature” does not teach him as Paul claims. What he feels AFTER reading the verse is in response to the verse, not to “nature”.

I suspect that some people won’t understand the nuance.
So then if your first suggestion is true, then Paul made a false claim. Still, if the man has long hair and doesn't feel shame before reading scripture, that doesn't mean that's not what nature supposedly teaches. Like a homosexual couple could say that they don't feel ashamed to have a same sex relationship but most people would agree that "nature" teaches against such a relationship, wouldn't they? I'll continue to pray as I have been that God will guide you into all truth in His Spirit which convicts us of our sin. Praise the Lord for you, for He created you to glorify Himself as He created all of us! God bless you sir!
 
Oct 10, 2024
121
41
28
17
USA, Indiana, Elkhart, Goshen.
Long hair has always been associated with feminity.

Even if are culture normalizes it today Men with long hair it will never be normal.

The only culture I can think of that men had long hair was are American Indians, the mongolians, and Chinese that eventually lead to the song dynesty were it was normal for men to wear flowers in their hair.
My question to you then is this: does the Bible say it's not normal? I'm not either advocating or vise versa for men to have long hair. Like I've said before in one of my posts you liked, "But it's still a heart issue though, on whether or not he is convicted of it because if he does feel like it's wrong, he's being convicted by the Holy Spirit for nothing in our own nature would think we shouldn't do this. ". But will the Holy Spirit convict him? That's the question. I think we should base everything we say on God's truthful completely trustworthy Word. Here's also another tough question: shall we hate Satan? I not, then shall we love him? I'm starting to wonder if the Holy Spirit convicts certain people of certain topics because God might want one person to do one thing but then another person not to do another. I'm not sure of this but I'll look to the Word of God to try and find an answer.
 

timemeddler

Active member
Jul 13, 2023
449
201
43
Ok...so im an 18 year old male. I converted to Christ two years ago so am still quite new to all this. So I don't know much in terms of general theological knowledge. With that being said, I need some help.

Ive always had super short hair, but my Girlfriend said I should grow it out, so I have been. It's currently at my shoulderblades, and I was going to go to mid back. I must admit my GF was right, I look the best I ever have. But then I read 1 Corinth 11:14. Where Paul says it's against God for a man to have long hair??? I know it's a sin for a man to look feminine, but I certainly don't. And long hair has nothing to do with that. So I'm confused.

Ive done research and I've found that nobody really knows. Some scholars say that it's fine and others say it's sinful. I don't have a pastor I can ask as I don't go to church yet (my parents are atheists) so I'm kinda stuck and just need help. Please. Someone!
ask Sampson, the best theory I've found is that by "long" he means not fussed and done up like how women might do. I haven't studied this much, but it might have been a local cultural thing since Corinth isn't Israel.