Topic(s):  Bible Authority, Church

Todd Clippard

There is no consensus among the scholars as to what constitutes "long hair." If you recall, when the Beatles came to the US from the UK, their hair was barely to their collar and just over the ear, yet everyone talked about their long hair (if they only knew how it would look in ten years!).

I believe the context is the Corinthian culture and the veil as a symbol of a woman showing her subjection to her husband. Failure to show her submission would bring reproach upon the church. Thus, verse 6 says if a woman prays without a covering, let her be shaved (as a temple prostitute who was in subjection to no man).

Paul "throws a monkey wrench" into the argument at hand by saying that nature teaches us a man shouldn't have long hair, and that long hair is a glory to women. Then he goes on to say that we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

I think the best thing is for us to remember that women are to look like women and men like men. Anything else brings dishonor to our Creator.