1 Corinthians 11

[tyler_1]

Hello,

There are a bunch of verses in 1 Corinthians 11 which I will need help explaining.

For instance verse 4 says a man shouldn’t pray with his head covered, and verse 14 says a man shouldn’t wear his hair long. usccb.org/nab/bible/1corinthians/1corinthians11.htm

Can someone put these in the proper context and help explain them to me so I can understand them better?

Thanks

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

Long hair adds to the beauty of women.

Women wore head coverings as a sign of submission to her husband.

So, Paul is saying that Man is over Woman, and the roles should not be reversed.

 

[MarcoPolo]

Here’s how Fr. Haydock comments on the passage.

 

[tyler_1]

I am reading here that Paul is saying men shouldn’t have long hair or pray with their heads covered.

I’ve been out in the cold with a hat on plenty of times and prayed as I went about my day, is that the same as having my head covered?
Also, there are many Catholics who have long hair. Even Jesus had long hair as manifest by the images of the Sacred Heart and Divine Mercy.

What is Paul getting at by saying men shouldn’t wear their hair long?

Thanks

 

[jcrichton]

I am reading here that Paul is saying men shouldn’t have long hair or pray with their heads covered.

I’ve been out in the cold with a hat on plenty of times and prayed as I went about my day, is that the same as having my head covered?
Also, there are many Catholics who have long hair. Even Jesus had long hair as manifest by the images of the Sacred Heart and Divine Mercy.

What is Paul getting at by saying men shouldn’t wear their hair long?

Thanks

***Hi, tyler!

…this is a clear example of Sacred Tradition… we find no reference to the hair issue in the Gospels… I suspect that Paul is addressing an issue/s that arouse in the Church… perhaps too many Christians were going to the service, as they do today in the Catholic Church and others, looking as though they are taking part of anything but worshiping the Lord. So he takes time to remind them of how they are supposed to behave since they are coming together as a community serving God.

If this was the behavior of the pagans (vanity, pride, sensuality) I am sure that the appeal would erode, as it does today, the behavior of the Worshipers. Paul calls on them to be modest in both their dress code and interaction.

As far as Jesus is concerned… I can only speculate that perhaps living a separate life (away from secular society) Jesus may have opted for long hair as the call (ancient Judaism) for certain holy men to not cut their hair (I believe the Nazerites was one of those groups) would demonstrate their resolve to serve Yahweh God distinct from others in the community. I am, of course, not stating that Jesus had long hair–though historically it has been attributed to Him through the various icons, etc.

Maran atha!

Angel***

 

[ryanoneil]

I would appear that certain Corinthians were challenging and violating the gender-appropriate customs of their day. Paul’s guidlines suggest that even though men and women are equal recipients of grace, gender differences are still written into nature.

Peace,

Ryan

 

[jcrichton]

I would appear that certain Corinthians were challenging and violating the gender-appropriate customs of their day. Paul’s guidlines suggest that even though men and women are equal recipients of grace, gender differences are still written into nature.

Peace,

Ryan

***Hi, Ryan!

…I think that Paul could also have been reminding them that God called only the males to serve as Priests–it was a common pagan custom to have both male and female priests… so it could be that his insistance on this issue was due to some “filtration” of belief that Christians could be as “inclusive” as pagans…

Maran atha!

Angel***

 

[COPLAND_3]

Here are some quotes from St. Thomas Aquinas in his commentary on 1 Cor.

Verse 11:4 Prayer is twofold: one is private and is offered to God in one’s own person; the other is public and is offered to God in the person of the entire Church, as is clear from the prayers said in the church by priests. It is these latter prayers that the Apostle has in mind here. In regard to this it should be noted that any man assisting a judge should display a condition or dignity, and especially assisting God, Who is
judge of all. Therefore, those who assist God should conduct themselves in the best behaved and suitable way, as it says in Ec (5:1): “Guard your steps, when you go to the house of God.”

The meaning of the covering is explained next…

**Verse 11:14 **By “nature” he means the “natural inclination” in women to take care of their hair, which is a natural covering, but not in men. This inclination is shown to be natural, because it is found in the majority. That for a man to wear long hair like a woman is degrading to him. The majority of men regard this as degrading, because it makes the man seem feminine. Therefore, it says in Ez (44:20): “They shall not let their locks grow long.” It is no argument that some in the Old Law grew long hair, because this was a sign presented in the reading of the Old Testament, as it says in 2 Cor (3:14).

For a link to his commentary so you can examine it yourself, here it is. aquinas.avemaria.edu/Aquinas-Corinthians.pdf

 

[tyler_1]

Thank you so much everyone. This really answered my questions, and will be great apologetics material against atheists and fundamentalists.

Much obliged.

Tyler