Am I Violating 1 Corinthians 11?

Question: I wear a hair system for male pattern baldness. Am I violating 1 Corinthians 11?

Answer: The concept of head coverings has been controversial for Christians since the first century. Paul’s brief discussion on this topic in 1 Corinthians 11 has been at the center of the debate. The words in this chapter have caused some myths and other bad theological positions to be formed from misunderstanding and misapplication of Paul’s teaching. In fact, the text, coupled with some knowledge of the historical context of the Corinthian culture at that time, will show that Paul was addressing a very specific situation, and that it was in no way meant to be a universal dictum.

First, we must understand the basics of what Paul is telling the Corinthian believers in 1 Corinthians 11 about actions during public, communal worship:

But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head (1 Cor. 11:3-5).^[1]

By tracing the line of thought in verses 3-5 the following can be seen: 1) a woman who uncovers her head dishonors her husband 2) a man who covers his head dishonors Christ 3) these actions by both men and women dishonor God the Father.

Now, Paul does use an analogy to hair, specifically its length, indicating that it is shameful for men to have long hair (v. 14), but that short hair for women is shameful (v. 6); although Paul also emphasizes that it is honorable for women to have long hair (v. 15). According to Paul, it is “nature” that teaches this concept. So, Paul seems to be using this analogy to emphasize the natural order of “headship” and the need to honor God, during worship, through this order.

Paul’s connection between headship and hair in relation to head coverings becomes clearer when looking at the cultural context of the day. For instance, during the time of the Roman Empire, it was common for men to put part of their toga over their head during the worship of their pagan gods; and as for women, a shaved head was a sign of disgrace because a common punishment for adulterers was a public head shaving.^[2] Both of these signs, head coverings for men and no head coverings for women, were viewed as shameful to Christians, and therefore, not acceptable in worship.

Since the idea of head coverings is somewhat foreign to many of us today, it might seem difficult to figure out how to best apply the truths presented in 1 Corinthians 11. However, it should be clear after reading and examining the chapter that Paul was not referring to physical coverings during everyday life, such as hats, hair systems or toupees, or even hair décor such as headbands.

The most important thing to remember about this passage is not the head coverings, but rather the honoring of authority. For women, it is their husbands, for men it is Christ; and since the authority for Christ is God the Father, both men and women submit to the authority of the Father and the Son. Paul makes this clear when he writes, “Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God” (vv. 11-12).

---

^[1] Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is taken from The Holy Bible: The New King James Version. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1982).

^[2] Richard L. Pratt, Jr., I & II Corinthians, Vol. 7., Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 182-183.