(Cont. from Page 788).

789.

(3)  "Every woman that prays or prophesies with her head uncovered shames her head, for it is one and the same as if she were a woman with a shaved head."  (1 Cor 11:5).  Just as a woman's shaved head is indicative of shameful conduct, so a woman's long hair is a glory to her, for it reveals that she acknowledges she is man's glory and not under the disgrace of having been shorn or shaved. Time or location does not alter this requirement of a true Christian woman.  (11:14,15).

Women must not be given special consideration outside the headship arrangement of God for having a greater knowledge of God's Word than some men. As to a woman's long hair, it is given her as a headdress (a glory to her). (11:14,15 NEB). Long hair is not of itself the outward sign of her obedience to the headship arrangement, but is simply an acknowledgment that she is man's glory. (11:7). Without a headcovering over her hair when praying or speaking of her faith "it is one and the same as if she were a woman with a shaved head."  That is to say, she is deemed to be the same as a woman in disgrace in a shaved or shorn condition.

Consequently, a Christian woman in a congregation today must wear a headcovering over her hair "in view of the angels" as "a symbol of her subjection" to the headship arrangement under the authority of The Christ. (11:10 Moffatt). It should be long enough to cover her hair whenever praying privately or relating the reasons for her faith. But she must not attempt to teach from the Word of God or speak at all in a congregation of God.  (See 1 Tim 2:11,12).

The shaving of a woman's head rather than shorning is a more severe measure, and is the result of persistent disobedience. Shorning gives a woman the outward appearance of a man and is a shameful sign of the measure and depth of her ongoing disobedience.  (11:6).


(3)

Why is a woman's long hair not of itself a sign of her
acknowledgement of the headship arrangement?

4/1/77.
 

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