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AUGUST 31
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man. For this reason the woman ought to
have a symbol of authority on her head, because
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of the angels. Nevertheless, neither is man
103:17,18 the mercy of the LORD. Those who independent of woman, nor woman independ-
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appeal to God’s mercy by proper fear (v. 17) ent of man, in the Lord. For as woman came
and obedience (v.18) will overcome the short- from man, even so man also comes through
ness of physical life with eternal life. Luke 1:50 woman; but all things are from God.
quotes Psalm 103:17. 13 Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a
woman to pray to God with her head uncov-
103:19 His throne in heaven. From everlast- ered? Does not even nature itself teach you
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ing to everlasting God has always ruled over
all things (Pss.11:4; 47:1–9; 148:8–13).This uni-
versal kingdom is to be distinguished from
God’s mediatorial kingdom on earth.
11:4 covered, dishonors. Literally, “having
And His kingdom rules over all. down from head,” is probably a reference to
men wearing a head covering,which seems to
20 Bless the LORD, you His angels, have been a local custom. Jews began wear-
Who excel in strength, who do His ing head coverings during the fourth century
word, A.D., although some may already have been
Heeding the voice of His word. wearing them in New Testament times.
21 Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, Apparently, Corinthian men were doing the
You ministers of His, who do His same, and Paul informs them that it is a dis-
pleasure. grace. Paul is not stating a universal law from
22 Bless the LORD, all His works, God, but acknowledging a local custom,
In all places of His dominion. which did reflect divine principle. In that soci-
ety, a man’s uncovered head was a sign of his
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
authority over women,who were to have their
Proverbs 24:13–14 heads covered. For a man to cover his head
was to suggest a reversal of proper roles.
13 My son, eat honey because it is good,
And the honeycomb which is sweet to 11:5 woman who prays or prophesies. Paul
your taste; makes clear directives that women are not to
14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to lead or speak in the services of the church
your soul; (14:34;1 Tim.2:12),but they may pray and pro-
If you have found it, there is claim the truth to unbelievers,as well as teach-
a prospect, ing children and other women (1 Tim. 5:16;
And your hope will not be cut off. Titus 2:3,4). Wherever and whenever women
do pray and proclaim the Word appropriately,
1 Corinthians 11:1–16
they must do so maintaining a proper distinc-
Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. tion from men. uncovered. In the culture of
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11 Now I praise you, brethren, that you Corinth, a woman’s covered head while minis-
remember me in all things and keep the tradi- tering or worshiping was a symbol to signify a
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tions just as I delivered them to you. But I want subordinate relationship to her husband. The
you to know that the head of every man is apostle is not laying down an absolute law for
Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head women to wear veils or coverings in all
of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophe- churches for all time, but is declaring that the
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sying, having his head covered, dishonors his symbols of the divinely established male and
female roles are to be genuinely honored in
head. But every woman who prays or prophe- every culture.As in the case of meat offered to
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sies with her head uncovered dishonors her idols (chaps. 8; 9), there is nothing spiritual
head, for that is one and the same as if her head about wearing or not wearing a covering. But
were shaved. For if a woman is not covered, let manifesting rebellion against God’s order was
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her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a wrong. dishonors her head.“Head”may refer
woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be cov- to her own self being disgraced by refusing to
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ered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his conform to recognized symbols of submis-
head, since he is the image and glory of God; sion, or to her husband, who is disgraced by
but woman is the glory of man. For man is not her behavior.
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from woman, but woman from man. Nor was
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man created for the woman, but woman for the
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