Question: I’m new to the church and noticed that some of the women wear veils or hats during worship. I’ve never seen this before, so could you please explain?

Answer: Sure, but I think a full explanation would be most helpful, so here is the relevant scripture passage and a sermon I delivered on the subject. Use the form below if you have any follow-up questions.

Sincerely, Rev. Christian McShaffrey, M. Div.
Pastor of Five Solas Church (Reedsburg, WI)

1 Corinthians 11:1-16

Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.

For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.

For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.  Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.

Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

On the Covering of Women in the Public Assembly

Delivered on November 10, 2024 by Christian M. McShaffrey

At Ebenezer Free Presbyterian Church in Gilford, Northern Ireland

In these verses, the Apostle Paul, under direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit, institutes a standard for public decorum in the public assemblies of Christ’s church. Namely, that men should wear nothing upon their heads and that the women should wear something upon their heads.

All Christians used to agree on this point, but sadly — and as you well know — those days are long passed. After all, they say, “Cultures change… styles change… churches change but do you know what does not change? The Holy Word of God.

My aim in preaching today is to encourage you in your obedience to these commands and also to assist you as you seek to explain this standard to others. I have three mains points and the first, unfortunately, has to be this:

1st Answering The Objections

Sadly, many Christians (even conservative ones), approach this passage with certain objections already fixed in their minds. I’ll name a few of the most common:

“Hair is the Covering” — While this is one of the most popular objections, this passage simply does not allow it as a possible interpretation. If a woman’s hair was the covering Paul had in view here, he would not have used two different words to distinguish headcoverings from long hair.

We see this in vs. 15. The Greek word translated as long hair is koma and that’s easy enough to remember, because it sounds just like the word “comb” — doesn’t it? But the word translated as covering is from the word: periballo. It’s a compound root: peri means upon or around and ballo means to throw or cast. So a covering is, literally, “something you throw upon, or around, your head.” Two different words, two different things, but I know the objection, “Well, Pastor, that all sounds like Greek to me…” fair enough. How about a little logic instead?

If the only question at hand here was about having long hair or short hair, then the argument in vs. 6 would make no sense whatsoever. It would essentially read: “For if a woman will have short hair, then let her also have short hair.” What in the world is that supposed to mean? The argument is unintelligible if Paul was not talking about actual cloth veils here. And he is. Most commentators agree. The only thing they disagree about is whether the passage is still applicable today. Hence, the next objection:

“It’s no longer applicable” — Some think that Paul was here teaching a culture-specific lesson, only to first-century Christians. This objection is also very popular, but it is also invalid and easily proven so.

First of all, when Paul began this epistle he addressed it not only to the saints at Corinth, but to all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Corinthians 1:2). That’s obviously all Christians. That’s you. Even here in chapter 11, Paul reminds us of the broad scope of his intended audience. vs. 16, But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

This, then, is not just advice to the Corinthians. It is for all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord… and it is for all the churches of God. On now, to another objection:

“Paul was just a misogynist” — That’s what many people think and they will point to this passage as proof that Paul had some kind of prejudice against women. But that’s certainly not true.

Even here in this passage he affirms the essential equality of the sexes. vs. 11-12, Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.

More, Paul actually honors women in this passage. He speaks of a glory and a beauty that is uniquely theirs’ as women. Namely, their long hair.

Paul had no problem with women. His only concern here is that their glory might be on proper display during times of public worship. That is, displayed in such a manner that only God — who gave them that beauty — is glorified. One last objection:

“This is just too novel” — Many say that today because they have never seen it practiced, but here’s the thing: Many of the saints at Corinth could have raised the same exact objection because Paul’s policy on head coverings was somewhat novel in his own day. It was different than Jewish practices — different than Roman practices — and different than Greek practices at the time.

Paul was here establishing a new custom — a distinctively Christian custom — that transcended all the existing customs that were represented in the diverse city of Corinth in the 1st century AD.

But the argument of novelty is no longer valid today, because once Paul established this custom, it then became the norm in every branch of Christendom — in every culture — and in every century: Roman Catholic – Greek Orthodox – Lutheran – Reformed – Baptist – Anabaptist – Charismatic – Pentecostal – all were once agreed on how to interpret and apply this passage.

That is, until the women’s suffrage and liberation movements of the 20th century. That’s when everything changed and if you don’t believe me, go ahead and read for yourself the 1900 years worth of commentaries and sermons on this passage. But even more important than commentaries and sermons are the arguments Paul himself sets forth. So let’s examine to those:

2nd Understanding The Arguments

While many regard the issue of head-coverings as a trivial matter, mark well the fact that Paul argues for them very vigorously in this passage.

First, he offers a “Theological Argument” in vs. 3, But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

Here we are reminded that everyone has a head — even the Lord Jesus — who, though he was co-equal with the Father — did not consider his equality with God as something to be grasped. Rather, he happily submitted himself — humbled himself — even outwardly demonstrating that submission — so that others could see it, and be saved by it.

Everyone has a head, and submission to that headship should be visible. Next argument:

Second, Paul offers a “Creational Argument”  in vv. 7-10, For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.

Men and women were created differently and are, therefore, different. The distinction that exists between the sexes should be embraced and celebrated, not resented and rebelled against.

As we just read, man was created first — in the image of and glory God — to reflect the glory of his Maker — to honor his God under the direct headship of Christ. Woman was made second — as man’s helper — as the glory of the man — yes, to honor her Maker also — but under the direct headship of her husband (under Christ).

Most of you probably agree on these issues of gender distinction, so let’s get to the question at hand: “What does all this have to do with what a person wears to church?”

That’s Paul’s next argument: “The Ecclesiastical Argument” in vs. 5, But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head.

Paul’s interest here was obviously about maintaining good order during worship, but far more interesting than that is what we read at the end of vs. 10, because of the angels … think of it.

Angels are superior to man, yet still, they veil their faces when in the presence of God (Isaiah 6:2). After all, the angels watched God bring order out of chaos in the very beginning, as his Spirit moved upon the face of the waters.

The angels watched God bring order to humanity as he appointed man as God’s glory, and the woman as man’s glory. The angels watched Satan disrupt that good order by introducing sin, shame, rebellion and subjugation into the world.

The angels also watched the Son of God come down to earth to restore everything to proper order through his subjection, and active obedience, to his Head. Truly, these are things the angels desire to look into, and they do.

Right now, there are angels hovering above, looking down upon us, and watching as we give glory to God in worship. And (thinking back to the passage) the main point here is this:  As the angels look down upon the churches, let them not see the glory of man (which is the woman) and let them not see the glory of woman (which is her long hair), let them only see the glory of God.

One more argument: “The Common Sense Argument” in vv. 13-14, Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

Illustration (though a bit dated): Sinead O’Connor was born only a couple hours from here. When she appeared in public with her head shaved, did it not strike you as odd? Even she admitted that it was an act defiance.

On the other hand (and I think I heard this illustration from the late R.C. Sproul): When you see a bride coming down the aisle on her wedding day — all veiled and mysterious — do you not find it one of the most beautiful — even glorious — things on earth?

And why? Because the distinction between the sexes has been built into our very DNA. We just know these things intuitively. It’s common sense. It’s why even non-Christian cultures veil their women.

More, even the most rebellious sinners on earth cannot escape these realities. For example, when men started wearing their hair to their shoulders back in the 1960’s, what did the women do? They grew their hair down to their waist! And why? Because though they would never admit it, they were not going to give up their unique glory that easily.

So those are the arguments. Paul points us to the Godhead, to the Created Order, to the angels, and to natural law itself.  Rarely, does he take his hearers all the way back to the Garden of Eden in order to prove a point, so, obviously, this was a very important doctrine to him.

It should also therefore be very important to us. And the most important aspect of it has to this: Will we obey it? Last point:

3rd Applying The Passage

The first application has to be this: “Don’t be Contentious” because of what we read in  vs. 16, But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

Listen, good and godly men disagree over how this passage should be applied in the churches today. That’s just a fact. Take, for example, the chief editors of our favorite study Bibles. RC Sproul’s wife wore a veil and John Macarthur’s wife did not. Yet neither of them was ever contentious about it.

The same is true in the local church I serve back in America. Some women cover, others do not, and we all get along just fine. That’s how it should be.

Because guess what? Maybe the unveiled woman who sits next you is not a femi-nazi. Maybe she just came to a different conclusion. She might even be in personal agreement with you, but is submitting to her husband’s judgment on the matter (which is the most beautiful veil of all). Contrariwise, maybe the covered woman sitting next to you does not think she is more holy than everyone else in the room. Maybe she is just trying to obey God, as best she knows how.

Again, people will come to different convictions on this topic, but let me also be quick to add this: You do have to come to a conclusion. This is in the Bible, and it therefore deserves to be thoroughly examined, properly understood, and consistently applied. So let me add to my first application (don’t be contentious) another: “Examine Your Heart”

It is easy to approach passages like this with the wrong kind of heart. When I, for example, first began studying this passage some 25 years ago, my initial thought was, honestly, this: “This can’t be saying what it seems to be saying…” But, why not? Why do we do that? What if it is saying what it seems to be saying? More than that, and this is the deeper question, “Why would I even want it to be saying something else in the first place?”

Examine your heart. Open it to God’s truth. For it is only then that you will be able to study scripture honestly. This, then, brings me to my next point of application: “Study the Matter”

Don’t trust me, study it for yourself. The passage is not really that complicated and there are ample resources available to help you understand it. Just one caution here: If you are going to make use of resources like commentaries, just make sure that you consult more than the ones that were published during the 20th century.

One more thing about studying the matter: As you study the Bible, always be sure to let is also study you. Let it discover your unknown assumptions – your unspoken agendas – maybe even your un-admitted excuses for not obeying it. And yes, that has to be the final application: “Obey this Passage”

Just do what it says. Men, this will be easy for many of you because most men already know well enough to remove their hats when entering the church building. Most think of it simply as custom, or good manners, but it traces right back to these verses. So men, applying this passage will probably be easy enough for you. That is, unless you are married.

Men, if you are married, then you have the solemn responsibility of making sure that your household is in proper order before the Lord (especially, as we have been reminded today), in times of public worship. So I call upon you today to accept that responsibility and to shepherd your wife toward a more perfect obedience to the will of God, here revealed.

And this, brothers, may not be easy. The world, the flesh, and the devil hate this standard — and militate against it — because they hate of what it communicates to the world. Remember, once again, Paul’s main arguments:

Theology — What kind of Christ do we preach to the world? One who flaunts his equality with God, or one who became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross?

Creation — What message do we have for all the gender-bending insanity that has left so many young people confused, depressed, even in danger of chemical and surgical harm? Is our message, “Be who you want to be?” or is it “Be who God created you to be?” Male and female created he them.

Angels — Do you really believe in the supernatural world? Do you really believe that heaven and earth intersect (as it were) during sacred times of corporate worship? Then hide man’s glory — hide women’s glory — and let all glory be given to God alone. Finally:

Common sense — In the end, and as Paul admits, you are going to have to judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? A plain reading of scripture — backed by nearly two-thousand years of consensus — and that, across denominational lines — says, “No” and I would encourage you to receive that truth today. Amen.