I have recently revised my book, Christian Women’s Headcoverings in Church. This book is an analysis of Paul’s teaching on this topic in 1 Cor. 11:2-16. The new edition is quite similar to the original, but includes a (hopefully!) improved structural analysis of the passage.

The conclusions are basically the traditional ones, in particular that Paul does indeed intend for women to wear a headcovering when praying or prophesying in the meetings of the church. The reasons for this, according to the analysis in the present book, however, are not quite the same as those often put forward by supporters of the traditional interpretation. For example, the headcovering is not seen as a symbol of submission to male authority (quite the reverse in fact!!) Furthermore, the “hair” teaching in the passage (involving the “extreme” situations of “too little hair” and “too much hair”!) is understood to provide appropriate illustrations for the headcovering behaviour rather than being a primary aspect of the teaching, and the teaching about men is seen as introduced to contrast with, and further explain, the primary purpose of the passage, namely women’s headcovering behaviour in church.

I hope you will find this new edition of the book interesting and helpful. I look forward to all comments and corrections!

Categories: Chiastic and Other Structures, Corinthians, New Testament Exegesis

Tags: 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, Bible, Chiasm, chiastic, glory, hair, head covering, headcovering, Interpretation, long hair, sheared, shorn, Structure, tradition, traditional, veil, women