What is the context?
Paul begins with relationships: Christ and man, man and woman, and God and Christ. He then speaks about men and women praying or prophesying and whether their heads are covered. The word head moves between a person’s physical head and a relationship that can be honored or dishonored.
The passage assumes that women pray and prophesy; the immediate correction concerns how that is done. Paul compares an uncovered woman’s head with having her hair cut or shaved off, treating both as shameful in the situation he addresses. He is pressing the seriousness of dishonor, rather than giving a separate instruction that women should shave their heads.
The Greek words translated man and woman can also mean husband and wife; see Thayer’s entry for man and woman. A word’s possible meanings do not by themselves decide whether Paul is speaking only about married couples here. His discussion of prayer, prophecy and the churches must also be considered.
The text gives enough to see that the Corinthians’ conduct carries meaning beyond personal preference. It does not explain every local custom or give the private motives of the women involved. Those gaps should not be filled by confidently retelling a story Paul did not record.
How is this passage commonly understood?
Calvin’s comment on verse 3 and Wesley’s notes read headship in terms of authority and understand the covering as expressing the woman’s relationship to man. They explain God’s headship of Christ in relation to the Son’s work as mediator, rather than as proof that He has a lesser divine nature.
Other interpreters emphasize connection and mutual dependence. In her own CBE International article, Juliann Bullock reads the head-and-body picture as describing an inseparable relationship, and understands the passage as protecting women’s honor and participation. This is an individual scholar’s reading, not the official position of an entire denomination.
The readings differ over the relationships Paul is describing, as well as how his instruction applies today. Neither the English word head nor one dictionary entry settles every part of that discussion.
What is our position?
We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.