What Is Right & Wrong About Women's Head Coverings in Church?

What is Right & Wrong About Women's Head Coverings in the Church? 
By Pastor Alexander Redd
July 5, 2023

In 1 Corinthians 11:12-16, the apostle Paul addresses the topic of head coverings for women in the Christian Church. Whether head coverings are still necessary for the present-day Christian life is a matter of interpretation and personal conviction. There is no definitive answer that applies universally to all Christian communities.

Some Christian denominations and individuals believe that head coverings are still necessary as a biblical principle. They interpret the apostle Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 11 as an instruction that should be followed today. They argue that head coverings symbolize modesty, submission, and respect for authority, and they view these principles as timeless and applicable across cultures and time periods.

The requirement for head coverings in the passage is rooted in the cultural context of Corinth. It was a common practice in Greco-Roman society, where not wearing a head covering would be associated with immodesty or prostitution. The cons arise when this cultural context is not considered, leading to potential misinterpretations and rigid application in modern times.
Some argue that head coverings can be seen as a symbol of inequality between men and women.

Critics assert that it perpetuates patriarchal norms and reinforces gender roles that are somewhat irrelevant today. Head coverings were seen as a symbol of submission and respect for authority. By wearing a head covering, women showed their recognition of the order established by God. Head coverings were also seen as a sign of being married. It served as a visual indication of a woman's commitment to her husband.

On the other hand, many Christians interpret the passage as culturally specific to the Corinthian context and not binding for all believers. They argue that the underlying principles of modesty, respect, and submission can be expressed in different ways, depending on the cultural norms of each society.
They believe that the specific practice of head coverings may have been tied to the cultural context of that time and place.

Considering the historical and cultural context when the apostle Paul wrote this letter, head coverings were prevalent in Jewish and Greco-Roman cultures. In the Jewish tradition, women covered their heads as a sign of modesty and to show respect for God. In the Greco-Roman society, head coverings were associated with social status and marital fidelity.

Can today's Christian Church apply head coverings?
Whether head coverings should be practiced in the modern Christian Church is a matter of interpretation and cultural context. Some Christian denominations still adhere to the practice, believing it to be a timeless principle. However, many interpret the passage as culturally specific to Corinth and not directly applicable to all Christian communities. They argue that the underlying principles of modesty, respect, and submission can be expressed in different ways, depending on the cultural norms of each society.

Ultimately, it is up to individual Christian communities and their leaders to decide how they interpret and apply the teachings regarding head coverings in their specific cultural and historical context.