First Corinthians 11:3-16 discusses the necessity of women’s head covering. In the natural it sounds like Paul commands that all Christian women must cover their head, presumably with a veil or scarf, when they pray or prophesy. Yet, at the end of the discussion, Paul says, “we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.” So, what in the world is Paul talking about then?

If one interprets 1 Corinthians 11:3-16 in the natural, then the passage, on its face, contradicts Paul’s entire teaching in the Book of Galatians. Paul makes it very clear to the Galatians that any keeping of the law of circumcision for religious reasons alienates one from Christ and His grace. He also teaches that the keeping of other laws, which we would call “ceremonial laws,” puts one into the same category. He, of courses, continues to teach that all people who are led of the Holy Spirit will continue to keep God’s moral laws and that anyone who continually breaches these moral laws will not be found in God’s Kingdom at all.

What, then, does Paul mean when he says that women’s heads must be covered when they pray or prophesy? Is he talking about a natural veil or bonnet that women must wear when they go to church or walk about in public?

Paul teaches the Corinthians, “Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.” (1 Corinthians 11:9-10 KJV) The word “power” here is the Greek word exousia and is often translated “authority.” This is the word used concerning Jesus in Matthew 7:29, where it says, “For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” So, we see here that Paul says that a woman must keep her head covered with “authority.”

This is the only place where Paul talks about a woman’s head covering, but many other Scriptures deal with Paul’s teaching concerning women’s order in society. At various places Paul proclaims, 1) that a woman must remain silent in the church meeting and ask her husband spiritual questions at home, 2) that he does not allow a woman to teach a man spiritual things, 3) that a woman must be in submission to her husband, 4) that older women are to train younger women in godliness and propriety, and that 5) women are saved through childbearing, i.e., through child rearing or parenting. (1 Timothy 2:15 has nothing to do with one’s spiritual salvation, but everything to do with order and the salvation of the soul)

Paul was telling the Corinthians, in accordance with all of his other teaching about women that they must function in things of the spirit under the spiritual authority of a man, just as they must so function in things natural (that is, so long as there is a male authority in her life such as a father, husband, or spiritual elder. If she has no such male figure in her life, she operates under her own authority, but yet still has no authority in God’s church beyond that given a woman). Thus the woman’s veil is a spiritual veil of submission to her male authority. Practically, I see this in my wife and daughters. All four submit willingly and naturally in the Spirit to my authority over them as their spiritual head. This also means that women are not generally under the authority of all other men. My wife and daughters are under no male authority but mine which they all willingly accept. Paul was not telling his church to make all the women cover their heads with veils, scarves, or bonnets. Nor was he telling them that they had to submit to every male in the world. He was telling them that with respect to the Kingdom of God, they should submit to the male spiritual authority God had placed over them, which is usually a husband or father. If a woman was widowed or divorced, then her authority would be either her own father, if still living, or the ruling elders of her church if she attended a Christian fellowship.

With respect to Paul’s teaching about men not wearing a head covering, this means that a man is not to “cover his head” with the authority of another spiritual teacher. He is to go directly to God (through Jesus Christ as his head) in order to receive revelation directly from God. One of the great tragedies of history is that men have refused to hear God for themselves, but have relied upon others to hear God for them. Unfortunately, most Christians refuse to think a thought of their own. Rather, they submit to what their preacher says is true. In this respect a man would be wearing a covering over his head when he has been warned not to.

So, we see that Paul is not talking about natural head coverings in 1 Corinthians 11. He is using spiritual words to speak of spiritual realities, just as he says he will do in 1 Corinthians 2:13. So, we see that 1 Cor. 11 does not contradict his teaching in Galatians and elsewhere by setting up new ceremonial laws for Christians to obey. This is why Paul ends his lesson so enigmatically, saying, “we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.” Paul’s is a lesson drawn from the order of creation. Yes, God created this order from the beginning, but why is it important?

“I and my Father are one,” proclaimed Jesus, thus making Himself equal with God. This is why the Jews wanted to stone him. Yet, the Scripture also says concerning Jesus, “who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped ….” (Philippians 2:6 ASV) And what of us whom the Scriptures call elohim, or god? Psalms says,“I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.” (Psalms 82:6 KJV) and Jesus Himself quoted this in John 10:34. Yes, the point is that God is indeed calling us to be gods, elohim, made in His image. But, He will only allow us such distinction and glory if we learn His order beforehand. (Remember, Christ is coming again to “be glorified in His saints”).

Just as Jesus had to submit to His Father, and just as a man must learn to submit to Christ, so must a woman learn to submit to her male spiritual authority. How else could God ever trust us not to attempt to usurp His own throne? To attempt to usurp the throne of God is to make oneself God. It is the abomination of desolation and the mark of the beast, the mark of Satan. The one who refuses to walk according to God’s spiritual authority, whether male or female, exhibits this Satanic spirit, which is the spirit of Jezebel, not the Spirit of Christ. Each of us must learn this lesson of submission before we will, and oh, we will, one day each be exalted as a son of God!