Old/New Testament

11 Copy me, just as I’m copying the Messiah.

Male and female in the worshiping church

² I congratulate you that you are remembering me in everything, and you are keeping the traditions as I handed them on to you. ³ But I want you to know this: that the Messiah is the “head” of every man, and the husband is the “head” of every wife, and God is the “head” of the Messiah. ⁴ Every man who prays or prophesies while wearing something on his head brings shame on his “head”; ⁵ and every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered brings shame on her “head.” It would be just the same if she had her head shaved. ⁶ For if a woman isn’t covered, then she should be shaved; but if it’s shameful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then let her be covered.

⁷ A man ought not to cover his head, you see; he is the image and glory of God. But a wife is the glory of her husband. ⁸ For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. ⁹ And man was not created for the sake of woman, but woman for the sake of man. ¹⁰ That’s why the wife must have authority on her head, because of the angels. ¹¹ However, woman is not apart from man, nor man apart from woman, in the Lord; ¹² for just as woman came from man, so now man comes into the world by means of woman. And everything is from God.

¹³ Judge the matter for yourselves. Is it really appropriate for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? ¹⁴ Doesn’t nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is shameful to him, ¹⁵ but if a woman has long hair, it’s her glory? Her hair is given her, you see, instead of a covering. ¹⁶ If anyone wants to dispute this, we have no other custom, nor do the churches of God.