By Ken Raggio

This article includes
"Lessons from the Book of 1 Corinthians"

The Head

Who covers you?

1. The Eternal Spirit of God covers the Son of Man, Jesus Christ.
2. Jesus covers the Man.
3. The Man covers the Woman.

GOD is over

CHRIST is over

THE MAN is over

THE WOMAN

That is the Divine Hierarchy. It absolutely MUST be adhered to.

That ORDER is far more significant and important than mortal men can comprehend. Almighty God wants that hierarchy to be on display throughout the human race using the symbol of HAIR to illustrate who is covered, and by whom.

1 Corinthians 11:3 - "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God."

1 Corinthians 11:4,7,14 - "Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. ...For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. ...Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?"

It Is A SHAME and DISHONOR for a man to have long hair.

Long, uncut HAIR is called a COVERING.

"If a woman have long HAIR, ...her HAIR is given her for a COVERING." This "covering" typologically represents that the woman has a covering: the man.

1 Corinthians 11:4,7,14 - "Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. ...For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. ...Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, IT IS A SHAME unto him?"

Get this:

The Eternal Spirit of God is the covering of Christ. God needs no covering. (He is all in all).

But the Son of Man needed covering. (He said, "My Father is greater than I.")

Following typology, a MAN was made in the image of God. Because the man was made in the image of God, typologically, the man needs no covering (since God has no covering).

But the woman was made for the man.

A Woman needs the Man's covering.

Just as God is over Christ (and Christ needs God's covering), the man is over the woman (and the woman needs the man's covering).

That is the logic and the argument that Paul presents to us here.

God demands that we honor and depict this typologically by the way we wear our hair.

A man must not be covered (with uncut hair) so that he accurately depicts himself in the image of God - not needing a covering. If a man refuses to cut his hair, he is depicting himself as covered. THAT is a woman's position. A man is inaccurately depicting himself in a woman's role when he refuses to cut his hair. Moreover, Paul specifically says that it is a shame for a man to have LONG hair. EVEN if a man's hair is cut, IT MUST NOT BE LONG. A man's hair must be short.

If professing Christians celebrate a man with long hair, they are contradicting the very teachings of the Bible, and offending God with self-serving interests.

A woman must be covered. Her hair must not be cut.

Paul made it clear that when her hair is shorn, it is tantamount to being bald. Only UNCUT hair is considered a covering.

"Every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one AS IF SHE WERE SHAVEN. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be SHORN OR SHAVEN, let her be covered." 1 Corinthians 11:5-6.

Paul interprets both SHORN and SHAVEN as equally offensive to this premise. ANY SHEARING of the woman's hair is tantamount to SHAVING HER HEAD.

"Shorn" (cut or trimmed) hair is considered the same as bald ("...as if she were shaven"), according to verse 5.

So, if a woman even TRIMS her hair, she may as well SHAVE it all off, because in the sight of God, SHE IS UNCOVERED when she SHEARS (cuts, trims) her hair.

When a woman cuts her hair, she is depicting herself in the man's role: UNCOVERED. "If the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn," (11:6).

If the woman refuses to follow the Biblical hierarchy by refusing to submit to the man, then let her manifest her disorderliness and insubordination by wearing shorn, cut hair.

If professing Christians celebrate a woman with short hair, they are contradicting the very teachings of the Bible, and offending God with self-serving interests.

"If it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered."

Is it a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven? The answer to that question is the same as the answer to this question: "Is it a shame for a woman to rule over a man?"

If it is not a shame for a woman to rule over a man, then it is not a shame for her to be shorn or shaven. But if God says that the man must rule over the woman, then it is a shame for her to be shorn.

So, does God absolutely require the woman to be under the man's covering? Yes.

"The head of the woman is the man," (verse 3). God established the man's rule over the woman in the Garden of Eden.

Genesis 3:16 - "Unto the woman he said, ...thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee."

IT IS A SHAME for a woman to rule over the man, and it is a shame for her to have shorn hair.

This is the Biblical rule.

These teachings go so far as to identify a person's sexual role by their hair.

Long uncut hair should say that this is a woman. Cut hair should say that this is a man. According to Paul's teachings, a woman who cuts her hair is associating with the masculine role. A man who does not cut his hair is associating with the feminine role. As such, either case becomes an abomination in the eyes of God.

Ultimately, the betrayal of God's commandments about hair length contributes to the sexual identity crisis that we now have today - an explosion of lesbianism and homosexuality!

CUT HAIR IS NOT A COVERING. It casts the Woman in the Male role.

SHORT HAIR IS NOT A COVERING. And a woman who has CUT/SHORN hair is not portraying this divine hierarchy as God has commanded.

Her HAIR is given her for a COVERING when she prays.

God covers Christ. The man covers the woman. She must wear uncut hair, representing that she is covered by the man. "Her hair is given her for a covering." Paul says that SHORN hair is the SAME as SHAVEN - not covered at all.

Paul says that it is DISHONORABLE for a Woman to pray with SHORN (cut) HAIR

1 Corinthians 11:5-6 - "Every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered."

Men must have SHORT hair, Women must have UNCUT hair to prophesy.

If you want to pray or prophesy (including worship or praise) in the Church, a man must have short hair, and a woman must have long, uncut hair. "Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven." Nothing here speaks of veils. Hair is the subject. God has reasons. Will you argue with God? Men who praise and worship God should have short hair. Women who praise and worship God should have uncut hair.

1 Corinthians 11:6-7 - "Let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head."

LET HER BE COVERED: Shorn (Cut) Hair means UNCOVERED.

Not one woman in a million is proud to be bald. Almost without exception, women who lose their hair because of medical reasons wear wigs or hats to avoid embarrassment or unnecessary attention. For thousands of years, women everywhere wore uncut hair. Women who cut their hair had a bad reputation. Hollywood glorified such women and styles, but the Bible still instructs all women to wear long uncut hair. Paul said that shorn hair equals shaven, and that means UNCOVERED.

1 Corinthians 11:6 - "If it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered."

Man: Image and Glory of GOD; Woman: Glory of the MAN

This verse might be as controversial as any in the Bible to the modern feminist mind. A man "is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man." You cannot escape the fact that God designed the man to glorify Him, and the woman to glorify her husband. Modern culture vehemently defies that, but lady - defer to and edify your husband!

1 Corinthians 11:7 - "For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man."

God says to us, in effect, "There is GLORY in your hair, when it is worn as God prescribes." It is the GLORY OF GOD for a man to wear his hair short. It is the GLORY OF GOD for a woman to wear her hair uncut.

Lady, your long, uncut hair is your GLORY. God said it. Don't defy that. Don't breach that. Don't rebel against that.

Give God the GLORY that is due to Him. Glorify God in your living.

God created the Woman for the Man.

In these days of gender-identity chaos, only the infallible Word of God can take us back to sanity and order. Men were not made for men. Women were not made for women. Men were not made for women. God made man first, then the woman for the man. When women rule men, they are in conflict with God, and the result will be chaos and confusion. Typologically, a man who wears long hair testifies that he consents to being ruled by a woman. Typologically, a woman who cuts her hair testifies that she does not want to be ruled by a man. In either case, they testify against the order of God for male-female relationships.

1 Corinthians 11:8-9 - "For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man."

Uncut Hair affirms a Woman's power with Angels.

The Holy Angels can only do as commanded by God. They have no power or will to do otherwise. On earth, "are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14). What could prevent an angel from ministering to a woman if she is an heir of salvation? The angels' authority is somehow tied to the woman's "power on her head." What is on a woman's head but her hair? Does an angel consider a woman to be in disobedience or insubordination if she cuts her hair? Is the angel unable to minister to her as he may have otherwise?

1 Corinthians 11:10 - "For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels."

The Woman is OF the Man, The Man is BY the Woman.

It is honorable and wise for a man to submit to Jesus Christ, accepting His covering. It is honorable and wise for a woman to submit to her husband, accepting his covering. Women who fail to submit to their husbands, and men who fail to submit to Christ, defy the eternal plan and purpose of God, and forfeit unimaginable blessings.

1 Corinthians 11:11-12 - "Neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God."

Is it suitable that a Woman pray UNCOVERED (with cut hair)? NO.

Renowned Presbyterian minister, Matthew Henry (1662-1714) said of a woman who cuts her hair: "She appears in the dress of her superior, and throws off the token of her subjection. She might, with equal decency, cut her hair short, or cut it close, which was the custom of the man in that age. This would be in a manner to declare that she was desirous of changing sexes." Before the 20th Century, it was scandalous for women to cut their hair. Women who cut their hair were generally considered either to have male tendencies or to be rebellious against sexual norms.

1 Corinthians 11:13 - "Judge in yourselves: is it comely [suitable, proper] that a woman pray unto God uncovered?"

Ungodly people use their Hair as a symbol of their REBELLION.

A cultural revolution in the 1960s was articulated in the Broadway show "Hair!" The show was performed by troupes all over the world - over 1900 performances in London! It promoted hippies, flower-power, sex, drugs, rebellion, etc. Women cut their hair extremely short, while men grew their hair shoulder-length to waist-length. Why is rebellion and anarchy so regularly expressed in people's hairstyles? God orders men to have short hair, and women to have long uncut hair.

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? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her."

Head Coverings in Prayer

Paul said that every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, but every woman who prays or prophesies with her head UNCOVERED dishonors her head (as if her head was shaved). What covering was Paul talking about? "Her hair is given her for a covering." This has nothing to do with veils or hats. Long, uncut hair is her covering. It is a shame for a man to have long hair.

1 Corinthians 11:15 - "If a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering."

We Have NO CUSTOM in the Church to allow CONTENTION.

Many people dismiss ALL of Paul's teaching about hair length on men and women, excusing themselves with this line: "But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom."

"But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God," 1 Corinthians 11:16.

Does this verse mean that if you are contentious, you are free to contradict Paul's teaching?

Does it mean that all you have to do to get out from under these obligations is to contend with it? NO!

Absolutely not.

Does God invite or welcome CONTENTION into the Church?

No.

The Church does NOT customarily allow contention.

Contention is OUT OF ORDER.

The CEV version gives clarity to this text:

"This is how things are done in all of God's churches, and that's why none of you should argue about what I have said, (CEV)" I Corinthians 11:16.

Do you know what the Bible says about contention?

"It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a CONTENTIOUS and an angry woman," Proverbs 21:19.

"Unto them that are CONTENTIOUS, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath," Romans 2:8.

Contention Evokes the Wrath of God.

1 Corinthians 11:17-18 - "I praise you not, ...I hear that there be divisions among you."

There should be no division on this matter. There should be agreement and singleness of mind.

A woman cannot excuse herself from wearing uncut hair by being contentious. If a woman is contentious, her contention alone is sinful.

A woman must not be contentious.
A woman must not cut her hair.

A man must not be contentious.
A man must not wear long hair.

If that is not true, then these entire eighteen verses have no meaning or purpose, and have no reason for being included in the Bible.

These verses ARE NOT ONLY to the Corinthian Church as many people argue.

These verses are NOT ADDRESSING a mere CULTURAL ISSUE as many argue.

These verses are not mere "Old Testament Commandments" as many people argue. They are clearly NEW TESTAMENT Commandments.

They are NOT negotiable. They are not subject to argument. They are not optional. They are the COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD for the New Testament Church, and we are obliged to keep them.



If what I have said here about the meaning of these verses is not true, I wish somebody would tell me exactly what they ARE here for.

There is no rhyme or reason for these sixteen verses if men should not wear short, cut hair, and if women should not wear long, uncut hair.

These commandments are the basis of a very important spiritual principal in every Christian's life.

Jesus said, "Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it," Luke 11:28.

"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city," Revelation 22:14.

Remember: If you won't keep these commandments, somebody else will.

FREE THOUGHT, just for what it's worth:

Christians were never meant to be worldly fashion leaders, "chic," or "cool dudes." Real Christians are conspicuously NOT cool, not hip.

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