In the environment addressed by the Apostle Paul, a head covering was primarily an expression of submission. This explains the custom of wearing it for women—a covering on a woman's head signifies her dependence on her husband (or if she has none, on her father, brother, or son)...
In the environment addressed by the Apostle Paul, a head covering was primarily an expression of submission. This explains the custom of wearing it for women—a covering on a woman's head signifies her dependence on her husband (or if she has none, on her father, brother, or son). A woman without a male protector (husband, father, brother, or son) was not a full member of society. In fact, she possessed virtually no civil or property rights. At the same time, the head covering also became a sign of a woman's chastity—of belonging to her husband (and implicitly, to no one else). A woman who did not wear a head covering was considered a "woman of loose morals." From this it is evident why the apostle recommends that Christian women wear a covering, especially in church (at that time, Christians were often accused of cultic debauchery, and Paul's requirement countered this accusation).
By recommending that men not cover their heads during prayer, the Apostle Paul seeks to emphasize the distinction between the sexes. In the highly licentious society of antiquity, where various, as they say today, "orientations" flourished, this was also quite relevant. Note that the apostle appeals precisely to the distinction, not the inequality, of the sexes. The fact is that in most ancient societies, especially Eastern ones, women were generally not permitted to participate in temple prayer and worship. This applied particularly to Judaism. The only exceptions were certain unbridled orgiastic cults, but we are not speaking of those...
In his recommendations, the apostle does not seek to establish Jewish or non-Jewish norms of piety. Rather, he formulates a new norm, common to both Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians. He proceeds from the customs of the local society, thereby giving his faith a truly universal character. Due to their novelty, these norms were quite difficult for both former Jews and former pagans, yet they possessed practically no national-folkloric coloring. This is especially important to bear in mind given the folkloric nature of contemporary attitudes toward Christianity...
However, the norms of piety proposed by Paul were perfectly clear both to Christians of all backgrounds and to the surrounding unbelievers. It is precisely these people that the Apostle Paul has in mind when he urges (here and elsewhere) not to give them any cause for stumbling. In modern terms, he demands that all Christians be dressed decently, appropriate to their calling, age, and gender. It is this very norm of decent attire that Paul refers to in verse 16 as the custom of the Churches.
