Head Covering or Hair as Covering – for Prayer and Prophecy

Head Covering in First Christianity – Context

Question – Accusation

Someone wrote:

“… 1. Romans 16:16 “Greet one another with an holy kiss”. 2. I Corinthians 16:20 “Greet ye one another with an holy kiss”.3. II Corinthians 12:12 “Greet one another with an holy kiss”.4. I Thessalonians 5:26 “Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss”.5. I Peter 5:14 “Greet one another with a kiss of charity”.👆as u cn c here, we x greet everyone with holy kiss in our chch nwdys..y? It depends on our culture! It is also written in the bible, itz in New Testament, biblical n den y r we x flwin dis truth..??? As Indian, can we simply allow anyone to cm n kiss us..??? Noooo..why? Agn itz our culture… 1Corinthians11 Paul is speaking to the church in Corinthians and addressing the misconduct of their women. Situation: Women no longer wore their veils in public gathering. Definition of veil in Jewish culture back then: Subjection to their husbands. Hence Paul explains the hierarchy. However though there is hierarchy between man and women, Paul reminds that both were made for mutual help and comfort. Hence, when women took off their veil it meant that they disrespect their husband and speaking about God while being in that manner and attitude will not portray Christ to the people around, in positive way. It’s considered indecent back then. Angel: Angels were emphasized here to highlight the importance of decency as there will be ministering angels when we worship. Point to be noted: This took place at a time when their perspective of moral decency was different and the Church didn’t expand across culture…”

Reply

1. Firstly, dear Christian Brethren, if any one of you had to leave any relationship because your girlfriend didn’t want to obey these Verses, I salute you for you have Chosen Christ over such Women who lead you astray from the Word of God.

2. The Problem with the “Culture argument” presented in the entire paragraph above is that “no Church leader from First Christianity” ever quoted against the Obedience set forth in these Verses in that manner. So, are you really getting the argument above from God?

3. Regarding Jewish Culture, apostle Paul is quoting obedience of these parts toward Gentile believers (and so it’s not about different cultures, different rules in Church gatherings) but that whether Jew or Gentile, these ‘same rules apply’.

4. The Holy Kiss was never practiced between genders.

To quote:

“… The kiss of peace is an ancient traditional Christian greeting, sometimes also called the “holy kiss”, “brother kiss” (among men), or “sister kiss” (among women). …”

Source:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiss_of_peace

So there is no proof from earliest Christianity that the Verses your opponent quoted to ever refer to kissing Between men and women (opposite genders) making his argument on assumption of culture is based on a non-existent claim. If he/she wants to prove it, please ask them to quote church fathers or church history and not simply mock the Word of God by stating it as culture or assuming their own disgusting meanings to it just so that they can find a reason to disobey another verse. If don’t want to obey, don’t do it but don’t twist the Word of God.

5. Context that these Verses apply for Christian Women to wear a Veil when they attend Church or Pray & not necessarily when they are outside, to quote:

“…Going to Church. Woman and man are to go to church decently attired, with natural step embracing silence, possessing unfeigned love, pure in body, pure in heart, fit to pray to God. Let the woman observe this, further. Let her be entirely covered, unless she happen to be at home. For that style of dress is grave, and protects from being gazed at. And she will never fall, who puts before her eyes modesty, and her shawl; nor will she invite another to fall into sin by uncovering her face. For this is the wish of the Word, since it is becoming for her to pray veiled. They say that the wife of AEneas, through excess of propriety, did not, even in her terror at the capture of Troy, uncover herself; but, though fleeing from the conflagration, remained veiled…” – Blessed St. Clement of Alexandria (c. 150 AD – c. 215 AD, Paedagous or Instructor, Book III, CHAP. XI.–A COMPENDIOUS VIEW OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE)

Source:

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/clement-instructor-book3.html

6. A Simple Logic in Research based arguments: Only by quoting actual Church Leaders in First Christianity can they claim to know why a Verse is Written and not by simply claiming some Modern researchers. If they cannot quote any Early Church Leader who argued the same way as them, it’s certainly false and a modern “assumptions based argument” which did not exist in Church history is certainly false. Showing contemporary cultural reasons at that time means nothing as God is no Respecter of persons being Impartial and hence if the Corinthian Gentile women had to obey it, so do your women. Even till today Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox women & some Protestant women obey it likewise from ancient times. May God Honour them accordingly for Honoring His Word!

7. Even if your prayers are answered when you prayed without wearing a veil for a woman or when a man has long hair or had his head covered as a Christian, it just goes to show how amazingly Good God is. You may get your rewards for the parts where you obey rightly but you won’t get the reward for disobeying these Verses as God is Perfectly Fair to all (Matthew 5:19).

8. In one of the Earliest Commentary on the Book of Revelation by St. Victorinus, he mentions clearly regarding women being Veiled during prayer (so it’s ‘heaven or angel sensitive in this Context hence it’s applicable to All Christian women’) to quote:

“… After them, now the churches are strengthened by faith, having been given the comfort of interpreting the writings of the prophets; which interpreters he called prophets. For the Apostle says: And He also placed in the Church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers and the rest. And in another place he says: Two or three prophets speak, and let others evaluate,c and he says: Every woman praying or prophesying without a veiled head defiles her head…” – St. Victorinus (2nd Half of the 3rd Century)

Source:

http://www.bombaxo.com/patristic-stuff/victorinus-in-apocalypsin/

If the command for head covering during prayer is Book of Revelation sensitive as St. Victorinus wrote above, I would take it even more seriously. Here’s his commentary from that same source in a fuller explanation:

“… He says he is an angel, that is, a messenger of the Father Almighty; for He is called a messenger of great counsel.aTo call out in a great voice: the great voice is of heaven; to announce to men the words of the Almighty God, because after the closing of repentance, there will be no hope afterward. 2 Seven thunders spokes in their voices: the Spirit of sevenfold power (Who) has testified through the prophets all that will be, has by His voice given witness in the world. But because it says he was to be writing what was said by the thunders, that is, whatever was obscurely predicted in the Old Testament, he is prohibited to write, but (is told) to leave and to seal (them). Because he was an apostle, it was not proper to confer the grace of the following degree on a man of the first, because now is the proper time. For the apostles, by powers, by signs, by warnings, by great works, have conquered unbelief. After them, now the churches are strengthened by faith, having been given the comfort of interpreting the writings of the prophets; which interpreters he called prophets. For the Apostle says: And He also placed in the Church first apostles, second prophets, third teachersb and the rest. And in another place he says: Two or three prophets speak, and let others evaluate,c and he says: Every woman praying or prophesying without a veiled head defiles her head.d For when he says: Two or three prophets speak, and let others evaluate, he does not speak of general prophecy, unheard and unknown but now predicted; but let them evaluate whether the interpretation agrees with the witness of the prophetic saying. Therefore, this was certain not to have been necessary for John, armed with superior strength; with the Church being the Body of Christ, adorned with His members, it must answer in His place…” – St. Victorinus (2nd Half of the 3rd Century)

9. The Irrefutable Context Part

Warning: In short, please keep your dirty mouths who teach against these Verses to be guarded as the Greatest Leaders in First Christianity itself may rise up to condemn you all on that Great Day.

All the Earliest and Most Authoritative Church Leaders in First Christianity understood this Command for Head Covering for Women during Prayer as the Command of God and that it may not be a small sin & that it’s certainly not ‘culture’, to quote:

“… Christian head covering and the Christian hair covering was unanimously practiced by the women of the Early Church. This was attested by multiple writers throughout the first centuries of Christianity. Clement of Alexandria (150–215), an early theologian, wrote, “Woman and man are to go to church decently attired…for this is the wish of the Word, since it is becoming for her to pray veiled.”[7] Clement of Alexandria (c. 150 – c. 215) writes about Christian hair covering and Christian face covering, “It has also been commanded that the head should be veiled and the face covered, for it is a wicked thing for beauty to be a snare to men. Nor is it appropriate for a woman to desire to make herself conspicuous by using a purple veil.” The early Christian writer Tertullian (150–220) explains that in his day, the Corinthian church was still practicing head covering. This is only 150 years after the Apostle Paul wrote 1 Corinthians. He said, “So, too, did the Corinthians themselves understand [Paul]. In fact, at this day the Corinthians do veil their virgins. What the apostles taught, their disciples approve.”[8] Another theologian, Hippolytus of Rome (170–236) while giving instructions for church gatherings said “…let all the women have their heads covered with an opaque cloth…”[9] “Early church history bears witness that in Rome, Antioch, and Africa the custom [of wearing the head covering] became the norm [for the Church].”[10] Origen of Alexandria (c. 184 – c. 253) wrote, “There are angels in the midst of our assembly…we have here a twofold Church, one of men, the other of angels…And since there are angels present… women, when they pray, are ordered to have a covering upon their heads because of those angels. They assist the saints and rejoice in the Church.” Later, in the 4th century, the church leader John Chrysostom (347–407) stated, “…the business of whether to cover one’s head was legislated by nature (see 1 Cor 11:14–15). When I say “nature,” I mean “God.” For he is the one who created nature. Take note, therefore, what great harm comes from overturning these boundaries! And don’t tell me that this is a small sin.”[11] Jerome (347–420) noted that the hair cap and the prayer veil is worn by Christian women in Egypt and Syria: “do not go about with heads uncovered in defiance of the apostle’s command, for they wear a close-fitting cap and a veil.”[12] Augustine of Hippo (354–430) writes about the hair covering, “It is not becoming, even in married women, to uncover their hair, since the apostle commands women to keep their heads covered.”…”

Source:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_headcovering

10. All Protestant Founders also Agreed (So, they didn’t protest against these Verses either)

To quote:

“… Martin Luther, the Protestant Reformer, encouraged wives to wear a veil in public worship.[41] The General Rubrics of the Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America, as contained in “The Lutheran Liturgy”, state in a section titled “Headgear for Women”: “It is laudable custom, based upon a Scriptural injunction (1 Cor. 11:3-15), for women to wear an appropriate head covering in Church, especially at the time of divine service.”[27] . John Calvin, the founder of the Reformed Churches and John Knox, the founder of the Presbyterian Church, both called for women to wear head coverings in public worship.[29][30][31] John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, held that women, “especially in a religious assembly”, should “keep on her veil”…”

Source:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_headcovering

Conclusion

If I am excluded from Church and Mocked by your women to be false teacher for preaching this Biblical Truth, then aren’t you condemning all these Best most Authoritative First Christianity leaders likewise?

I prefer them over the “teaching of your women”. I see it like this: the earliest Church Leaders (e. g. the ones I quoted above are the “Ferari’s of Faith” – ‘the rarest faiths’). The multitude of converts like you and I are just “kancils of faith” (using the analogy a cheap car to illustrate how pointless our opinions are when we Speak AGAINST BIBLE VERSES and with NO CHURCH HISTORY PROOF QUOTES). Sorry I had to be a little harsh so that those who can obey may NOT be mislead in Lord Jesus Christ’s Holy Grace, Amen.

Yes, every little command matters if we wish to grow further, to quote:

“Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” – Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:19, NKJV)

I know that there are plenty of Christians and Churches which still practice these (actually this makes the majority count if we include Roman-Catholics and Eastern Orthodoxy) and so a Salute to them for Obeying God’s Word “as it is Written”.

Peace to you

Claim: The Women’s hair is enough as covering for the head during prayer and prophecy.

Reply:

That claim is false and is unbiblical. A woman only needs to wear a covering on her head during prayer and prophecy (no need to wear a covering ‘all the time’).

A man CANNOT have any covering on his head during prayer and prophecy.

Verses:

“Every man who has something on his head while praying or prophesying disgraces his head.

But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying disgraces her head, for she is one and the same as the woman whose head is shaved.

For if a woman does not cover her head, let her also have her hair cut off; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, let her cover her head.

For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man.” (1 Corinthians 11:4 -7, NASB)

1) First Point – Proving the Claim Biblically Part

The “Covering” referred to for woman (Verse 5 and 6) vs NOT for man (Verse 4 and 7, Consecutive Verses) is the SAME.

So, if the former covering for woman refers to “hair” (in Verse 5 and 6), then the later covering for man must refer to “HAIR” as well (in Verse 4 and 7) as the Context of Consecutive Verses Prove irrefutably.

So, if this is true (as some err and claim it), then men cannot have hair at all on their heads as a covering during prayer. A contradiction!

So, the Covering referred to for woman during prayer and prophecy (Verse 5 and 6) must refer to a shawl (for example) and men CANNOT have any similar covering on their heads either (Verse 4 and 7). Simple exegesis with no snake like manipulations of any kind.

The hair given as a covering for the “head” (not for prayer) by Nature (1 Corinthians 11:15) is analogically compared as just as important as the head covering for prayer.

Yes, apostle Paul is mentioning that if “hair for covering on the head is important as per nature, for women” (1 Corinthians 11:15) so must the “covering (shawl or equivalent) for prayer & prophecy” be VERY IMPORTANT (1 Corinthians 11:13)

Similarly likewise, just as men must not have long hair per nature (1 Corinthians 11:14), he should not have any covering on his head during prayer or prophecy too (1 Corinthians 11:4).

A simple Conclusion follows next where apostle Paul mentions that such rules are only OBEYED by the CHURCHES of GOD instead of ‘being contentious’ (e. g. ‘disobeying, challenging this Scriptural Rule and questioning it’) as it is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 11:16.

Verses:

“Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?

Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him,

but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her for a covering.

But if one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God” (1 Corinthians 11:13 – 16, NASB)

(ii) Second Point – The Irrefutable Part

If any still “dare” to claim otherwise AGAINST these Verses, let’s see if their ‘claim’ that ‘God told them so’ stands the following test of fire to ‘put their foot where their mouth is’:

“If your claim that the Covering for woman is hair and not a shawl or equivalent during prayer or prophecy, then if on Judgment Day God says otherwise, you and your denomination which teaches this false teaching must go into the Lake of Fire, agreed’?

Why are you so afraid since you said that ‘God told you not to wear any shawl or covering on the head during prayer or prophesying for women since time has changed, right?’

If so, why are you so “afraid” to ‘stand up for what God told you’?

Likewise, I will judge myself in that if hair was sufficient for a woman’s covering during prayer and prophecy, let me be the false teacher in the Lake of Fire instead as one who teaches that it’s NOT sufficient but an external covering (a shawl or equivalent) is required!

My Judgment will hold if you agree to it as well to judge you likewise for your claim.

One of the claim here is false and before rushing on your ego, please read carefully and realize which CLAIM is actually WRITTEN in the QUOTED VERSES before speaking any ‘rash words’ and bringing Judgment upon yourself on that Day.

Indeed, “obedience to the Voice of the LORD is better than sacrifice”. Verse (Context):

“Samuel said, “Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in OBEYING the VOICE of the LORD? Behold, to OBEY is BETTER than SACRIFICE, And to HEED than the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22, NASB)

Peace to you and please be Wise like the man who built his house on the Rock by OBEYING Christ’s Words as it is WRITTEN in New Testament Verses by His APOSTLES instead of “questioning it” (1 Corinthians 14:37, 2 Peter 3:2, Acts 1:2).

P/S:

Can the Devil teach obedience to these New Testament (not Old Testament) Verses or teach disobedience toward it?

Pray and seek the Lord & find out for yourselves, it’s obvious to me to follow it “as it is Written” (the safest endorsed Route of the Narrow Path).

The Devil teaches LAWLESSNESS while God’s Holy Word Teaches HIS LAW. Decide for yourselves wisely what you wish to follow after (the Verse below is quoted ‘in principle’):

“If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15, NASB)

For another Detailed Scholarly Explanation, please consider the YouTube Video in link below too for edification regarding this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqbqiOHXGWY