1 Corinthians 11:10

[JasonG]

So a passage I have read many times stuck out to me today and I was hoping someone could help me understand 1 Corinthians 11:10 when it says, "and because of the angels". More specifically the verse states, "For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head." Can somone help me understand what the angels have to do with this passage?

1Cr 11:1 NIV - Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
1Cr 11:2 NIV - I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings, just as I passed them on to you.
1Cr 11:3 NIV - Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
1Cr 11:4 NIV - Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head.
1Cr 11:5 NIV - And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head--it is just as though her head were shaved.
1Cr 11:6 NIV - If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head.
1Cr 11:7 NIV - A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man.
1Cr 11:8 NIV - For man did not come from woman, but woman from man;
1Cr 11:9 NIV - neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.
1Cr 11:10 NIV - For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head.

[mattfivefour]

Very interesting question, Jason. To investigate the meaning of this phrase is to journey from those scholars who are as baffled as you ... to one , at least, whom I truly believe has the answer.

Let's start with the extremely honest American theologian and scholar, Albert Barnes (1798–1870). He says, " I do not know what it means; and I regard it as one of the very few passages in the Bible whose meaning as yet is wholly inexplicable."

Having said that, he did venture an opinion (he was, after all, a theologian ) He wrote: "The most natural interpretation seems to me to be this: 'A woman in the public assemblies, and in speaking in the presence of people, should wear a veil - the usual symbol of modesty and subordination - because the angels of God are witnesses of your public worship Hebrews 1:13, and because they know and appreciate the propriety of subordination and order in public assemblies." He has a hint of the truth in his answer.

Let's go on. The British theologian Adam Clarke (1760-1832) wrote: " ... the apostle uses the word angels, in its most obvious sense, for the heavenly angels; and that he speaks according to the notion which then prevailed among Jews, that the holy angels interested themselves in the affairs of men, and particularly were present in their religious assemblies, as the cherubim, their representation, were present in their temple. Thus we read in Ecclesiastes 5:6 : Neither say thou before the Angel, it was an error; and in 1 Timothy 5:21 : I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect Angels, etc. Parallel to these is what Agrippa says in his oration to the Jews, Josephus, War, b. ii. chap. 16: I protest before God, your holy temple, and all the Angels of heaven, etc. All which passages suppose, or were spoken to those who supposed, that the angels know what passes here upon earth. The notion, whether just or not, prevailed among the Jews; and if so, St. Paul might speak according to the common opinion." This is instructive and illustrative ... though it doesn't truly answer your question.

Another British theologian, John Gill (1697-1771) who slightly preceded Clarke, said: "'Because of the angels'; various are the senses given of these words, some taking them in a proper, others in a figurative sense: some in a proper sense of angels, and these either good or bad. Tertullian understands them of evil angels, and that a woman should cover her head in time of worship, lest they should lust after her; though much rather the reason should be, lest they should irritate and provoke lust in others. But it is better to understand them of good angels, who attend the assemblies of the saints, and observe the air and behaviour of the worshippers; wherefore women should cover their heads with respect to them, and not give offence to those pure spirits, by an indecent appearance: it is agreeable to the notions of the Jews, that angels attend public prayers, and at the expounding of the word; they often speak of an angel, 'that is appointed over prayers'; hence Tertullian seems to have took his notion of an angel of prayer: and of angels being present at expounding of the Scriptures." Gill says more; but I want to leave that to last. Instead let's first turn to the great scholar of Biblical Greek, Marvin Vincent (1834-1922).

Vincent builds on what Gill and the others said above and moves us much closer, in my opinion, to the truth: "The holy angels, who were supposed by both the Jewish and the early Christian Church to be present in worshipping assemblies. More, however, seems to be meant than 'to avoid exciting disapproval among them.' The key-note of Paul's thought is subordination according to the original divine order. Woman best asserts her spiritual equality before God, not by unsexing herself, but by recognizing her true position and fulfilling its claims, even as do the angels, who are ministering as well as worshipping spirits (Hebrews 1:4). She is to fall in obediently with that divine economy of which she forms a part with the angels, and not to break the divine harmony, which especially asserts itself in worship, where the angelic ministers mingle with the earthly worshippers; nor to ignore the example of the holy ones who keep their first estate, and serve in the heavenly sanctuary."

Ok, with all of that as background, let us now go back to John Gill, from whose writings all of us, Marvin Vincent included, learned a lot. Gill is, I believe, the closest of all to the proper meaning of the phrase "because of the angels". Here is the marvelous explanation of this phrase which I believe the Holy Spirit imparted to him: "This veiling of the woman in public worship because of angels, may be an imitation of the good angels, who when they sung the praises of God, and adored and glorified his perfections, covered their faces and their feet with their wings. (Isaiah 6:1)"

Hallelujah! Yes, indeed. To me that brings the crystal light of clarity to the phrase and the passage. The covering of the head was a witness that the woman accepted God's wisdom and order and her place in God's spiritual economy just as did the obedient angels. It does not imply in any way that a woman is inferior to a man in ability or value. It merely means that she knows the place God created her to fill and reflects that in the gathering of the saints. And what a witness! Look before whom we stand in our lives: according to the the Holy Spirit "we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses" (Hebrews 12:1) ... the angels and those who have gone before us. Thus we, by our behavior (of which this one thing is a part) testify to the greatness of God and the sincerity of our belief.

But, let no man bring anybody into bondage over this issue. In some places to wear a head covering would be scandalous to others. In some places to be without one would be the same. Sadly, some who wear a head covering and long dresses, and long plaited hair are bound up in their own sense of moral superiority because of the way they dress. The same is true of men who have hair of a certain length and wear certain clothes and ties. These attitudes are of the flesh ... self-righteousness and spiritual pride ... and should not exist in Christians. But our flesh is very deceptive.

So, when asked, my advice is always to let each woman decide what is right for her as an expression of her obedience and love toward God. And let no one judge her in it.

Anyway, bro, I pray this helps answer your question.

[brianbinsc]

Hallelujah! Yes, indeed. To me that brings the crystal light of clarity to the phrase and the passage. The covering of the head was a witness that the woman accepted God's wisdom and order and her place in God's spiritual economy just as did the obedient angels. It does not imply in any way that a woman is inferior to a man in ability or value. It merely means that she knows the place God created her to fill and reflects that in the gathering of the saints. And what a witness! Look before whom we stand in our lives: according to the the Holy Spirit "we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses" (Hebrews 12:1) ... the angels and those who have gone before us. Thus we, by our behavior (of which this one thing is a part) testify to the greatness of God and the sincerity of our belief.

But, let no man bring anybody into bondage over this issue. In some places to wear a head covering would be scandalous to others. In some places to be without one would be the same. Sadly, some who wear a head covering and long dresses, and long plaited hair are bound up in their own sense of moral superiority because of the way they dress. The same is true of men who have hair of a certain length and wear certain clothes and ties. These attitudes are of the flesh ... self-righteousness and spiritual pride ... and should not exist in Christians. But our flesh is very deceptive.

So, when asked, my advice is always to let each woman decide what is right for her as an expression of her obedience and love toward God. And let no one judge her in it.

Anyway, bro, I pray this helps answer your question.

Psalms 96:9

Is there anything more beautiful than someone glorifying GOD in obedient submission to HIM out of love for HIM?!

[JasonG]

Thank you brother Matt!! I need to read over this a couple of time to digest it but I liked what you said, "The covering of the head was a witness that the woman accepted God's wisdom and order and her place in God's spiritual economy just as did the obedient angels. It does not imply in any way that a woman is inferior to a man in ability or value. It merely means that she knows the place God created her to fill and reflects that in the gathering of the saints. And what a witness! Look before whom we stand in our lives: according to the the Holy Spirit "we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses"

This sheds some light on my question for sure and I really appreciate your time in doing so. Thank you again so much!!

[mattfivefour]