Was head covering only for the Corinthian Church?

Overview

• Paul concludes his teaching about head covering in 1 Corinthians 11:16: “But if anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God.”

• Some readers find the word “custom” or “practice” in verse 16 confusing and assume it means the instruction is just an optional or local tradition.

• Because the practice of head covering has mostly disappeared from Western churches nowadays, it can be hard to picture a time when head covering was normal for all Christians.

Answer

• In verse 16, Paul explains that neither the apostles (“we”) nor any of the “churches of God” recognize any practice other than women covering their heads during worship.

• By pointing to the universal practice of all early Christian communities, he shows that head covering was a standard and authoritative rule for all believers.

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Explanation

1. Having already provided several other arguments for the practice of head covering, Paul seeks to wrap up any remaining debate (or “contention”) by appealing to the universal Christian practice among the other churches: women using head coverings and men praying with uncovered heads.

2. His appeal indicates that this norm was expected among churches across different cultures. It was not just a local rule for Corinth. The phrase “churches of God” refers to the entire body of Christ in the first century, including believers in places like Judea, Rome, and Ephesus.

3. How could this practice be considered authoritative across different cultures? In verse 2, Paul had defined his instructions as “traditions” or “ordinances” (Greek: paradosis), a term used for apostolic teachings that believers are commanded to “hold firmly” (1 Corinthians 11:2).

4. Some English Bibles translate the phrase in verse 11 as: “we have no such practice.” In context, this would mean that Paul and the other churches had no practice of allowing women to pray or prophesy with their heads uncovered.

5. Verse 16 is supported by Early Church writings and artwork, which indicate they carried on the practice of head covering.