3304.— Ancient Customs of Dress
By Editor
Is not 1 Cor. 11:6-15 binding on us now? It certainly does not mean that one's hair is a covering according to the first verse of the last clause. It would be very difficult to understand what the apostle says here and in other places, unless we know what the custom was in the times in which he wrote. It certainly would not seem to us that even this should bind the Corinthian brethren, as indicated by verse 16, "But if any man seemeth to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God." There were certain customs among the heathen concerning their prophetesses and teachers in the wearing of their hair and their general appearance. Unseemly things were done, things which were disgraceful and disorderly, and confusion came into their assemblies in consequence. What the apostle wishes is that these things should not come into the Christian church. The whole sum of it is that the gifts of the Spirit of God ought to teach order, system, proper decorum, and seemly behavior. The whole thing is summed up in verse 40 of chapter 14, "Let all things be done decently and in order." So the actions and appearances and dress of women ought to be in harmony with these general rules. There is one thing that is profitable which it seems that we ought to gather from this scripture. The general principles of every great truth of God are always binding. Inasmuch as the apostle gives us no particulars, no definite instructions as to how hair ought to be worn, we certainly do not feel ourselves bound by his instructions to any particular mode; but we ought to receive in our hearts the principle of modesty and reverence which is here inculcated.