1 CorinthiansSample

Paul now turns to the communal life of worship. Today’s topic is public prayer in the worship service. In this section, we encounter two fascinating statements from Paul: 1.) The position of man and woman 2.) The question of the head covering during prayer

What is meant by “head of the woman”? The Greek word κεφαλή (kephalē)—which Luther translated as Haupt (head)—could have various meanings in antiquity:

• Lordship / Authority – primarily over groups, not individuals.
• Origin / Source – as in the creation account (Genesis 2): the man was created first.
• Preeminent position / Prominence – in the sense of something that “comes first” or stands out (e.g., a mountain peak, a leader).

For the theologian Eckhard J. Schnabel, the third meaning is the most likely: “‘Head’ signifies a position of prominence within a relationship—not in the sense of command authority, but as an expression of an assigned role.”

In Roman society, a man's honor was closely tied to the public conduct of his wife. If a woman, for example, prayed or prophesied in the congregation without a head covering, it was considered a sign of disrespect—not only toward God but also toward her husband. In the ancient world—in both Jewish and Roman contexts—long hair was a sign of feminine dignity and beauty. Shorn or shaved hair, by contrast, was associated with shame or public humiliation. For example:

• In some cases, women caught in adultery had their hair cut off as punishment.
• Female slaves or prisoners were also sometimes shorn.
• A woman without long hair could be seen as disgraced or shameless.

The issue, therefore, revolves around shame or offense within the social context. A wife should not bring public shame upon her husband through her behavior—which was considered a very serious matter at that time.

Paul is not speaking here about “authority” in the sense of command authority, but about social roles and public perception. “The man is the head of the woman” does not imply superiority or oppression but points to an ordered relationship expressed in mutual respect. Paul also conveys in verse 11 that, in the Lord, women and men are mutually dependent and not independent of one another.

For Reflection

How can mutual appreciation and honor in a partnership look in our culture today?