Headcovering, In The Sacred Assembly

ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ

“In Sacred Assembly”

1 Corinthians 11-14

~Addresses Liturgical Decorum~

πρῶτον μὲν γὰρ συνερχομένων ὑμῶν ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ ἀκούω σχίσματα ἐν ὑμῖν ὑπάρχειν, καὶ μέρος τι πιστεύω. —1 Corinthians 11:18

Before we get too far along in this study we should settle a question that is on most peoples’ minds. “When is the Christian woman required to wear the headcovering?”

Many feel as though the covering is to be worn all the time during waking hours of the day. The Amish and some Mennonites follow this practice. Others feel as though the covering is only required in the assembly, when in corporate worship. Our concern is: What does the Bible teach? What was the Apostles’ intention?

What I am about to say, you have heard me say many times, and I will most likely say it many more times before the Lord calls me home, and that is this: “A text without its context is a pretext.”  I do not know who first said it, but he (or she) was a very bright person. Context is alway a necessary element of any interpretation of the written or spoken word. Since the subject of Christian headcovering is only addressed by Paul, and in this one place in Holy Scripture, the context, then, in which it is located is paramount to answering our question: “When is the Christian woman required to wear the headcovering?”

The Apostle’s instructions on headcovering are found within the context of Christians’ coming together in the church (Greek, sunerchomenōn humōn en ekklêsia [1 Cor. 11:17-18] ~ Joseph Henry Thayer: the sacred assembly). The church at Corinth had written to Paul asking several questions (1 Corinthians 7:1). For the most part this letter is the Apostle’s answers to their inquires. In chapters 11 through 14, Paul is addressing questions having to do with liturgical decorum. The saints at Corinth had gotten out of order regarding their public worship services—Paul writes to correct this.

The liturgy of the apostles’ church included three important things that Paul addresses in chapters 11 through 14: #1. the liturgical garment (the R.A.C.) — 11:3-16;  #2. the holy Eucharist — 11;17-34;  #3. the nine supernatural gifts of the Spirit—especially tongues, interpretation of tongues, and prophesy — 12:1 - 14:40.

The liturgical garment of the headcovering relates directly to public speaking within the assembly. Paul writes, “Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven” (11:4-5). The “praying” spoken of here is not just any praying (in fact, it does not address private prayers at all) the context is praying within the assembly—more correctly, leading the congregation in prayer. Thus, speaking to God on behalf of the congregation. This is underlined by “praying” being coupled with “prophesying.” Prophesying is not done in private. When one prophesies he, or she, addresses the congregation on behalf of God. Prophesying requires an audience. By extrapolation, prophesying includes all nine of the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Paul instructs the Christian women of Corinth that they were to wear the liturgical garment “because to the angels” (11:10). The writer of Hebrews informs us that Angels are present in our corporate worship in a special way; “But ye are come unto … an innumerable company of angels, …” (Hebrews 12:22). The Angels, who were affected by Lucifer’s rebellion, know the sin of the rejection of headship and are adversely affected by Christian women who are not covered in public worship. Since Angels are ministers of God to (and for) the saints, it is not a good thing for them to see Christian women signaling a rejection of their God-given headship.

The context of Paul’s instruction on the headcovering is “The Sacred Assembly” (Thayer, on 1 Corinthians 11:17-18): “That ye come together … when ye come together in the church, … .” Therefore, to require the R.A.C. outside the “sacred assembly” would be speaking where the Bible does not speak. We have no authority for such a requirement. The headcovering, being the Christian woman’s apostolically required liturgical garment, is only required in the corporate worship of the church (en ekklêsia). 

Moreover, Paul’s “required” covering speaks to a temporary Religious Article of Clothing (R.A.C.), as such it militates against the hair—which is a permanent covering referenced in v15.

Apostolically Speaking

☩ Jerry L Hayes