At Worship in the Assembly (or Everywhere)

Where Are The Head Covering Instructions For Both Men and Women Applicable?

The answer is found in the scriptures, but we need to read carefully for the details.

First, we should look back in 1st Corinthians to see what was under discussion in the earlier chapters for . . . . . . what?

That’s right, the context!

Let’s look back to the end of the previous chapter to find out what the discussion is about.

Chapter 10 Ends With Supper at a Friend’s House

“If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake.” 1st Corinthians 10:27 NKJV (Bold added)

As 1 Corinthians 10 closes, the letter addresses everyday living, (not what we often refer to as worship services).

Eating dinner or a common meal at the house of an unbeliever is not worship in the assembly.

Dinner at the home of a non-believer, who may be eating meat offered to an idol, is a tell-tell sign that it is a secular activity.

Just like us, the Christians in Corinth had friends and family who had not accepted Jesus as Lord and Master.

Seemingly some of the Corinthians were worried about unknowingly eating meat that might have been offered to idols. Paul tells the Corinthians to eat whatever they serve at the dinner without asking any questions about it.

Going to dinner at the home of an unbeliever is undeniably outside the context of corporal worship in the assembly.

The Lord’s Supper Is Not Eaten With Meat Offered To An Idol

Some try to suggest 1 Corinthians 10:14-22 is about the Lord’s Supper arguing Paul is discussing worship practices before Chapter 11 begins with head covering. This is not the case.

The Lord’s Supper is not under consideration in 1 Corinthians 10:27 unless the Lord’s Supper was being undertaken in the home of an unbeliever.

Therefore, the context after Chapter 10 is outside the assembly.

[Sometimes it is good to remember that Paul did not insert the chapters and verses. Men later did this to make it easier for us to reference things. Paul wrote a letter to the Corinthians. Like the letters that we occasionally write that do not have chapter breaks or verse numbers.]

Chapter 11 Opens With Paul’s Praise

At the start of Chapter 11, praise is given for keeping the head covering traditions (apostolic commands) that had previously been delivered to them. 1 Corinthians 11:2

There is no indication as Chapter 11 begins that Paul has made a transition from normal daily life (eating dinner at the home of a friend) to worship in the church when the congregation is assembled.

If 1st Corinthians is read in its original form (or one of the manuscript copies), there is no chapter sub-heading titled Chapter 11.

The context of everyday life from Chapter 10 carries forward in normal communications, i.e., not when the church was gathered together.

Absent some change in the context, the logical conclusion is that the conversation has not shifted to corporate worship or activities undertaken while in the assembly. This alone is a good indication, but not conclusive.

Let’s see if we can find any other evidence to help decide the context.

Paul Leaves Head Covering For A New Topic

In 1 Corinthians 11:17, Paul signals a change of the topic to a new subject by using the words about when they come together.

This is most certainly a departure from the context of everyday life such as eating dinner in the home of a friend (unless the whole church all had the same friend!)

[Just to be clear, the church is not a building or specific physical structure. When we talk about the church, we are talking about a group of people who are believers. This can be the universal church (all of the Christians in the whole world). However, Christians often say “church” meaning a local congregation of believers who gather together to worship. This assembly of people composes the local church whether meeting in a tent, under a tree, or in a fancy building with a steeple on the top!]

Let’s read verse 17 where Paul takes up the next matter he needs to address.

“Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you. . .” letting the reader know that he is going to a new subject. 1st Corinthians 11:17 NKJV

Paul then says, “. . . since you come together not for the better but for the worse.” The words “come together” imply when the congregation meets as the assembly, but it isn’t completely clear.

What is certain by the end of verse 17 (1 Corinthians 11:17) is that Paul is moving to a new subject and has gone from praise to criticism.

The Context Shows a Change; to the Church Being Assembled

Verse 18 confirms that what appears to be the context of the assembly at the end of verse 17 is the new subject under review. “For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that. . . .” NKJV

The words “as a church” are conclusive that the criticism Paul is about to make involves a matter of formal group worship. NKJV

Verse 18 in the KJV points to the transition of the assembled congregation with the words ” . . . when ye come together in the church . . . ” 1 Corinthians 11:18 KJV

This is a new venue because the whole church has come together.

Therefore, by the signaling that Paul is changing from head covering to partaking of the Lord’s Supper in the assembly, the obvious conclusion is the first half of Chapter 11 was praying or prophesying anywhere, any place, or anytime.

Otherwise, Paul would have changed the context at the beginning of Chapter 11.

The Lord’s Supper Is Not a Common Meal; Paul Uses Harsh Words

By the time we get to verses 20-22, undeniably the harsh criticism for improperly taking the Lord’s Supper is about unacceptable corporate worship. 1 Corinthians 11:20-22

The context of Chapter 11 has certainly changed.

Paul has already approved eating a common meal with an unbeliever in Chapter 1o. See our discussion above. So there’s nothing inappropriate about having a nice meal with others.

So Paul’s stern rebuke is about something else (and involves the congregation all gathered together in one location).

“Therefore when you come together in one place, It is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? . . . .” 1st Corinthians 11:20-22 NKJV (last portion of verse 22 omitted) (Bold added)

Head Covering Is Between Eating Dinner with a Friend and the Lord’s Supper

The head covering instructions in the initial part of Chapter 11 are right between everyday life at the end of Chapter 10 and worship in assembly in the second half of Chapter 11.

This adds more force to the conclusion that the covering rules are applicable in any setting.

The inference that prayer or prophesy only occurred during the assembly or collective worship is contrary to other scriptures.

Prayer can be offered outside the assembly or inside.

Prayer can be offered silently while alone or prayer can be offered by a collective group with one person praying out loud while the others assent.

The idea of private prayers is nothing novel or unusual.

The Head Covering Rules Apply to Prayer Anywhere, Not Just Church

The command for a man not to have his head covered in prayer (and a woman to have her head covered) applies to prayer in any location or place.

Someone may disagree and say, “You’re wrong! The church is assembled when Chapter 11 begins! Prayer and prophesying are church activities.”

Guess what, I agree that prayer certainly occurs where I attend.

So it’s fair to ask, “How can I be so sure of my position”?

Glad you asked!

How Can We Be Sure Head Covering Is Not Only at Church?

Well, remember how I keep bringing up reading the Bible in context.

We have to keep reading past Chapter 11 for the context of the entire book of 1st Corinthians.

I have not overlooked that 1 Corinthians 11:5 about women praying and prophesying does not specifically identify where or when head covering is expected. I had the same thought at one point that 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 does not spell out the time or place.

If we read into Chapter 14, then the bigger picture becomes clear.

We are given another reason that shows 1st Corinthians 11:1-16 is not (merely) about head attire at church or in an assembly.

In 1 Corinthians 14:34-35, Paul says the women are to keep silent in the churches.

“Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.” 1st Corinthians 14:34-35 NKJV (Bold added)

Hey, wait a minute! Paul already said for women to cover their heads when praying or prophesying! That doesn’t make any sense! A woman can’t be silent and pray or prophesy out loud in a public setting.

Yep! Sure sounds like an inconsistency in Paul’s instructions.

If the praying and prophesy under consideration in 1 Corinthians 11:5 was during worship in the assembly, then Paul is engaged in double talk. In Chapter 11, he would be telling the women to speak in worship when veiled. Then in Chapter 14, he would be saying the women should remain silent.

Paul Is Not Giving Inconsistent Commands as an Inspired Writer

We have a foundational principle that the Bible does not contradict itself.

This doesn’t mean that sometimes certain things can’t give the appearance of inconsistency.

When this happens, then we need to keep studying to see if there is a way to be able to reconcile things. In other words, we need to figure out if all the words can be read in harmony with each other.

The instruction for silence by women in the assembly poses no inconsistency if the first half of Chapter 11 applies to any venue, i.e., in the assembly or elsewhere.

The logical resolution of the two passages is that one also includes activities everywhere, i.e., people praying and/or prophesying at home and “in church.”

Then the command for a woman to be silent when the church is assembled can be harmonized or reconciled.

A woman can wear a covering at church when a man publicly prays.

She engages or participates in prayer “in church” with her head covered while she remains silent.

At home (or other places), she can pray out loud with her children wearing a head covering. Likewise, she can pray aloud in a women’s Bible study wearing a covering over her head and hair.

What at first blush might appear to be inconsistent instructions can be read in a way that poses no conflict, i.e., the separate instructions are reconciled or harmonized.

Long story made short – women are to keep silent in church. Women are to cover their heads in prayer everywhere.

The same goes for men.

We are expected to uncover our heads for prayer “in church” or anyplace else that prayer is offered. This includes a man’s private prayers.

Therefore, the logical resolution is that the head covering instructions for praying and prophesying in 1 Corinthians 11:4-5 apply in every place or venue.

Women Prophesied in Their Homes

In Acts, we learn about four women prophesying and the specific location or venue.

“On the next day we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.” Acts 21:8-10 NKJV (Bold added)

The text identifies they were in the house of Philip. Acts 21:8

There is no indication these daughters prophesied in the assembled church.

An appropriate inference is the daughters did not violate the prohibition of women speaking when the church assembled. 1st Corinthians 14:34-35

Albeit a deduction, it is fair to surmise the daughters’ prophesying was in accord with the women keeping silent in the church.

It would be inappropriate to infer these young women disobeyed the command for women to be silent in church.

At the end of the day, the only reasonable conclusion in my judgment is the head covering commands apply at any time and in every place.

[Interestingly, most known denominations have taught that men should remove their hats and caps in prayer at ball games, rodeos, etc. The head covering principles have been practiced by men outside of the assembly. But this too seems to be changing with our progressive culture in the church.]

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