Read 1 Corinthians 11:1–16

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.

1 Corinthians 11:3

Eastern society at this time was very jealous over its women. Except for the temple prostitutes, the women wore long hair and, in public, wore coverings over their heads. For the Christian women to appear in public without the coverings, let alone to pray and share the Word in church, was both daring and blasphemous.

Paul sought to restore order by reminding the Corinthians that God had made a difference between men and women, that each had a proper place in God’s economy. There were also appropriate customs that symbolized these relationships and reminded both men and women of their correct places in the divine scheme. Paul did not say, or even hint, that difference meant inequality or inferiority. If there is to be peace in the church, then there must be some kind of order; and order of necessity involves rank. However, rank and quality are two different things. The captain has a higher rank than the private, but the private may be a better person.

Something to Ponder

Have you ever felt inferior or unequal at church? What (if anything) did you do about that?