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Paul uses the word “nature” in 1st Corinthians 11:14.
“Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor
to him?” 1st Corinthians 11:14 NKJV
Some suggest “nature” refers to the culture of Corinth at the time the letter was written as though Paul is pointing to the lifestyle that existed or societal norms at the time.
As I suggested throughout this site, I believe the Bible must be read in the context of the whole book to obtain a complete understanding of what God is communicating to us.
In the book of Romans, Paul uses the word “nature” (not as the values, mores, or social norms found in the local community), but in the broader sense of our physical world.
In other words, “nature” relates to the things built into us as part of God’s design. In this respect, nature is an instinctive sense of what is fitting or right.
In nature, there are innate biological differences between the two sexes that God has hardwired into us if you will.
For example, God instills in mankind a desire for sexual relations with the opposite sex.
“For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.” Romans 1:26-27 NKJV (Bold added)
In nature, we desire the opposite sex. A same-sex attraction is unnatural.
If this were not universally true, then humans would no longer exist. It is the uniting of the opposite sexes that produces offspring.
The argument suggested by some is that “nature” refers to the culture of Corinth at this specific time in history. They contend that the word “nature” in 1st Corinthians 11:14 is about the cultural norms existing in Corinth at the time.
However, this is inconsistent with the way Paul uses “nature” in Romans 1:26-27 NKJV.
I see a strong parallel between Romans Chapter 1 and 1st Corinthians Chapter 11 for determining the correct meaning of “nature” as being those things that God has put in us as part of creation.
In nature men and women instinctively understand there are differences between males and females. Even small children recognize the difference between boys and girls.
Those in Rome had exchanged the natural uses of the opposite sex for what is against nature.
In 1 Corinthians 11:14-15, Paul argues that even nature (the instinct God built into males and females) tells us that long hair on a woman brings honor whereas long hair on a man brings dishonor to himself.
Observe, that Paul does not say that long hair on a man is sinful (as some teach). He says the long hair is a dishonor to the man, not a sin.
Let’s tie all of this together.
A man or a woman who fails or refuses to enter into prayer or prophesy with the head covering that God assigns brings dishonor and shame. Paul uses the analogy of nature to make his point. A reasonable interpretation of “nature” is to give it the same meaning in both Romans and 1st Corinthians because Paul wrote both books.
It stands to reason he used the word the same way in both places.
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