Head Covering

(email exchange with Zane Hodges, 2006)

| Hi Zane, Here is a brief question: In many churches throughout the world they advocate a head-covering for women to be worn during the worship service. [This is usually based on 1 Cor. 11:1-16.]. Is this a Biblical concept?*

Thanks for your help - and have a great weekend. Bill |

Hi Bill,

It's a mistake, I think. Women are not allowed to speak in the church meeting (1 Cor. 14:34-35) which they would need to do to pray (audibly) or prophesy. Thus 11:2-16 refers to situations OUTSIDE the church meeting, as is confirmed by vss. 17-18 where consideration of the meeting begins.

Have a good week,

Zane

Hi Zane,

Here is a brief question concerning the role of women outside the local church:

• Do you feel that it is a violation of Scripture for women to pray or speak before Christian groups outside the local church?

For example, in our faculty-staff prayer breakfast, women normally pray and occasionally speak to the group [though the breakfast is under the leadership of men]. This does not seem to violate 1 Cor. 11:1-16 [but, of course, women are not permitted to speak in the Assembly (1 Cor. 14:34)].

Thanks for your insight on this.

Bill

Hi Bill,

No problem outside the church meeting although if they pray 1 Cor. 11 says they should be covered.  Years ago Betty Elliott spoke in the DTS chapel uncovered (fine, it wasn't a church!) and when she concluded she called on Dr. Walvoord to pray (very fine!).

Zane

Zane,

Here is a brief follow-up question to this discussion.

Let's suppose a man is having devotions with his wife and family. Would it be in violation of 1 Cor. 11:5 for the wife [or maybe one of the daughters] to pray with an uncovered head?

Bill 

Bill,

I don't know and would leave that to the conscience of the woman. 1 Cor. 11 presumes ( I think) a public situation since the praying is coupled with prophesying.

Take care,

Zanel

Thanks, Zane.

That is helpful.

I have one more additional question concerning this:

• Is prophesying (in the context of 1 Cor. 11:1-17) refer to "proclaiming an inspired revelation" [as opposed to preaching or speaking God's word]?

I know that some Bible teachers [such as Earl Radmacher] use verses like Rom. 12:6 to suggest that prophecy is also a "speaking forth" of God word. That is, in some contexts they suggest that prophecy = preaching. I tend to feel that prophecy refers to the gift of "interpreting the divine will or purpose" and is no longer available today. [1 Cor. 13:8-10 may suggest this.]

Thanks for your help on this. And I continue to pray for you and the ministry of Kerugma.

Bill 

Bill,

I agree with you.

Zane