Head Coverings: Bonnets or Not?

1 Corinthians 11:2-16 ESV

Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head. For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God. Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.

Wow...

Is this some strange tradition that requires church women to wear bonnets or big hats? Is this setting a biblical precedent for the length of a person’s hair? I would say the answer to both of these questions is no. It is easy to get so bogged down in the details that we miss the point. And the point is greatly clarified by understanding the context. 

1 Corinthians is written to the church in Corinth and, by extension, believers today. Corinth was the center of pagan worship in the ancient world and, by any honest reading of the letter, the church was facing some serious problems that needed to be handled. From divisive false teachers, to a sexually immoral layman, to drunkards at the Lord’s Table, this church had issues. Chapter 11 transitions from points of correction and encouragement toward church polity, how the church is to function in its structure and government (Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you). Chapters 11-14 of 1 Corinthians are going to deal with how the church is to be structured in its authoritative positions (chapter 11:2-16), polity in the Lord’s Supper (chapter 11:17-34), how spiritual gifts are to function (chapters 12 and 14), and how love is to be foundational in the function of the church (chapter 13).

In light of where this is in the book, we can glean some fundamental truths. God the Father is the Head of God the Son. God the Son is the head of man. Husbands are the heads of their wives.

Now my take on the hard part: If Christ were to live and minister with His head covered (i.e. ashamed of and away from the authority of the Father) that would be dishonorable. If a man were to minister in prayer and preaching with his head covered (i.e. ashamed of and away from the authority of Christ) that is dishonorable. If a woman were to engage in the governing, authoritative activities of the church with her head uncovered (i.e. outside of the authority of her husband) that is dishonorable. 

Now that seems like an oversimplification and an overspiritualization, but I do not believe it is. 

From the beginning, we have been trying to cover ourselves. Adam and Eve sinned in the garden and realized their nakedness. They covered themselves. Covering has to do with a fear of exposure. Men tend to be tempted toward pride and self-promotion, therefore, they might try to cover up Christ out of fear. Women tend to be tempted toward liberality and feminism, therefore, they might leave their covering behind. 

Paul then uses hair as a practical, physical illustration to point us to a greater spiritual reality. Hair is explained as a mark of authority. Men have short hair, demonstrating his authority as covenant-head. Women have long hair, demonstrating their role as being under the authority of her covenant-head. For a woman to shave her head or to have short hair is to signify her leaving of her position and usurping the man’s role. This need not lead to condemnation for women who now have short hair; it is a symbol of a greater reality.

Nature itself teaches us that society most flourishes when men are exercising authority, and women are best cared for in the bonds of a biblical marriage covenant. Their position is their glory. It is a good thing. But a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God. It would be a disgrace for a man to abdicate his role as spiritual head of his wife, for him to sit back and apathetically let his wife call all the shots. Likewise for the church, it is sinful for men to lethargically wallow around and leave the governing of the church to the women.  

...because of the angels... is likely a reference to the angels that long to look into the ways in which the gospel works in the lives of men and the Church. For the angel’s sake, let us not blow it because of convenience. We are not independent, we cannot do church however we please. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses; let us not be fooled by some maverick idea of the Christian life.

If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God. Paul is saying, “If you want to argue this point, look around, no one else is arguing this. The church at Philippi doesn’t have a woman pastor, nor do the churches at Ephesus and Thessalonica. This is the way everyone has always understood how church business works.”

I know there is more to say...but I won’t right now.