Discussion Questions

Paul begins by saying, “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ”; how does this opening frame the head-covering passage as an issue of discipleship and imitation rather than merely personal preference? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Paul starts by saying, “Follow my example, as I follow Christ.” How does this show that head covering is about following Christ, not just personal choice?

Paul praises the Corinthians for holding firmly to the “traditions” he delivered to them; what does this suggest about how early Christians understood apostolic traditions, and how does that compare with modern Christian suspicion toward practices not easily explained by culture or personal conviction? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Paul praises the Corinthians for keeping the teachings he gave them. What does this show about how early Christians viewed the apostles’ teachings? How is this different from how many Christians today question practices they do not understand?

Paul grounds his instruction in the order of headship: “God is the head of Christ, Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman”; what does this reveal about God’s wisdom in ordering relationships, and why might this be uncomfortable for Christians shaped by modern ideas of equality and autonomy? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Paul says, “God is the head of Christ, Christ is the head of every man, and man is the head of woman.” What does this teach about God’s order in relationships? Why might this be hard for Christians shaped by modern ideas of equality and personal freedom?

Paul says a man praying or prophesying with his head covered “disgraces his head,” while a woman praying or prophesying uncovered “disgraces her head”; what does this imply about worship involving visible signs of reverence, and how do modern Christians tend to react to outward symbols of obedience? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Paul says a man dishonors his head if he prays or prophesies with his head covered, and a woman dishonors her head if she does so uncovered. What does this teach about visible signs of respect in worship? How do Christians today often respond to outward signs of obedience?

Paul connects a woman’s uncovered head with the shame of having her hair cut off or shaved; how should a serious Christian group wrestle with Paul’s use of shame, honor, and visible distinction in a culture that often treats such categories as outdated or oppressive? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Paul connects a woman’s uncovered head with the shame of having her hair cut off or shaved. How should serious Christians think about shame, honor, and visible differences when our culture often sees these ideas as old-fashioned or harmful?

Paul says the man “is the image and glory of God,” while “the woman is the glory of man,” and then points back to creation; how does Paul’s appeal to creation challenge the view that his instruction was only a temporary local custom? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Paul says man is the image and glory of God, and woman is the glory of man. Then he points back to creation. How does this challenge the idea that his teaching was only a local custom for that time?

Paul says the woman ought to have “a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels”; how should the mention of angels affect the way we understand the spiritual seriousness of obedience in worship? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Paul says a woman should have a symbol of authority on her head “because of the angels.” How should this make us think about the spiritual importance of obedience in worship?

Paul balances his teaching by saying, “In the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman”; how does this prevent both rebellion against God’s order and abuse of authority within that order? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Paul also says that, in the Lord, woman is not independent of man, and man is not independent of woman. How does this stop both rebellion against God’s order and the misuse of authority?

Paul appeals to “nature itself” regarding long hair for men and women; what assumptions about created distinctions between male and female does this passage make, and how do those assumptions confront current Christian attitudes toward gender expression? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Paul points to “nature” when talking about long hair for men and women. What does this passage assume about the differences between male and female? How does this challenge today’s Christian views on gender expression?

Paul ends by saying, “If one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God”; what would it look like today to receive this passage with humility rather than contentiousness, especially in churches where head covering is ignored, dismissed, or treated as irrelevant? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Paul ends by saying that the churches of God have no other practice and that people should not be quarrelsome. What would it look like today to receive this passage with humility, especially in churches that ignore or reject head covering?