It may be that some at Corinth misunderstood Galatians 3:28. Does the new creation obliterate the old creation? No, for there are gender distinctions in worship as elsewhere. There are worldly traditions (Matt.15:2, 3,6; Gal.1:14; Col.2:8) and there are apostolic traditions (11:2; 1 Thess.2:15; 3:6).
- Is he referring to men and women or husband and wives?
- The Christian woman who prophesies or prays ought to have her head covered, but with what? Plutarch said that, except at funerals, men had their heads uncovered while women covered their heads.
- Is Paul argument still binding? See 1 Cor.16:20 and John 13:14.
- Equal in essence, not function.
- 11:3. Compare John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38 (function) with John 10:30 (being).
- 11:9-12. The first woman came from a man (Adam), but after that we are all born of women. The reference to angels in verse 10 means that angels watch over the gatherings of Christians – 1 Tim.5:21. Bruce Winter has argued that they are messengers, or spies.
- Viva la difference.
- 11:4-7; Deut.22:5. Calvin used to wear a skullcap as he preached. George Whitefield often preached in a wig.
- 11:13 seems to be just an appeal to our judgment.
- 11:14-15. Here Paul appeals not to custom but nature.
- The consensus, including in the churches, was clear – read 11:16.
- What do we do today?
- we must maintain the principle of equality of essence but inequality of function in man-woman roles.
- some of the customs may not be applicable to us today. Daniel Wallace argues that the symbol may not be the same today, but the principles behind it remain.