paul and polygyny

Why a head covering for a woman … explained …

1 Corinthians 11:3-15
Why did the Apostle Paul teach that women must wear a physical veil to church services? (while praying and prophesying)

To understand, we have to look at the context in which wearing a head covering is commanded.

The real issue at hand is a woman’s requirement to be in subjection to authority. In verse 3 it says “But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.”

In God’s government, there is a clear chain of authority. A woman is subject to her husband. A husband is subject to Christ. Christ is subject to God the Father.

In verse 4, the Bible says that a man should not have his head covered because it symbolizes subjection. A head covering would dishonor his God-given position as the head of his wife.

In verses 7-10 says:
Men are “the glory and image of God” but women are “the glory of man.” Men were not created for the sake of women, but women were created for the sake of men.”

“Therefore, FOR THIS REASON, women are to have a SYMBOL OF AUTHORITY on their heads.” What reason? To symbolize the fact that women were created for the sake of men and are to be under a man’s authority. 

A head covering is a testimony that a woman agrees with this and has accepted God’s authority structure.  Long hair DOES NOT communicate this message.  Anyone can have long hair and be an absolute debauched heathen. Long hair does not communicate ANY OF WHAT God wants to be communicated by wearing an actual covering of some type.  God wants women to have a visual symbol of authority on their heads.

Verse 10 states that another reason why women should have a symbol of authority on their heads is because of the angels. In the context of stressing the chain of authority in God’s Kingdom, having a symbol of authority/submission on one’s head to show respect for the church leaders in authority is far more likely than doing it for angelic beings to witness.

Therefore, Paul concludes, a woman must appear in her God-designed role as a submissive wife (Genesis 2:18; 3:16). Her submissive appearance renders glory to her head, her husband.
For further proof that this is what God intends, the passage refers to the order of creation.  God created a man first and then the woman. The order of creation is significant; it shows who is to be in authority. The Bible also says that Eve was created as a helper and companion for Adam (verse 9), rather than vice versa, as a final proof for his conclusion that a man should not cover his head.
So this passage demonstrates that a woman should wear a head covering to symbolize her submission to her father and then her husband and always to God. This is the real point of the passage and this is why a woman’s hair is not sufficient to demonstrate this submission.