March 3, 2024
1 Corinthians 11:2-16
“Reverent Worship”
Service Overview: Paul’s focus here is primarily on proper attitudes and conduct in worship, not on the role of women in the church. While Paul’s specific instructions have cultural elements to them, the principles behind his instructions are timeless—for they instruct believers in matters of respect and reverence when it comes to worship.
Memory Verse for the Week:
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe” Hebrews 12:28 (NIV)
Background Insights:
- This passage is probably the most complex, controversial, and opaque of any text of comparable length in the New Testament. A survey of the history of interpretation reveals how many different exegetical options there are for a myriad of questions and should inspire a fair measure of tentativeness on the part of the interpreter. (Craig L. Blomberg, 1 Corinthians, 285)
- The shaving of the head of the woman who disgraces her husband by committing adultery was prescribed by Roman law which applied in the Roman colony of Corinth. If a wife does not cover her head, by implication she is regarded as someone who refuses to recognize her relationship with her husband. For the wife not to cover her head in public was a disgrace. (D. A. Carson, New Bible Commentary, 1178)
- The word helper is the first descriptive term in the Bible used for woman (Gen. 2:18). Scripture doesn’t describe her as “slave,” “doormat,” or “pet.” “Helper” is not a term of inferiority, but of equality. In fact, it implies that left to himself, Adam alone was insufficient to accomplish everything God wanted humans to accomplish. (Charles R. Swindoll, Insights on 1 & 2 Corinthians, 162)
- The Corinthian women who appeared in the assembly without the head-covering were actually putting themselves on the low level of the temple prostitutes. The prostitutes wore their hair very short, and they did not wear a head-covering in public. Their hairstyle and manner announced to others just what they were and what they were offering. (Warren Wiersbe, Be Wise, 126)
- The words translated “head of” can mean origin, source of, or authority. Traditionally, many scholars have interpreted kephale (“head”) to be used in the same way as exousia (“authority”). Thus, they take the word to mean “chief” or person of highest rank. Other scholars see kephale to mean “source of life,” conveying relational sense—as in the account that man was the source of woman’s existence (Genesis 2:22-23; see 11:7-9). In the language of 11:9-12, the focus is on the relationship. Paul was not concerned, as some have argued, for the submission of women, but rather that the completeness or glory of the relationship not be diminished (see 11:7). (Grant R. Osborne, 1 & 2 Corinthians, 152)
What should rise above the noise with such a culturally-loaded and hotly-debated text?
- God’s concern when it comes to order in worship.
(vv. 2-3 | John 4:24; 1 Cor. 14:26, 33, 40; 2 Cor. 12:20; Titus 1:5; Hebrews 12:28)
One of the biggest problems in the Corinthian church was disorder in the public meetings. Some of the women were assuming more freedom than they should have; there was disorder at the Lord’s Supper; and there was confusion in the use of the spiritual gifts. The church had been greatly enriched with spiritual gifts, but they were sadly lacking in spiritual graces. (Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Wise, 123)
Throughout this section of the letter, Paul’s teaching is undergirded by his concern for the Corinthians to conduct themselves in worship in a manner that is orderly, dignified, motivated by love, and conducive to the common good. (Richard B. Hays, First Corinthians, 181)
- The role cultural awareness should play in shaping the church’s attitudes and behavior.
(vv. 4-6 | Mat. 22:36-39; Acts 10:34-35; 17:24-28; Rom. 12:9-13; 1 Cor. 9:19-23; Phil. 2:3)
Clearly, head coverings send virtually no sexual or religious messages in contemporary Western societies. Perhaps the only exception is in those few extremely conservative churches that still insist on women wearing hats, scarves, or hairnets. And the message these churches usually send to the culture at large is that they are hopelessly out of touch with modernity! (Craig L. Blomberg, 1 Corinthians, 293)
Paul wasn’t encouraging Christians to adopt all the practices of the culture, but to avoid appearances and behavior that detract from the goal of being believable witnesses for Jesus Christ as we demonstrate our Christian faith. (Osborne, 157)
- The value God places on both genders and the importance of their interdependence.
(vv. 11-12 | Gen. 1:27; 2:18; Mat. 19:4; Acts 2:17; Gal. 3:28; Ephesians 5:21; 1 Peter 3:7)
Paul almost certainly means to say that gender differentiation is decreed in creation, expressed in societal convention, and not abrogated in the order of the gospel. . . . [I]n the gospel differentiation is determined more explicitly by a principle of mutuality and reciprocity. (Anthony C. Thiselton, The First Epistle to the Corinthians, 842)
Paul wants to avoid any thought that women are ontologically inferior; thus, he emphasizes the interdependence of men and women in the Lord. Women came into existence through men, but men come into the world through women. The first woman was from the first man, but now all men come into the world through women, that is, through their birth via a mother. A difference in function between men and women does not negate the equality and value of the two sexes. (Thomas Schreiner, 1 Corinthians, 235–36)
Conclusion… What counter-cultural principles should be embraced in light of a text like this?
A. Deference in matters which lead to biblical outcomes should be welcomed, not disdained.
(Acts 20:35; Romans 14:19; 15:2; Ephesians 4:29; 5:21; Colossians 2:16-17)
Paul always advised that Christians show deference to others in order to promote unity. (Grant R. Osborne1 & 2 Corinthians, 153)
The supreme challenge you will face in making Christ-honoring, biblical changes is dying to self. The biblical perspective concerning “self” is exactly opposite to what the wisdom of this world proclaims. (John Broger, Self-Confrontation Manual, Lesson 9, Page 1)
B. Faithfulness to Jesus’ mission requires a mindfulness of the cues we send to the culture in which we exist.
(Mat. 28:18-20; Acts 10:34-35; 17:24-28; 1 Cor. 9:19-23; Phil. 2:3; Revelation 7:9-10)
To the extent that people’s grooming or dress deliberately flaunts authority and social convention, such actions cannot be condoned by Christians, because it gives us an unnecessarily bad reputation among non-Christians. No doubt some of this occurred in the 60s and with punk. But wise Christians, like wise parents, will choose their battles carefully. We should not get overly upset by a person’s outward appearance when there are more fundamental theological and ethical issues to be concerned about in our society. (Craig L. Blomberg, 1 Corinthians, 294)
C. Gender distinction is something to honor and celebrate, not blur or confuse.
(Genesis 1:27; 2:18; Matthew 19:4; Acts 2:17; Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 5:21; 1 Peter 3:7)
“Sexism” is an explicit or implicit belief or practice that qualitatively distinguishes or values one sex over the other. This doesn’t mean that there are no differences between the sexes. Nor does it mean that these differences are insignificant. They are very significant! It means that the differences are valuable, and when all the differences are added up on each side of the male and female ledger, the quality-sum and value-sum at the bottom of the ledger is the same for male and female. (John Piper, Abortion, Race, Gender and Christ, Sermon: January 23, 2005)
What we wear and how we present ourselves on the outside often sends a message to others about what they can expect of us on the inside. (Charles R. Swindoll, Insights on 1 & 2 Corinthians, 158)
Debates about what is too long and too short are of little value, especially in missiological contexts where cultural norms vary. The point, however, is clear. Men should look like and be easily recognized as men, and women should look like and be easily recognized as women. There should be no gender blurring or gender confusion. (Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in 1 Corinthians, 226)
Gospel Connection…
Jesus died to save and create a people dependent on him and one another; whose actions, attitudes, and behaviors serve to honor and point others to him.
(Acts 2:17; Rom. 12:1-2; Gal. 3:28; Eph. 5:21; Col. 3:11; Hebrews 12:28; 1 Peter 3:8)
God’s good design should be on public display among those who have been redeemed by Christ and transformed by the power of the gospel. (Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in 1 Corinthians, 227)
In a time of rampant confusion about gender identity in our culture, Paul’s teaching on this matter is timely for us. A healthy community needs men and women together (v. 11), not a group of people striving for sexless neutrality. (Richard B. Hays, First Corinthians, 191)
Spiritual Challenge Questions…
Reflect on these questions in your time with the Lord this week, or discuss with a Christian family member or Life Group.
- How does Paul’s concern for the Corinthians’ worship shape how a text like this is interpreted and applied?
- In what ways can the church work to redeem the value of distinctions between genders in our world today?
- When should social expectations and common practice play a role in Christian worship? When should these not have as much influence?
- What are some unwritten cues that exist in our culture when it comes to appearance? How do they impact people’s thoughts and behaviors?
Quotes to note…
Some of the Corinthians had enthusiastically embraced the early Christian tradition that in Christ there is no male and female, and they were seeking to transcend their sexuality. In keeping with this tendency, the Corinthian women who were removing their head coverings or letting their hair down in worship were consciously discarding a traditional marker of gender distinction. (Hays, 183)
Paul told the women who were not wearing head coverings to wear them, not because it was a scriptural command, but because it kept the congregation from dividing over a petty issue that took people’s focus off Christ. (Osborne, 151)
Gnosticism may have valued the androgynous human being as the return to some pristine ideal, but Christianity recognizes that God created men and women as sexual beings, with sexual differences. So we must not try to efface these distinctives by dressing or grooming in ways that make it impossible to recognize a person’s gender or, worse still, by changing our sexual appearance through transvestite behavior. (Craig L. Blomberg, 1 Corinthians, 285)
while the stipulation of head covering is upheld in Corinth, the main point is that these Christian women had an equal status with men because of their union with Christ. They were free in Christ, equal before God, and able to pray and prophesy in the worship services. They were no longer to be regarded as inferior, which would have been their previous status in both Greek and Jewish cultures (see Galatians 3:27-28). (Osborne, 155)
Gender confusion and perversion pervade our culture, especially in the worlds of education, media, and sports. It should not find a home in the church. (Akin, 227)
Paul did not say, or even hint, that difference meant inequality or inferiority. (Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Wise, 124)
In any culture, believers must strenuously avoid whatever forms of dress or grooming potentially communicate to the non-Christian world sexual misconduct or idolatrous worship. (Craig L. Blomberg, 1 Corinthians, 286)
We need to remember that matters of fashion and style are culturally conditioned and personally applied… we need to keep in mind that our style should reflect our Christian identity as well as our sexual identity… we should willingly adapt our styles to glorify God. (Charles R. Swindoll, Insights on 1 & 2 Corinthians, 165)
As difficult as it might be, the early church had far more to work through than what music would be sung. Their struggles and successes are instructive to us who may have less to work through than they did. It will be sad to face Christ in the future and say, “We could not be the glorious church you called us to be because we could not get together on the music.” (Jim Elliff, Multi-Cultural Glory in the Church, Christian Communicators Worldwide, www.CCWtoday.org)
