verse 2—Notice how Paul introduces his correction of disorders. He praises them that they remembered him, and that they kept the teachings of the faith that he had taught them.

verse 3—“But I would have you know” suggests that he is about to give some new teaching on a special matter. The meaning of a head covering by Christian women. Three headships are brought to our notice in this verse: God, Christ, and man. It is headship, not Lordship.

The thought of headship is authority, control, and the related subject of subjection. The Christian man is under the headship of Christ. The Christian woman is to be under the headship of man. Even as Christ, for carrying out the redemptive purposes of God, placed Himself completely in subjection to the Father. This reference to Christ eliminates all thought of superiority or inferiority.

verse 4—For a man to wear a hat when praying or preaching is dishonoring to Christ.

verse 5—Any sister who prays or teaches with her head uncovered dishonors her head (man—Christ). Paul says any sister doing this is in God’s sight as if she were shaved. In that day immoral women went unveiled, and slave women were shorn.

verse 6—By inspiration Paul says that if a woman persists on having her head uncovered, let her shave off her hair. No good woman would ever do that, it would be shameful. Then says Paul, let her be covered.

verse 7—This verse gives the reason why a man ought not to cover his head. “He is the image and glory of God.” Note also that the woman is the “glory of man.” It is God’s will that women should be in subjection to man.

verses 8-9—The relative positions of man and woman is brought to us in these verses. Adam as God’s representative was made head of creation. The woman came from man. She was created for man.

Verses 11-12 would teach us that there is no thought of superiority or inferiority. Man and are necessary to each other in the Lord.

verse 10—“For this cause.” Because man was given headship, dominion and authority, the woman has to have “authority” on her head. Her head covering becomes the visible token of subjection to her God-appointed head. “Because of the angels.” The angels witnessed the rebellion which brought sin. Now in the new creation it is possible for them to see godly order.

When God’s order is carried out in the Church gatherings there is the passions setting forth of Christ and His Church. The man uncovered in the position of authority represents Christ. The woman covered in the place of accepted subjection sets forth the Church in subjection to her Risen Head and Lord. What a privilege it is for a Christian woman to manifest to angels this precious truth. How gladly it should be accepted.

Praying and Preaching

Should Christian women pray or preach? Yes they can, but only within the sphere set forth by the Word of God. For them to do so in a church gathering where men are present is direct disobedience to the instructions of the Word of God. Read 1 Corinthians 34:35 and 1 Timothy 2:4-12. The truth set forth in these two passages is emphasized by the head coverings worn by the sisters “under disobedience”, “not to usurp authority over the man.”

There is nothing in the Scriptures that would forbid women praying or preaching when only women and children are present. Even then her head should be covered. These instructions were given to cover our church related activities. They do not cover the activities in the home.

Hat or Hair

There are some who believe that a woman’s hair is her covering. See verse 15. therefore she needs no other cover.

verse 13—“Judge in yourselves.” “In the light of what I have just said, Consider for yourselves it is proper or decent for a woman to offer prayer to God (publicly) with her head uncovered?”

verse 14—Does not nature teach you that for a man to have long hair it is a shame or a dishonor to him.

verse 15—A woman’s hair is her glory…it is given to her, saved and unsaved alike, for a covering. It is provided by nature.

The Christian woman is given the privilege and responsibility of wearing an additional covering which sets forth:

1. The truth of subjection.

2. The headship of man.

One would not charge all sisters who do not wear hats in church services with willful disobedience to the Word, for this truth is not taught in many churches. The world scoffs at any such teaching as would please women in a subordinate position to men. Some Christian women are influenced in their thinking and actions by the world’s standards. To reject the commandment of God is to dishonor Christ, displease the angels, dishonor her husband, and dishonor the men.

1 Corinthians 12

Chapter 11 is the fulfillment of 2 Timothy 3:12. “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

Note the contrast: He has been glorying in things which had no glory in men’s eyes, ending with a humiliating experience of being “let down” in a basket to escape the wrath of a Gentile governor.

In chapter 12 he turns our attention abruptly from being “let down” to being “caught up” to heaven, where he received visions and revelations.

verse 2—“I know a man in Christ.” Paul is speaking of himself. Paul was “caught up to the third heaven.” A likely time for this to have happened would be when he was stoned at Lystra. How Paul ever kept this secret for fourteen years is a miracle.

verse 2—He was caught up to the “third heaven.”

verse 4—He was caught up “into Paradise.”

Paradise and the third heaven is the same place. To the thief on the cross Jesus said, “Today thou shalt be with Me in paradise.” This then is where the Lord is. The dwelling place of God. “Absent from the body, present with the Lord.” This was indeed a unique experience. What an honor. Not one of his accusers had been honored in this way by God.

Note the remarkable fact—Paul’s body was lying in the dirt outside Lystra, but the real Paul was in Paradise. “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.” While there, he heard “unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” That is, he heard and saw things which are impossible for man to describe, and which God evidently did not want him to reveal or discuss.

The nearest he ever came to discussing this was when he quoted from Isaiah 44:4.

Such an experience could have made Paul an inveterate boaster. But verses 5-6 show us that while he may boast of these experiences, yet personally he will boast in his infirmities, lest anyone should think of him more highly than they should.

verse 7—Paul mentions here a “thorn in the flesh” that God gave him to keep him humble. This thorn or splinter was “for the flesh.” It both hurt and humbled. This thorn or splinter was of considerable magnitude. It was like a beam. It weakened physically and possibly affected his speech. 1 Corinthians 10:10. Notice how he mentions infirmities or weaknesses in verses 9 and 10. God’s grace and Christ’s power more than compensated for his weakness.

Verse 10 epitomizes the life and experiences of Paul showing his weakness to avert these things. He closes the section with a tremendous statement of triumph—“When I am weak then I am strong.”

verses 11-13—Paul regrets at having to boast like a foolish person. It was their belligerent attitude that had forced him into this situation. Surely they know now, on account of what he had written, that he was not inferior to the false teachers. Also, they themselves knew the signs that indicate apostleship performed among them, miracles, wonders, and mighty works.

verse 13—this verse would give the idea that when Paul was serving in Corinth and realized that there was opposition to his apostleship, he refused to take support money from them. He was supported by gifts from other churches. Then rather scathingly he adds, “Forgive me this wrong.”

verse 14—Paul is ready to take another trip to Corinth. He assures them that he will not be a burden to them financially. “I seek not your support, I seek you for Christ.”

verse 15—He expresses his deep concern and love for them. I will gladly lay my life down if it will be for your good. Even thought he more I love you, the less I be loved by you.

verse 16—This verse describes what his enemies were saying of him. They said, “He tricked you by his so-called humbleness and lowliness. He really did this to holy you under his power.”

verse 17—Paul reminds them that, no matter what his enemies thought, I did not make gain/money of you personally, nor through any of the messengers I sent you.

verse 18—Did Titus, or the brother I sent with him, take advantage of you? He and I acted in the same spirit, and walked the same paths.

verse 19—Have you been supposing, during my absence, that in my writing I have been defending myself? That is not so. What I have written, I have written before God and Christ, and it has been to build you up spiritually.

verse 20—This verse describes the condition of the assembly at Corinth, as the evil spirit of fault-finding took hold of them. In their midst there were: “debates” (several people fussing over unimportant things, quarreling), “envyings” (jealous of other people’s works), “wrath” (envy leads us to bitterness, fault-finding, anger), “strife” (in-fighting between brethren), “whispering” (a very dangerous practice, fault-finding by a little group), “back-bitings” (talking behind a person’s back, never to his face), “conceits” (arrogance, self-assertion), “insults” (internal disorder).

verse 21—As I look at your spiritual condition I am afraid that when I come to you I will be terribly upset. Because despite my letters and admonitions there are some who have not repented of the impurity, sexual vice, and sensuality which they formerly practiced.

Paul as a true man of God firstly would grieve over the situation. Then he would act with authority, rebuking evil and urging repentance.