Should Women Wear Head Coverings?

Note: This devotion is designed to help us identify cultural commands. 

When Paul wrote 1 Corinthians, godly women covered their heads as a symbol of submission to their husbands (1 Corinthians 11:3-16). 

Submission is a biblical principle, but head coverings were simply a cultural practice based on that principle.

We know this because: 

1. The context confirms it.

Paul introduces this passage as “holding to the traditions” (verse 2).(1)

He calls head coverings a “practice” (verse 16).(2) 

2. Paul uses "conditional" wording.

“If it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head” (verse 6).(3)

“Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?” (verse 13) 

Let's judge for ourselves. Is it proper? Yes. In most cultures today, praying without a head covering isn't disgraceful. It doesn't mean a woman is rejecting submission. 

3. Cross-references confirm it's cultural.

Besides head coverings, Paul says long hair on men is a “disgrace”  (verse 14). We know that's cultural because God commanded the Nazarites not to cut their hair (Numbers 6:1-21). 

So what does this passage mean for us today? It means Christians should reflect godliness in ways appropriate in their culture.(4) 

Cultural commands are rare in the New Testament, so beware of false teachers who use culture to disregard biblical principles.(5) 

Footnotes:

(1) The Greek word means “an instruction, tradition.” (source)

(2) The Greek word means “a custom, a habit, a practice.” (source)

(3) The word translated “if” is present in the original Greek and it's a “conditional participle.” (source) 

(4)  This doesn't mean we follow ungodly cultural practices. It means we reflect godliness as is appropriate in our culture and Christian communities. If a woman feels she should wear a head covering in church out of respect for her husband and God, we should not criticize her or persuade her to do differently. Nor should those who wear head coverings criticize those who don't (Romans 14). 

(5) Please note that there is a principle behind the cultural practice: submission. Submission remains a biblical principle even when the cultural expressions of that principle change. False teachers deny principles, claiming they are cultural. If you want to read about an example of a false teaching that does this, see Apples and Rocks.

Recommended resource:

Short video:

✔ Do Christian Women Have to Wear Head Coverings Today?

Short article:

✔ Should Christian Women Wear Head Coverings?

Bible Love Notes