1 Corinthians 11:3-16... WHAT?

[Zstrastwa]

1 Corinthians 11:3-16

I REALLY do not understand this.
Should men NEVER have long hair?
Should women NEVER have short hair?
Does this matter only during prayer?

I am not seeking YOUR opinion, so please give me scriptures to explain what you mean.

Also, so many things in the bible lead me to think women may not be equal to men?... Take that wrong and judge me if you want, it's just a subject that I'm learning on. If women were made from men (which they are) are they as equal as men? Do they go to heaven? Does God see man and woman as equal? Do women have souls?

Just curious. Thank you in advance. I love all of you

 

[AbbysAunt]

Hi Zstrastwa,

These are very interesting questions you bring up and through our Lord and His written word I hope to be able to answer them and atleast give you some of what you are seeking.

Lets start with are men and women equal this question is one that I think many of us do question at some point or another. Let us look at some of the verses in 1st cornithians they are verses 11-12

Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independant of man, in the Lord. For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.

According the footnotes of my King James bible what this means is... Men and Women need each other, and as creatures of God, both depend on Him. Niether man or woman can have any claim to special status other than what God has purposed for them as their
Creator. Now lets look at what God created both man and woman for..what are their purposes.

We can find these answers in the scriptures of Genesis back when God created man and woman.

Genesis1:26-28 Then God said ,"Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. So, God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them and God said to them, " Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves on the earth.

Genesis2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

Genesis2:18-25 And the Lord God said,"It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him." Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature that was its name. so Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept and He took of his ribs and closed up the flesh
in its place. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and he brought her to the man. And Adam said: " This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man." Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife and were not ashamed.

As we see here God wanted a helper/mate for Adam that was comparable to him...not as the animals were beneath him but comparable meaning on the same level as Adam equal to him and able to help him and have dominion over them as he did. We also saw that God Himself created both the man and woman...then He Himself blessed them... both man and woman are a God's creation...and in knowing this it means yes women do have souls and do go to heaven...why would God bless woman then not if she is saved welcome her into heaven with him at the end of her journey here on earth? Woman was made by God Himself during the very first surgery ever by the greatest surgeon the world will ever know Our Lord God and being created by God means that woman like man had His breath of life breathed into her and that means yes she does have a soul and yes
one day if she knows the Lord Jesus personally as her Lord and Savior she will go to heaven to be with Him in paradise.

Now its true men and women do have different roles in the home and in society but that doesn't mean that they are any less equal to each other it just means God created us to take on different roles...lets take the man...he is husband and father or head of the household...he goes out and provides for his family, He is spiritual head of the family making sure his household knows, loves, honors and worships our Lord Jesus. Now woman
she is wife and mother...she takes care of the children and raises them and is there to take care of the home in ways such as cooking, cleaning, laundry and also to help her household to know, love, honor and worship our Lord...but the woman takes on yet another responsibility..she supports her husband and lifts him up and the man does the same for the wife...he supports her and lifts her up and they both gaurd each other's hearts...to me this seems pretty equal...both have important jobs and different roles but they are striving for the same thing...a home, happy healthy children and life that is built on the solid foundation that is God Himself.

now lets look at submitting as we see mentioned in Ephesians where we were told that wives should submit to their husbands.

Ephesians5:22-33 Wives sumbit to your husbands, as to the Lord For the Husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. therefore just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everthing. Husbands love your wives just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,that He might persent her to Himself a glorious church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holdy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For noone ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall become one flesh.

submitting is placing yourself voluntarily under the authority of another. In doing this we are not saying anyone is less equal than another what are saying is this Just as Jesus Himself is not inferior to The Father so wives are equal to their own husbands but in a marriage relationship a husband and wife have different roles. When a woman loves Jesus and submits to Him she will also out of Love for the savior submit to the husband He gave her...it is her way of continuing to submit to the Lord Jesus and to respect her husband in her marriage. Husbands are called to love their wives, respect them and to honor them...what this means is they Love their wives the way Jesus Christ loves each of us...Just as Jesus lay down His life ours out of love so should a husband lay down his life for his wife and family and serve them. Does this make them unequal..no it means they play different roles in the family unit but in the eyes of the Lord are equal because He says this " they are one flesh" meaning that woman or the wife is truely his own flesh because woman was made from man...pretty equal if you ask me...and in knowing this will love her and care for her.

I hope what is written here and in the written word will help you understand better that in God's eyes men and women are equal but have different roles in the family unit. You said "judge me if you want" we are not here to judge you or anyone else but to help, encourage, lift up and pray for you and others....there is only one judge and that is our Lord Himself. I know I haven't addressed the hair questions yet but I need more time to study my bible and pray about it before I do.

Blessings to you always

 

[David777]

Hello Zstrastwa.

Here you go,

Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Wonderful is it not. I love the scripture, women had equality 2000 years ago.

As for long and short hair, in Paul's day this was a major issue. These days not as significant. The trick is to be able to see when the issue is contempory or significant for us. As an example, would you eat food sacrificed to an idol? How could you? See, not significant for us today.

I promise you if you read the New Testament daily and pray all your questions will be answered. I have been at it for well over a decade and have not had a problem so far. Trust Jesus!

 

[Zstrastwa]

You said "judge me if you want"

I only said that because I am so used to hard judgement from everyone in my life.

Thank you for the scriptures, I gotta check that out. Thank you David as well, I do just love when 1 sentence in my wonderful bible can answer 1,000 questions.

 

[dannibear]

I understand what you mean by what you said.
Whenever I have felt that someone's man made ideals didn't
seem right, and I researched more into it and found error in
their judgement, and wanted to tell them what I found in a loving
way, they would lash out and say 'no your wrong, because of
this, that, and I know better because I am older, etc.'
It can be hard sometimes. But that is when we must pray the
hardest for them.

 

[Zstrastwa]

I understand what you mean by what you said.
Whenever I have felt that someone's man made ideals didn't
seem right, and I researched more into it and found error in
their judgement, and wanted to tell them what I found in a loving
way, they would lash out and say 'no your wrong, because of
this, that, and I know better because I am older, etc.'
It can be hard sometimes. But that is when we must pray the
hardest for them.

Yes, I always get that. To so many people I know, I CAN NOT have wisdom from God because of my age. It's so silly.

 

[dannibear]

This is my life verse. And very dear to me. So I feel you
will love this as much as I do:

1 Timothy 4:12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

 

[Zstrastwa]

I love it. Thank you.

 

[David777]

Age?

Paul wrote to Timothy twice, Timothy was a young man in Christ.

Age does not determine whether your comments or opinions are not valued. Out of the mouths of babes...

 

[Zstrastwa]

I know the Lord values me even with me being only 21.
If He didn't value me, He wouldn't be so willing to share His wisdom.
I haven't said anything about age mattering, only that persecution comes sometimes soley on the fact I'm 21.

 

[yort]

The long hair; (KJV)1 Corinthians 11:14-15
Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? [15] But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

I use to have long hair but due to age and being lazy I now keep it short. My wife Nancy wishes her hair grew at the rate I get mine cute. I'm telling you ms abbysaunt put it very well. My wife had a bit of a test submitting because I wasn't doing my part, she said outwardly she was but inwardly there was a major battle. Well i had to really start being better at the role of husband in order for her to submit inwardly from the heart. It was amazing to see her do this, not in any kind of way do I feel or perceive my wife to be less than, she has made me a better husband and a man by this.

We have our roles in this and Gods word when rightly divided will lead and guide you into all truth.

Jesus loves you

 

[Thiscrosshurts]

The word "covering" has a larger meaning.The woman is "covered"(under the authority of) by the husband.

1 Cor. 11:10 For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head.
1 Cor. 11:15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering.

The woman's long hair is a sign that she is under the authority of her husband.Since there is neither male nor female,Jew nor Greek then it was probably more a sign for the angels and unbelievers than other believers.Even though men and women are equal we do play roles in society that require a command structure.

Also keep in mind that pagan temple prostitutes shaved their heads.

 

[yort]

There is a not always

Being under the authority or as put "covering", wouldn't seem to apply if the marriage was unequally yoked. Spiritually speaking ;
(KJV)2 Corinthians 6:14
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

A wife that is saved, born again can in no means can be instructed spiritually by a husband that is lost, her authority is God and His word.

If for instances I was lost and my wife was saved, being her husband wouldn't give her the right to be apart of the things that I would think or do in this world. Now grant it this would be such a test for either side in a relationship that I really think that only Gods wisdom would be able to see that Christian through, and of course be able to save that part which was lost. Ok rambling, the point is a women or man, husband and wife are first under the authority of God. Not to each other. They should willfully submit one to another.

 

[SpiritLedEd]

1 Corinthians 11:3-16

I REALLY do not understand this.
Should men NEVER have long hair?
Should women NEVER have short hair?
Does this matter only during prayer?

I am not seeking YOUR opinion, so please give me scriptures to explain what you mean.

If you are using a study Bible, the introduction to First Corinthians should tell you that Paul was writing specifically to the first century Church at Corinth regarding their dress and behavior at worship services. He wasn't thinking beyond that scenario.

SLE

 

[Zstrastwa]

Thank you guys for all the scripture, still studying on this.