1 Corinthians 11.10: Women covering their heads

[Baroness]

I was just reading Scripture this morning, about women covering their heads when praying etc. Personally, I have no problem with this and funnily enough feel "naked" when not wearing a scarf to Church. But, I Corinthians 11:10 says, "For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels." What does this particular verse mean? How will covering our heads give us power, and in what relation is that to the angels? Ideas anyone?

[Jose Lauro Strapasson]

I think among greek the covering the head was a sign of slavery and Paul thinks man to have power over woman. I don't know how much we orthodox cristians must agree with all of saint Paul says.

[Baroness]

I guess I'm not asking so much about the head covering - just the angels part of the verse and what that means.

[Ken McRae]

Regarding his traditions, (i.e teachings,) St. Paul says the following, in 1 Cor. 7:

1: Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
2: Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
3: Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
4: The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
5: Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
6: But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

In verse 6, specifically, he says, "I speak this by permission, and not of commandment." In other words, God did not command him to deliver this saying, but rather "permitted" it. There is a difference. In another place, however, he says that all Scripture is inspired by God, and so it is impossible for any true believer to reject a single "jot or tittle" of it, (with regard to questions of conscience about faith and practice,) and still be saved.

Now regarding the angels, what I'm about to say is just my opinion, and I readily submit to the authority of the holy Fathers in all matters. Now, I wonder if by his reference to the angels, St. Paul is referring to the rebellion that saw one third of heaven's angelic host cast down. And it may be that the angels were led astray by the pride of life, and infatuation with their own beauty. So, then, the head covering is a sign of humility and submission to the power or authority ordained by God.

We know from this teaching about veiling, as well as many other parts of Scripture, that the angels are in our midst during divine liturgy. Now what I say next may be even harder for some to accept, but I wonder if some angels can be tempted by female beauty. I'm thinking now, of course, about the sons of God mentioned in the Book of Genesis, who took women for wives and produced a race of giants. Perhaps the veil is a reminder of that as well, though I am not so confident about this, to be honest.

I know Tertullian has an essay on veiling, but I'm not so sure today what he says about it. I re[a]d it over 10 years ago, but memory is presently failing me. God have mercy on me for speaking, and especially if I have erred.

(Message edited by theophilus on 22 March, 2006)

[Boulos]

This might be very usefull:
"On Account of the Angels Why I cover My Head"
(from the Spring 1997 issue of The Handmaiden, Conciliar Press).

[Baroness]

Dear all ... thank you for your posts. It seems to me, from what I have read, that perhaps the scarfe is a beautiful sign of our ultimate and willing submission to God, and therefore giving us power over the angels (as an example) because they did not submit to God??? Thank you everyone for your help in regards to this Scripture.

[Irene]

I found this article: On Account of the Angels why I cover my head (http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/headcoverings.aspx?print=ok) at the Orthodox Info site, I guess this is the same article that Boulos refers to. ...irene

[Grace Singh]

this verse may (may) be saying that as the angels are obedient to God, Christian women ought to wear a sign of power or authroity on the heads to show their obedience to God. as the angels obey God, so should the woman obey God in covering her head when she prays, and as a sign that she is under God's authority, just as the holy angels are under God's authority, and obey Him.

the verse of Paul's can also be read to say simply that a woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head, and that the long hair of a woman has been given her as a covering.

"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...But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God." (1 Corinthians 11:5,15-16)