Matthew Henry's View: Head Covering P/9

                                                      Read Part One HERE

In this post I will continue to discuss the subject of head covering since today there is a movement called the Head Covering Movement based on 1 Corinthians 11:5 and beyond

 And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonours her head - it is as though her head were shaved...

 In this post I will share the viewpoint of well known theologian Matthew Henry (1662 - 1714 A.D.)

 The following comment by Matthew Henry summarizes well the accepted practice of churches in almost every age. His words also express the weight and gravity that should be rightly attached to the headcovering, for its use demonstrates the Headship of Christ in the Church. He writes, "It was the common usage of the churches for women to appear in public assemblies, and join in public worship veiled; and it was manifestly decent that they should do so. Those must be very contentious indeed who would quarrel with this or lay it aside."

My Comment

Mathew Henry has accepted the traditional view that women should be  veiled in public worship to demonstrate the" Headship" of Christ in the Church. He, thereby continued to bring into the Church pagan cultural thinking that had been brought into the Church by by Roman Catholic Church Fathers such as Tertullian, St John Chrysostom etc and continued on by Protestant Reformers. However, the Bible does not teach on the "Headship" of Christ in the Church but it teaches that Christ is the "Head" of the Church. The term "headship" whether it is related to the "Headship of Christ" or the "headship of the man" is a man-made tradition but is not taught in Scripture. The function of Christ as "Head" of the Church is a sacrificial function which is connected to his function as Saviour and is not a rulership function. Christ in his function as Lord rules. As for the veiling of women in worship, this was not taught by Paul but taught by some of the religious leaders in the Church in Corinth and Paul corrected their teachings in the second half of 1 Corinthians 11. 

Read Part Ten HERE