This Folks is an interesting read and commentary on this ------it is quite enlightening and I think explains the Scripture on ! Corinthians 11 :1-16 -----in a way that is understandable ------
Worth the read -----Just posting short pieces of this scripture and commentary ---so read all for yourselves ---Worth the whole read ===
https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/1-corinthians-11/
A. Instruction concerning women in the worship service.
1. (1) A call to follow the example of Paul.
a.
Imitate me: Paul knew he followed Jesus, so he did not hesitate to tell the Corinthian Christians to
imitate his walk with the Lord. He knew the Corinthian Christians needed examples, and he was willing to be such an example.
i. Paul simply did what he told his young associate Timothy to do:
Be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity (
1 Timothy 4:12).
2. (2-3) The principle of headship.
i.
Head is an important word in this chapter. Some consider
head to mean nothing more than
source, in the sense that the
head of a river is its
source. Though this word can mean this, Paul is not simply saying, “Man came from Jesus, woman came from man, and Jesus came from God.” Though that simple understanding is true, it goes much deeper, because in Biblical thinking a
source has inherent authority. If something comes from me, there is some appropriate authority I have over it.
ii. In its full sense,
head has the idea of
headship and
authority. It means to have the appropriate responsibility to lead, and the matching accountability. It is right and appropriate to submit to someone who is our
head.
iii. With this understanding, we see Paul describes three “headship” relationships: Jesus is
head of every man; man is the
head of woman, and
God (the Father) is
head of Christ. Because Paul connects the three relationships, the principles of headship are the same among them.
i. The idea of headship and authority is important to God. In His great plan for the ages, one great thing God looks for from man is
voluntary submission. This is what Jesus showed in His life over and over again, and this is exactly what God looks for from
both men and women, though it will be expressed in different ways.
ii. It is essential to understand that
being under authority does not equal inferiority. Jesus was totally under the authority of God the Father (
John 5:19 and
8:28), yet He is equally God (
John 1:1,
8:58, and
10:30). When God calls women in the church to recognize the headship of men, it is not because women are unequal or inferior, but because there is a God-ordained order of authority to be respected.
3. (4-6) The application of the principle of headship among the Corinthian Christians.
.
His head covered… her head uncovered:
The idea of a
head covering was important in this (and many other) ancient cultures. To wear the head covering (or
veil in some translations), was a public symbol of being under the authority and protection of another.
.
Who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered:
For a woman to do this said by her actions “I am not under authority here.” And because God has established that
the head of woman is man (
1 Corinthians 11:3), it dishonors the men (
her head) for a woman to say this by refusing to wear a head covering.
i. Under these words of Paul, women are free to pray or prophesy, but only when as they demonstrate that they are under the authority of the
male leadership of the church.
Having a woman’s head shorn or shaved meant different things in different cultures. In Jewish law, it was the mark of adultery (Numbers 5:11-31). In the Greek world, it could be the mark of a prostitute or lesbian.
4. (7-10) Why is it important to respect the principle of headship in the church?
i. Since one reason for male headship is the order and manner in which God created man and woman – something which was present before the fall – this passage makes it clear that before and after the fall, God has ordained there be a difference in the roles between genders, even in the church. The fall did not cause the difference in gender roles (in the church and in the home), and the difference in roles is not erased by our new life in Jesus.
.
Because of the angels: A third reason God has established male headship in the church is the presence of
angels in corporate worship.
i. Angels are present at any assembly of Christians for worship and they note any departure from reverent order. Apparently, angels are offended by any violation of propriety.
. (11-12) Headship in light of the interdependence of men and women.
b.
For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman: Though Paul has recognized the order of creation, and related it to the principle of male headship in the church, he is also careful to remember
even so man also comes through woman. There is a critical interdependence that must be recognized, within the framework of male headship in the church and in the home.
i. “But on the other side, since the creation of the first man, all men are by the woman, who conceives them in her womb, suckles them at her breasts, is concerned in their education while children, and dandled upon her knees; the man therefore hath no reason to despise and too much to trample upon the woman.” (Poole)
6. (13-16) Appealing to experience, nature, common sense, and apostolic authority.
Does not even nature itself teach: In both Jewish and Greek cultures, short hair was common for men. Therefore it was
a dishonor for a man to wear long hair, because it was considered feminine.
i. From as long as we have known, women have generally worn their hair longer than men have. In some cultures and at some times, men have worn their hair longer than other times, but no matter how long men have worn their hair women in general have always worn their hair longer.
Based on this verse, many people have thought that it is a sin for a man to wear long hair, or at least hair that is considered long by the culture. But long hair in itself can be no sin; after all, Paul apparently had long hair for a time in Corinth as a part of a vow (
Acts 18:18). But, the vow would not have meant anything if long hair was the norm; that’s what Paul is getting at.
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