Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. 2Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
1 Corinthians 11:1-2
He is restating the ordinances and instructing on the proper attitude that the assembly should have.
1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
The order of authority in the family is God, Christ, man, woman.
1 Corinthians 11:4-6 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 5But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. 6For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
The opposite of covered is to be shorn or shaven. This sets up verses 14-15.
14Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 15But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
1 Corinthians 11:7-9 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. 8For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. 9Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
It is just a fact of creation that the woman was made for the man. This does not make her less than a man.
1 Corinthians 11:10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
I do not know the meaning of this nor have I ever heard one from any source. The only reference to it is Genesis, where the Angles leaving their first estate to marry women. Until further light is given, this is all we have.
1 Corinthians 11:11-12 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. 12For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.
That is: God created both man and woman. Though different, in the Lord they stand equal before the Lord as desiring to have the same compassion, mercy, and grace on both, as well as holding them to the same standard of responsibility to obey His commandments.
1 Corinthians 11:13-15 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? 14Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 15But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
The covering spoken of is your hair. Men should not have long hair, women should have long hair. If you are a man who cannot tell how long long is, shave your head. If you are a woman who cannot tell how long long is, never cut your hair. What are the first things covered by long hair? Your ears and back of the neck.
1 Corinthians 11:16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
Verse 16 is simply stating the it is not something to waste time debating. If one does not desire to obey this admonition, so be it. Let the faithful condemn him by obeying.
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