Because of the Angels

Once again I find myself drawn to a portion of Scripture that has caused various men of God, theologians throughout the ages to attempt to explain this difficult verse. After all of the explanations I have read of this verse, I confess, I do not fully understand in depth, it's meaning.

Actually, it's not the whole verse I have difficulty with … it's just the last four words, the ending phrase … "because of the angels."

Here is the setting this phrase is in, which I would like to give in context so we can get a better grasp of Paul's instruction to this church.

1st Corinthians 11:1-13 ... "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered , dishonoureth his head (his authority ... Christ).
But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head : (her authority … man) for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
For this cause ought the woman to have power (ability, capacity, competency, freedom and mastery) on her head because of the angels.
Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.
Judge (distinguish) in yourselves: is it comely (proper) that a woman pray unto God uncovered?"

It is not too difficult to see what the overall instruction the Apostle Paul is trying to make in this chapter. It is that there is a proper way to observe or conduct prayer and worship as well as the partaking of the Lords Supper, commonly called Communion.

Addressing Communion, Paul writes later in this same chapter, (1st Corinthians 11:28-29) ... "But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body."

He is not saying that some are more worthy to take Communion than others, but rather that some take Communion … in an unworthy manner. This is the same point he is making concerning women praying openly or teaching in a public church service without their head being covered.

Let me say right here and now … I have nothing against women praying, teaching or preaching in churches. Thank God many are being called by God to do so. But in Paul's day it wasn't the proper thing do do. Right or wrong, tradition usually dictates. Could it be that Paul, like James and Peter, had some difficulty leaving behind the old Jewish traditions they were used to? I'm just asking.

In some Christian faiths yet today, women wear what is called "a prayer covering" or prayer caps, bonnets on their heads when they go out in public. These traditions bring a constant reminder of the presence of God in their lives … and I commend them for it.

The normal interpretation of this passage of scripture is ... that a woman should have a veil or covering on her head "because of the angels" who were supposed to be present with them, observing them in public worship.

Now why would it matter to the angels, who are always surrounding God's children, whether or not women had a prayer covering over their hair?

Some commentators in the past have stated that the angels must be "evil angels" who lust after unveiled or uncovered women, the veil or covering, being the usual symbol of modesty in Paul's day and time. I do not concur with this observation. Why would these evil beings only lust after women during worship … when they can watch and observe them bathing or in other times of nakedness elsewhere. It just doesn't sound probable to my simple mind.

But what does sound reasonable to me is that the angels of God, the ministering spirits , (Hebrews 1:14) sent out in the service of God for the assistance of those believers who are to inherit salvation, believers who pray and worship together in church … are being observed by these ministering angels which day and night show reverence and submission to God themselves in their service to Him.

So, as not to displease them, (the ministering angels) for whatever reason God has chosen, of which I still do not understand; (unless it is for women to show submission to man from which she was created) the Apostle Paul instructs women to cover their heads with a prayer covering … "because of the angels."

Earlier in this letter to the Corinthians, Paul makes this statement … "I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men." (Chapter 4, verse 9.)

The Amplified says it this way... "We have become a spectacle to the world, a show in the world's amphitheater with both men and angels as spectators."

I have used this statement by John Wesley before; let me quote him again because it fits our subject … "The affairs of earth are much the subject of the counsels of the unseen world. That world is dark to us, but we lie open to it."

Without getting all spooky … we really don't know exactly what is happening around us in the spiritual world … even while we sit in a worship service in church.

The Amplified version of our subject verse, 1st Corinthians 11:10 reads this way ... "Therefore she should [be subject to his authority and should] have a covering on her head [as a token, a symbol, of her submission to authority, that she may show reverence as do] the angels [and not displease them]."

You can decide if you like the Amplified translation for yourself.

Let us consider one other possibility of just who these angels are that Paul is speaking of.

In John's book of the Revelation, the word "angel" is also used. In Revelation, John writes to the angel of each of the seven churches. In both, Paul's writings and John's Revelation, the word "angel" … in the Greek is "ang'-el-os" ... which means a messenger; and by implication it means a pastor; although it's usually translated angel or messenger.

We know that John directed these seven physical letters to the "angels" of each church, meaning the pastors of these seven churches. So, would it be too unreasonable to suggest that Paul, speaking about women being modest by keeping the glory of their hair under a covering when they pray or teach, did so ... because pastors are mere weak men?

Only two of these three possibilities I have mentioned, in my opinion have any merit. Again, it is up to you to make up your own mind. Does it really matter … other than we should desire to please God in all things, including worship and prayer.

One last note ...

After Paul has just said that women should cover their head when they pray or prophesy in a public gathering like church, we have this in verse 15 … "But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory (brings honor) to her: for her hair is given her for a covering."

I confess I don't understand everything I know. So I ask … if God gave women the apparent glory of long hair for a natural covering … why did Paul say they needed something else to cover the covering God gave them?

Considering the number of pastors that have fallen because of moral failures … I am of the opinion that when Paul said "because of the angels," he was speaking about real men, pastors who still live in the same bodies of flesh like we dwell in. But what do I know?



Comments welcome.