The Centrality of the Cross: A Study in I Corinthians, Worship and the Roles of Men and Women, Part 4, I Corinthians 11:1-16

 

Why would the hair issues of I Corinthians 11 be cultural?

Point 1: The context is the discussion on the practices of the church in corporate worship.

Point 2: Paul uses the words traditions and practices with reference to this issue (verses 1 and 16).

Point 3: Head coverings is discussed only once in the entire New Testament and is at the prompting of a question from this church.

Point 4: Long hair for men was not universally condemned by God; Sampson, Absalom and Paul himself as examples.

Principle: Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.  I Corinthians 11:3

I.     In Corinthian, the way men and women wore their hair or covered their head spoke to their relationship to Christ and to each other, I Corinthians 11:4-7

II.   The headship of man goes back to the original creation event, I Corinthians 11:8-9

III.  Examples of humility, self-denial and submission

1. Christ in His relationship to God the Father  
2. Paul the apostle in his relationship to the church at Corinth
3. The church and her relationship to Christ
4. The angels and their relationship to God?
5. Women and their relationship to men

IV.    However, in Christ and in the creation, men and women are equal, I Corinthians 11:11-12

V.     In light of all of this, following traditions and practices in the church that do not undermine these fundamental principles, I Corinthians 11:13-16