Quote:
Originally Posted by Esaias
Paul taught that Christian women ought to be covered when praying, and cited no local custom for support, only Biblical reasons, and one supporting argument from nature. He affirmed this was the position of all the churches of God.
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It was still a local custom.
5. Her head uncovered. Rev., unveiled. The Greek women rarely appeared in public, but lived in strict seclusion. Unmarried women never quitted their apartments, except on occasions of festal processions, either as spectators or participants. Even after marriage they were largely confined to the gynaeconitis or women’s rooms. Thus Euripides: “As to that which brings the reproach of a bad reputation upon her who remains not at home, giving up the desire of this, I tarried in my dwelling” (“Troades,” 649). And Menander: “The door of the court is the boundary fixed for the free woman.” The head-dress of Greek women consisted of nets, hair-bags, or kerchiefs, sometimes covering the whole head. A shawl which enveloped the body was also often thrown over the head, especially at marriages or funerals. This costume the Corinthian women had disused in the christian assemblies, perhaps as an assertion of the abolition of sexual distinctions, and the spiritual equality of the woman with the man in the presence of Christ. This custom was discountenanced by Paul as striking at the divinely ordained subjection of the woman to the man. Among the Jews, in ancient times, both married and unmarried women appeared in public unveiled. The later Jewish authorities insisted on the use of the veil
Vincent, M. R. (1887). Word studies in the New Testament (Vol. 3, pp. 246–247). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.
With her head unveiled (ἀκατακαλυπτῳ τῃ κεφαλῃ [akatakaluptōi tēi kephalēi]). Associative instrumental case of manner and the predicative adjective (compound adjective and feminine form same as masculine), “with the head unveiled.” Probably some of the women had violated this custom. “Amongst Greeks only the ἑταιραι [hetairai], so numerous in Corinth, went about unveiled; slave-women wore the shaven head—also a punishment of the adulteress”
Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (1 Co 11:5). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.
The veil covering. Sir William Anderson gives us some insight into the cultural implications of the veil:
In Oriental lands the veil is the power and the honor and the dignity of the woman. With the veil on her head she can go anywhere in security and profound respect. She is not seen; it is a mark of thoroughly bad manners to observe a veiled woman on the streets. She is alone. The rest of the people around her are nonexistent to her, and she is to them. She is supreme in the crowd.… But without the veil the woman is a thing of nought, whom any man may insult.… A woman’s authority and dignity vanish along with the all-covering veil that she discards (cited by Robertson and Plummer in Corinthians One, International Critical Commentary, p. 311).
Richards, L., & Richards, L. O. (1987). The teacher’s commentary (p. 867). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
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