PTM WEEKLY UPDATE -- APRIL 7, 2008

All riled up about women's hair length

Q. I have studied 1 Corinthians 11 for a long time, and have heard many views on this issue. Should women have "coverings" or "veils" on their heads? Is their hair sufficient covering? Should females from birth onward refrain from cutting or trimming their hair? I realize that this is one of those sticky issues that some folks can get all riled up about, but it does concern me that I do as the Word teaches. Thanks. God bless you and your ministry.

A. Yes -- it is surprising that among some groups, the issue of women's hair length and head coverings in church continues to get people "all riled up." This is a good example of how a flawed interpretation of a passage of Scripture can lead to unnecessary religious rules and requirements -- needless concern and anxiety -- and yet more occasions for religious judgmentalism.

To better understand 1 Corinthians 11, we need to understand its context and intent. Paul is dealing here with a specific problem in a specific church in a specific culture. "the very nature of things" (verse 14) does not refer to "nature" in the way we understand it in the 21st century (obviously, there is nothing in nature that tells us anything about how long a man's or woman's hair should be). Rather, it refers to the prevalent Greco-Roman cultural norms (which were then considered to be an extension of "nature"). Paul is cautioning his readers in Corinth (a cultural crossroads) not to incur the anger of the Jewish and Christian community by foolishly ignoring customs regarding gender-appropriate head dressings in the context of worship.

To better understand 1 Corinthians 11, we need to understand its context and intent. Paul is dealing here with a specific problem in a specific church in a specific culture.

Perhaps the most confusing line in this passage is found in verse 10: " . . . because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head." There have been many interpretations of this statement. Again, the most plausible interpretation is rooted in the social and cultural context of the passage. The passage is about worship services. It was a common belief in Jewish culture at that time that angels were present and watching during worship services -- and so it was important to follow certain customs and procedures in the context of worship (which would include appropriate hairstyles and dress for both women and men). These customs changed as the church grew in understanding of the intimate relationship we each have with God. The word "authority" (exousia) means "power" or "right," and can refer to a woman's right or freedom in Christ to participate in worship together with men (as opposed to the Jewish custom where women were excluded from certain events). The context, however, shows that Paul is calling for women to exercise their right with appropriate attention to the customs of the time regarding gender roles.

PTM views this passage as culturally conditioned and culturally relevant for the original audience and not, literally and specifically universal in its application. We make this judgment using what we consider to be sound hermeneutical principles. For example, when the New Testament instructs Christians to greet each other with a "holy kiss" we understand that Western culture today finds such a greeting inappropriate.

We can safely conclude: 1) This passage had meaning and application for its original audience, but is not intended to be universally binding on all Christians. 2) Even within the context of that first century culture, the passage solely addresses a "covering" for women during formal worship. Therefore, even at that time, and certainly today, it would be erroneous to conclude (as some do) that women should never cut their hair -- or that women's hair must always be a certain length. This passage cannot be twisted to say such a thing. 3) If some choose to insist that women wear a scarf while inside the four walls of a church, they may do so as one of their humanly devised church regulations. However, they are not free to base their faith and practice on this verse, and they are not free to insist that all women, in any context, wear a covering over their hair when they attend a formal church service. So, in summary, this is not a declaration for all time about Christian hair length. Culture has gone through many changes since then.

In Christ
Monte Wolverton and Greg Albrecht

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