“But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying disgraces her head, for she is one and the same as the woman whose head is shaved.” – 1 Corinthians 11:5
1Corinthians 11:2-16 is one of Paul’s more challenging and complex passages. Should women cover their heads in church today? Why or why not? What does Paul mean by head? What does this passage add to the debate about women in authority in the church?
01 Should women wear head coverings?
This podcast gives an overview of what (I think) Paul meant to say and what it means for us today. If you only want the bottom line, listen to this podcast. Teacher Krisan Marotta on January 8, 2020.
02 What’s the cultural background?
Here we’ll explore the incomplete and contradictory background information we have plus answer the question is Paul’s answer culturally bound or timeless and how do we know. Teacher Krisan Marotta on January 15, 2020.
03 What does Paul mean by head, 1?
Paul appeals to the creation of Adam and Eve to make his argument. This podcasts examines what Genesis 2 teaches us and why Paul appeals to it. Teacher Krisan Marotta on January 22, 2020.
04 What does Paul mean by head, 2?
Most everyone agrees that Paul is speaking metaphorically, but few agree exactly what he means by the metaphor of head. To understand Paul’s use of head in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, we look at Paul’s use of head in all his other letters, particularly in Ephesians. Teacher: Krisan Marotta on January 29, 2020.
More: 1 Corinthians: Pride & Prejudice in the church
Resources: Women in authority in the church
I offer my bible studies, podcasts and resources free of charge under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. I do not seek or accept advertising, affiliations or donations. But it does encourage me to hear from you about how you used these studies and/or what you learned.
How to use these studies:
- Over the course of a week, work through the study questions for the lesson.
- After doing your own study, listen to the audio teaching for that lesson — either on your own or with a small group.
- Discuss what you have learned with a small group or friend.
Learn to study: Bible Study 101.
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
