1 Corinthians 11:1-7

Custom or Command ~ part 1

Open your Bible to…

1Cor. 11:16 But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.

Pray

Intro

√ Custom or command?

This section of scripture is both interesting and controversial!

The controversy revolves around the question of Paul’s intent.

Did he mean…

To establish a new commandment, a law, by which Christians are to conduct themselves?

Or was he simply providing Godly wisdom to his friends at Corinth who were struggling with how to balance their freedom in Christ with the customs of the culture?

On the one hand we could move through these 16 verses pretty quickly…

…however, I think the general discussion raises some issues that Christians today need to address so we’ll take our time and cover this section in two parts.

Praise (vs. 1-2)

1Cor. 11:1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

1Cor. 11:2 Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you.

√ Praise

Verse 1 of chapter 11 really belongs at the end of chapter 10 as it concludes Paul’s instructions regarding the expression or our personal liberty in Christ (chapters 8-10).

While verse 2 of chapter 11 signals a change in direction as Paul turns his attention to questions about church gatherings.

From verse 2 of chapter 11 through the end of chapter 14 we’ll find Paul gives instructions for worship, teaching, and the use of the gifts in the context of a local church meeting.

The first thing we want to notice though is that the Corinthians were actually doing some things right!

“Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you.” ~ vs. 2

That is, even with all the problems at Corinth there were two things that Paul was able to praise them for…

Remembering him

Faithfully following the traditions he gave them

Regarding the first point Paul’s praise would seem to indicate that while there was a vocal group of people who opposed him and rejected his apostolic authority…

…that there were many who still had warm feelings toward Paul and his ministry.

Secondly, somehow in spite of the divisions, defilement and their disgraced witness…

… the Corinthians had held onto many of the essential teachings that Paul left them.

Two signs of hope that this troubled church still had the potential to change and to be restored as a bright witness for Christ!

Ap. Look for opportunities to give praise

Part of being a parent, an employer or holding any position of authority over others is that we are responsible to address wrong behavior and attitudes in those under our authority.

However, you’ve probably been taught at some point that it’s wise to always acknowledge some good behavior, or performance before giving correction.

The idea is that the person receiving the correction is more likely to be receptive to that correction when they realize that you’ve also noticed the things they’re doing well.

Vs. 2 here reminds me that technique isn’t just pop-psychology, or the latest business seminar secret for motivating employees…

…it’s Biblical!

Paul understood that while his friends at Corinth needed correction, he also understood that if he crushed their spirit that they might give up rather than make the effort to change their sinful ways.

So look for opportunities to praise your spouse, your children, the people who work for you and those you minister with because a little praise can mean the difference between a person giving up or pressing on.

Problems (vs. 3-16)

√ Problems

Verses 3 through 16 are some of the most challenging verses in the New Testament to comprehend and rightly apply!

That’s because read out of context people can, and do come up with all sorts of strange applications of Paul’s instructions.

Google this section of scripture and you’ll find sites that provide a very convincing arguments that Christian woman today must cover their heads anytime they leave their home!

However, every site like that which I looked at fails to take into account the context of Paul’s instructions within his letter to the Corinthians, the culture in which he ministered, and the context of the entirety of the Bible.

So, let’s lay the foundation for Paul’s commentary on head coverings so that we might properly understand the application of his instructions.

√ Custom not commandment

Note the context of Paul’s instructions in this section found vs. 16…

“But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.”

That is, Paul is saying this is the practice (custom) of the churches in Asia but there is no law or commandment from God that a woman must cover her head!

Search through the 613 statutes, laws, and commandments of the Old Testament and you will not find any reference to woman being required to cover their heads!

Rather, it was simply the custom of the churches to which Paul ministered for woman to do so.

That’s because the common practice in Eastern and Middle Eastern society of the 1^st Century was for woman to keep their hair long, and when in public to wear a covering, or shawl.

A woman’s long hair and shawl symbolized her submission and purity.

By way of example look at Muslim woman today and in much of the world they still cover their head when in public.

That’s a very good illustration of the common practice of woman in the 1^st Century.

So, let’s be clear that Paul isn’t issuing a commandment here, rather he is simply pointing out that it was customary for woman in 1^st Century Eastern culture to wear a shawl…

…therefore he advises the woman at Corinth to do the same in their church gatherings so as not to discredit the work of God.

Ex. Wearing a keepa (yamaka) in Israel

We honored the customs of the land by covering our head when entering a Jewish holy place.

God doesn’t require Christian men to cover their head to please Him.

Rather, we did it because it is customary and we did not want to offend the Jewish people and bring disgrace to the Gospel.

So as we work through Paul’s instructions to the people of Corinth keep in mind that he is not laying down some new law for us to follow…

Rather he is communicating practical wisdom regarding how the Corinthians ought to practice their faith in the culture in which they lived.

So, in the following verses he gives three reasons why the gals at Corinth should continue to honor the custom of their culture and wear a head covering…

Order

Creation

Nature

Let’s look.

Order (vs. 3-7)

1Cor. 11:3 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

1Cor. 11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head.

1Cor. 11:5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved.

1Cor. 11:6 For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered.

1Cor. 11:7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.

√ Order

Keep in mind that in the previous three chapters Paul had been addressing the issue of Christian liberty and the balance of how we express that liberty.

So, as he begins to deal with issues of conflict regarding church gatherings it is imperative that we read his comments in context with what he’s previously written about our freedom in Christ.

Remember that the Corinthians liked to say…

“All things are lawful…”

To which Paul would respond…

“But all things are not beneficial”

That was true with regard to the issue of head coverings too!

One of the issues within the church at Corinth was that some of the woman had taken their newfound freedom in Christ to extremes by throwing off the social customs of the day…

…cutting their hair short and refusing to wear a shawl.

The problem is that in the 1^st Century the only women who wore their hair short and went without a head covering were the Temple prostitutes.

They and their male counterparts who worked at the Temple of Aphrodite in Corinth did their best to blur the gender lines…

…woman with short hair, men with long hair, both doing their best to dress and look transgender, or transsexual as that was in vogue among in the immoral culture of Corinth.

So short hair and a lack of head covering were the marks that distinguished a prostitute from the other women of the community…

…so you can imagine the stir some of the woman caused when they showed up to a worship service looking like a Temple prostitute!

Ap. Hard to understand in our culture

That’s because dress style, hair length, and color, etc., don’t communicate a person’s character or moral integrity.

But, in much of the world and even here in the US a hundred years ago these external features did speak of a person’s character.

So, while Paul’s instructions may seem irrelevant to us let’s not skip over them because there are still practical applications in our life today.

√ God’s divine order

So, Paul’s first argument that the ladies at Corinth ought to continue honoring the social customs of the day was that God made a difference between men and woman.

That is, each has their unique and special place in God’s divine plan.

And, that the social customs of the day and culture in 1^st Century symbolized those inherent differences.

Please note that Paul did not say, nor did he mean to imply that difference meant inequality or inferiority!

Rather, for the church (or any group) to function properly there must be some kind of order and order involves rank.

For example, in the military a general outranks a private, but the private may be a better man and soldier than the general.

The point is that rank (order) doesn’t imply inferiority or inequality, it simply provides order.

Thus, we see in vs. 3 that Paul reminds the Corinthians that we’re all under some kind of authority (rank)…

The head (authority) of man is Jesus.

The head (authority) of woman is man (husband).

The head (authority) of Jesus is the Father.

That authority structure is necessary for a church to function in an orderly manner, which was sadly lacking at Corinth.

Their gatherings were characterized by a general chaos, divisions, self-promoting displays of the spiritual gifts and a lack of godly direction.

Everyone wanted to talk at the same time, use their gifts at the same time, and many were by their conduct and dress causing distractions that disrupted the worship service.

So, part of restoring order to the service was to require the gals to wear a shawl on their head when praying or prophesying so as not to distract the others from worship.

Ex. Modest dress

Calvary Chapel’s are known in part for their informal style of worship and our de-emphasis on dress codes for church.

We don’t stop you at the door if you’re wearing jeans.

We don’t have a “uniform” that you have to wear to church.

Yet, we do make requirements upon those who minister here.

No shorts, or sleeveless shirts, gals no short skirts or dresses, no plunging neck lines, etc.

The reason is that we want the focus of our worship and teaching to be on Jesus…

…not someone’s legs, or…well you get the idea.

Now, if our church was on the beach in Maui then board shorts might be socially okay in church.

Or if we were meeting in New Hampshire it might be totally inappropriate to show up to church in jeans and without a dress jacket.

The point is that we want to balance our liberty in Christ with the social customs of our time and culture so as not to distract from the worship of Jesus.

Ap. Use discernment

David Crowder tells a funny story that makes the point that we need to pay attention to how we present ourselves to the world.

While touring he bought a tee shirt that he really liked. It had a very cool intricate scrolling image printed on it and the color of the shirt-looked great on him.

However, everywhere he wore it he got strange glances from people and picked up a weird vibe.

Finally a friend asked him why he wore the shirt and then pointed out that the cool looking scrolling graphic on his shirt spelled out the “F” bomb!

He was mortified and learned an important lesson about discernment!

Saints, may I suggest that you exercise discernment with regard to your choice of clothing?

Just because it’s popular or in style doesn’t mean that you should wear it.

The society in which we live is very much motivated by, and seeks to exploit human sexuality.

Much of what the fashion industry offers up for purchase is designed to call attention to the parts of our anatomy that stimulate a sexual response in those who see us.

As believers we aren’t supposed to stir the fleshly passions of the people we work with, go to school with and most especially those we worship with.

So, before you purchase some item of clothing take a long look in the mirror.

Be honest and ask yourself if it modest and God honoring, or if it is something that is going to get you the wrong kind of attention.

The application for us from Paul’s teaching is that should check to be sure that we’re not using our freedom in Christ as an excuse to follow the ungodly fashions of the world.

√ Men

Let me make one more point to prove that Paul’s advice is just that, practical wisdom for the folks at Corinth…

…not a commandment from God for all people at all times and in every place.

Look at vs. 7…

“For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.”

Here’s why that’s so interesting, when Paul ministered among the Jews he covered his head!

Jewish men wear a keepa (AKA ~ yamaka) or a shawl over their head when entering a synagogue, the Temple, or when praying.

That was the custom of the Jews!

In fact many Bible students believe that Paul’s trade “tent making” was actually the weaving and selling of Jewish prayer shawls called “Tallit”.

Yet, here in vs. 7 Paul makes the case for his friends at Corinth that the men should not cover their heads!

Was Paul compromised? Was he confused or was he unsure of God’s will?

Not at all! Rather, Paul had the wisdom of God to know how to apply the truths of God in different situations and cultures.

So, when the issue was one of preference, or culture, and not a moral issue Paul lived by this grace…

“I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” ~ 1 Cor. 9:22

And…

“just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.” ~ I Cor. 10:33

So, his comments in this section of scripture must be understood in the context of the Corinthian believers…

…they are not a commandment of God for Christians in general they are simply practical instructions for the ladies of Corinth living in the 1^st Century.

Close

√ Custom or command?

So, we’re reminded this morning that we have great freedom in Christ…

So let’s not make a law where God hasn’t made one.

We are also reminded that we must regulate our freedom when it collides with social norms and customs that might discredit our witness for Christ.

So let’s be sensitive to the culture in which we live and not purposely flaunt our freedom with disregard for others.

Next week we’ll look at Paul’s other arguments for honoring the customs of the day so that we might glorify God.