One of the most significant struggles Christians have historically faced is figuring out how to be in the world without being of the world. Jews have historical customs, dresses, a unique headspace, and other cultural characteristics that distinguish them as God’s people. As Gentiles put their faith in Christ, they found themselves called to a new way of living in their societies. For some people, there was concern and confusion, while others experienced newfound freedom they misunderstood.
The Church in Corinth was filled with people who believed, but their Greek history led to early misinterpretations and outright bad behavior, including women shaving their heads in the manner of pagan temple prostitutes. Paul wrote a letter to the church cautioning them for several reasons, including the behavior of some of the women, as detailed in 1 Corinthians 11:6. Over time, outside of the context in which Paul wrote this letter, some interpreted this verse to mean all Christian women should cover their heads. Understanding the context, as well as what freedom in Jesus truly means, reveals that Paul was writing to the women that they needed to dress appropriately for their culture, not saying that all believing women needed to cover their heads.
What does the Bible say about head coverings?
In 1 Corinthians, Paul addressed a Gentile church, which had multiple issues within it at the time. There was bad doctrine, adultery, and many concerning behaviors. As he addressed these behaviors, he wrote that if a wife refuses to cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. However, since it’s disgraceful for a wife to cut or shave her head, then she should cover her head, as detailed in 1 Corinthians 11:6.
This verse happens as part of a more significant conversation. Paul talked about the importance of understanding, specifically when he said all things are lawful, but not everything is helpful. Just because there are things Christians can do, that doesn’t mean it’s civilizing for the believer or glorifying God. In that light, Paul addresses the question of whether or not the woman of Corinth, who culturally would’ve been expected to wear a head covering, should continue to do so.
Should Christian women wear head coverings?
Like other questions about whether Christians should do something that falls outside a sin issue, ultimately, it comes down to the believer’s personal conviction. In most countries, it’s still considered modest, or even practical, for a woman to cover her head. In others, men cover their heads. Not doing so signifies that a woman is immodest, perhaps in a certain scandalous job, or that she’s sexually available. In these instances, Paul would probably encourage the women of these cultures to cover their heads since that’s appropriate for their context. Paul gave recommendations for Christian behavior, including how women and men should conduct themselves, in other letters to other churches.
However, he never brought up head coverings again. He addressed marital relationships more than once, appropriate conduct amongst associates and out in the world, proper policy, and other topics regularly. If it were a mandate of Christian womanhood to wear a head covering, it can be assumed that he would’ve addressed it. Some of this debate is brought on by theologians who take away the original context in which Paul’s letter was written. For example, who were the people he was writing to? Where was Paul from? What was the common attire for their areas? Part of the concern with women going uncovered was that it sent cultural signals of moral degradation.
In the Middle East, where Paul was from, it was standard for women to wear head coverings. In Corinth and Israel, women typically kept their hair long. However, in Greece, women would shave their heads to signify that they were temple prostitutes, so when a Christian woman threw off her head covering and shaved her head, it was a cheeky thing to do in Corinth and didn’t send a signal to the non-believing Greeks that she was a Christian. Instead, she was signaling something different. When someone only looks at the instructions for the women Paul was addressing to cover their heads, they’re forgetting that head coverings exist across different cultures for different reasons.
Another significant cultural context is that in Corinth, women wear head coverings to show they are married and committed to their husbands. A woman going out without her head covered would’ve indicated that she wasn’t married or that she wasn’t committed, possibly even unfaithful, in her marriage. Another important verse that contributes to the idea that Christian women don’t need to wear head coverings, either out in the world or in worship, is a verse later in the same passage. A woman’s hair is her covering, not a piece of cloth. Paul even called for his audience to look around them and see that women tend to grow their hair long as a general rule, even though it’s not absolute. In some cultures, head coverings symbolize modesty, but if it’s not culturally dictated, the head covering isn’t serving to protect a woman’s modesty, virtue, or marital status.
Just as men can go to God in any state of need, so can a woman. In her time of distress or joy, in contemplation or worship, she can cry out to God without her head being covered. Every person has their conscience, struggles, and convictions about how to carry out their relationship with God. Ultimately, every woman and man will stand before God and give an account, even believers, although they won’t be judged for their sins as non-believers. It’s down to the conscience of each Christian woman. Though some disagree, most denominations and theologians agree that Paul discussed head coverings as an element of the culture.
