20/06/2020
WHAT ABOUT THE VEIL?
It is common usage for women to appear in public assemblies and join in public worship veiled, and it was manifestly descent that they should do so. However, there are contentions from those who would disagree with this. Let us take a critical look at this issue.
1 Corinthians 11:13 -16
[Judge in yourselves] Don’t get it wrong, Paul in verse 13 is appealing to your natural sense of what is proper and right. Paul had used various arguments to show the people of his time why it is improper for their females to speak without veil in public. Now, He is appealing to their natural sense of what was decent and right, according to established and acknowledged customs and habits.
[Is it comely ...] Now, he presents it as a question, “Is it decent, or becoming?” In his time, The Grecian women were accustomed to appear in public with a veil and Paul alludes to that established and proper habit, and he is asking whether it does align with their own views that it is proper that women in Christian assemblies should also wear the same veil as a symbol of modesty.
1 Corinthians 11:14
[Doth not even nature itself] The word Nature used here denotes evidently that sense of what is proper which all men have, and which is expressed in any prevailing or universal custom. that which is universal we say is according to nature. (The way people are known to act). It is such as is demanded by the natural sense of fitness among people. Thus, we may say that nature demands that the s*xes (Male and Female) should wear different kinds of dress.
In that light, Paul tries to establish why the woman should wear long hair hand the man should not. The custom prevails extensively everywhere, and nature, in all nations, has prompted to the same course.
Among the Hebrews, it was regarded as disgraceful to a man to wear his hair long, except he had a vow as a Nazarite,( Num 6:1-5; Judg 13:5; 16:17; 1 Sam 1:1). Occasionally, in rare instances, the hair was left to grow, as it was in the case with Absalom (2 Sam 14:26); but the traditional law of the Jews on the subject was strict. The same rule existed among the Greeks; and it was regarded as disgraceful for a man to wear long hair.
[It is a shame unto him?] It is improper and disgraceful. It is doing what almost universal custom has said appropriately belongs to the female s*x.
NOW, HERE IS THE CORE OF THE MATTER, WHERE MANY CHRISTIANS ARE GETTING IT WRONG.
1 Corinthians 11:15
“But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering”.
To have a clear and correct interpretation of what Paul said in 1 Cor. 11 verse 15, you must keep you mind on what Paul said in verse 14. Verse 15 cannot be interpreted in isolation because it is Paul’s conclusion of what he said in verse 14.
What was Paul saying in verse 15?
[It is a glory unto her] Paul is simply stating (In comparison) the difference between a man and a woman in terms of their hair. Paul is saying, the hair of a woman is a sort of ornament, and adorning for her. The same instinctive promptings of nature which make it proper for a man to wear short hair make it proper that the woman should allow hers to grow long. THAT STAEMENT DOES NOT SAY THAT IT IS PROPER OR ACCEPTABLE FOR A WOMAN TO SPEAK OR WORSHIP IN THE PUBLIC WITH HER HAIR UNCOVERED.
[For a covering] It is very important to note that what Paul said here is kind of metaphorical." Her hair is given to her as a sort of natural veil, and that is to indicate how proper her wearing a veil is. Paul refers to the woman hair as resembling the Veil she is expected to wear when it is allowed to grow long, and to spread over the shoulders and parts of the face unlike that of men. Nature and the Apostle Paul speak the same language; we may account for it as we please.
NOW, HERE THE CONCLUSION OF THE WHOLE MATTER. APOSTLE PAUL HERE CLEARLY ALIGNS WITH WHAT NATURE SAYS. WHAT DOES NATURE SAY? NATURE SAYS IT IS PROPER FOR A WOMAN TO HAVE HER HEAD COVERED WITH A VEIL JUST AS NATURE HAS SHOWN THROUGH THE LONG HAIR ON HER HEAD.
However, many Female Christians and non Christians today are in contention with this scriptural instruction. Out of misconception many Female Christian appear in public and religious meetings with their head uncovered.
What was Apostle Paul’s response to this? He said “If anyone has any argument or contention with women covering their hair with Cloth or veil in public meetings. He announces to everyone that as far as covering of the head in worship by Female is concern, neither he nor the Church of God recognize any other custom than what nature prescribes.
If truly anyone have contention with women covering the head, maybe that person need to read what the Bible says in 1 Cor 11:3-6.
"But there is one thing I want you to know: The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4 A man dishonors his head if he covers his head while praying or prophesying. 5 But a woman dishonors her head if she prays or prophesies without a covering on her head, for this is the same as shaving her head. 6 Yes, if she refuses to wear a head covering, she should cut off all her hair! But since it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or her head shaved, she should wear a covering."
Does that settle the argument? I will suggest that he that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the Churches.
