But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. For man is not from woman, but woman from man. Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God. Judge among 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 anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God. I Corinthians 11:3-16 (NKJV)

This passage has caused a lot of bondage in the church because it was not properly studied or researched. People took it at face value without considering why it was written or what was going on at the time it was written, and whether those same things apply now. A good study Bible, such as the Dake Annotated Reference Bible, helps us dig these things out as the historical research has already been done for us.

First of all, Paul was establishing order for the Corinthians church. If you fully read I and II Corinthians, you’ll see that they had a lot of issues. Paul had to correct them and set things straight for them in a number of areas. Paul had to remind them of the divine order of things. He tells them that the head, or source, of the woman is the man, meaning that the original woman (Eve) came from man (Adam) and was given to him because he needed her. He’s reminding the women that God set the husband as the authority in the household. He also establishes that the head, or the source, of the man is Christ. Man is to submit to Christ. And he tells us that the head of Christ is God. Paul was simply aligning things to create order. Without an established order, chaos breaks out.

Next, Paul addresses the question of hair and head coverings. Apparently, there was some disagreement in this because in the last verse of our passage, Paul says that if anyone wants to argue the point, it is based on cultural tradition, not on the requirements of the church or the Word of God. Why was the issue of hair and head coverings such a point of discussion? This is where many have missed the point.

In that period and in that part of the world, the only women who appeared in public with their heads uncovered or with their hair short or shaved were harlots and pagan temple priestesses. In that day, society looked with disdain on such women, so for a woman to go out with her hair cut or her head uncovered would ruin her reputation. The same was true for men with long hair or who covered their heads. Paul was protecting their reputations- plain and simple. He was warning them that if they went against the customs about the covering of the head they would have to deal with the ridicule and scorn of society.

Through the centuries, society’s ideas about proper attire has changed- at least in most western countries. Men and women are free to style their hair in the way they think is attractive. We are not bound by the traditional concept that a woman must have long hair or that a man cannot wear his hair long. Our hairstyles do not determine our level of holiness. We are free in Christ to wear our hair as we please.