I've heard Christian, married, women on occasion say that their husbands provide a spiritual covering for them. I've always wondered what exactly that means. Any thoughts or insights?|||I have heard this as well and not sure what they mean, none have explained to my satisfaction...my husband is a good man but not a Godly man...
1 Corinthians 11: 3-5
[3] 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.
[4] Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
{"who is the mans head? verse 3 said its Christ...the man must not cover his head(Christ) while praying or prophesying or he will dishonor Christ"...}
[5] But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
{"who is the woman's head? verse 3 said its the man...the woman must cover her head(man)while praying or prophesying or she will dishonor man...}
{a man praying or prophesying covering Christ is trying to get to the Father without the Son...a woman praying or prophesying with her head uncovered is putting her husband(head) before or trying to go through her head/husband to get to Christ...}
1 Corinthians 7:12-15
[12] But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
[13] And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
[14] For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
[15] But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
{ I think sanctified and covered are the same or close to the same...we can not give our husband or wife salvation...we can be a tool, for Christ to use in their life to draw them close or to show them the way, thus helping Christ bring them into the flock...women are the weaker of the sexes that is shown throughout the scripture and in our lives as well...men are stronger and more able to make decision not based on emotion, we women tined to be lead by emotion...there are times we need our husbands strength and there are times our husband needs our softness, see we balance each other, just as God intended...}
always nosnod
if you see it in a different light please let me know, I am always open to learning what my Lord has in store for me...|||This passage is found in I Cor. 11 and has to be taken in its cultural context. In ancient Greek society it was the custom of men to keep their heads uncovered during corporate worship. It was the custom of women to keep their heads covered to show reverence to God. But that custom is no longer observed obviously, at least not in America. If you read more of Corinthians you find that they were an "anything goes" kind of church. Paul admonished them for many sins, including sexual immorality and misuse of spiritual gifts. They needed clear, firm direction on how to conduct corporate worship and their personal lives, and he provided it in his two letters to them.
The Corinthian women had thrown off their distinguishing dress of covering their heads in an effort to show that they would not be under authority within the church and perhaps even in society. According to Paul, for a woman to throw off the covering was not an act of liberation but of degradation. In doing so, she dishonors herself and her spiritual head, the man.
For a woman in that Greek cultural context, to remove her head covering was to suggest equality with men in the church. I don't believe nor does the Bible teach that women are not equal to men in privileges in the church, since in Christ there is neither male nor female. However, in the area of church authority there is a distinction. God has set up the man as the head of the wife (Eph. 5:23) and women are not to be pastors and elders (Titus 1:5-6). This is an authority structure set up by God.
The authority of God over men was very important, which is why men prayed without head coverings while women did. Why? Paul says in verses 7-10, “For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man; for indeed man was not created for the woman’s sake, but woman for the man’s sake. Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head.”
So Paul is talking about authority. When we recognize the authority of God over us, we are subjecting ourselves to His authority. Likewise, women wearing the head-covering, were publically demonstrating their subjection to the authority placed over them.
Again, this is cultural and not practiced today. God's order of authority still exists today, though, and must be respected. This goes back to the fall of man when Eve enticed Adam to eat the fruit and God said part of the curse would be her desire would be to her husband. Unfortunately, like many Christian principles it is abused time and again. In my own church we have a family whose husband/father believes his wife's role in life is to submit to his every desire and whim. She told me a couple months ago that she has had to learn that what she wants and needs doesn't matter, that she must obey and abide by his every wish and command. This is offensive and disgusting and a perversion of Scripture.
God calls women to be respectful of their husbands, but He calls men to love their wives sacrificially. This is because God understands more than anyone on earth that men and woman are wired differently, experience love and caring differently, and therefore have different needs. God wants us to be happily married, and a respectful wife who doesn't nag and complain and a loving husband who is not selfish or inattentive makes for a happy home.
Also, there are several cults who teach that women are subservient to men, and use these scriptures to propound the belief that women who cut their hair are committing sin. Again, any doctrine or belief that oppresses women is not of God. He died equally for all of us, and there is no one person, whether because of gender, personality or looks, that is better than another. We all need God equally. In His mercy, understanding human failings and needs, and in His desire to teach us how to live as happily as possible, He provided directions on how to be content and fulfilled in our marriage, our churches, and our other relationships as well.
To Him be the glory.|||Wow, good question and hard to answer, but I think the first to answers hit it pretty close if not on the head, no pun intended.... In the spiritual realm things are a LOT different than what our eyes can see, so : I see it kinda like this : and please remember, apply this to the spiritual realm even tho it is spoken as a metaphor in flesh !! As was said, Jesus is the Head of the Church, which is us believers, the man is the earthly priest in each family, as we are ONE family in Christ, we as families are ONE under the husband, even tho our husbands may not be believers or , in my husbands case, he believes but is not, tuned into God as he should be, however, that does not diminish his *head of house* duties as the second in command of our family unit after Christ, he is kinda a fog or umbrella of covering in strength, stability, honor, courage, finances, protection, guidance, all the godly qualities any man should show..... In other words, they bring down to earth, into the family unit the attributes of God.... Now the other side of the coin, in spiritual terms, is a wife can also brings those things to a husband who is NOT a believer..... Hmm, I think I need to go deeper into a study on this........ like I said, wonderful question..... thank you.... go in peace.... God bless|||Brother B,
I really like Nosnod's references and answer. Please let me add that the man is told to love his' wife as CHRIST loved the Church. CHRIST gave HIS' Life for the Church and the man should always be willing to do the same. The man of the house should always attempt to follow what is written in the BIBLE so that HE will be able to lead his' family (including his wife) in a manner that GOD wants us to. This is the spiritual covering that I believe is spoken of here. I am a KJV reader and like the KJV much more then others that are posted here. Have a great day and a wonderful week!
Thank You,
Eds
~~~
No Shortage is also correct in what she says about the customs of that period of time. Some choose to follow these customs today and I see nothing wrong with that so long as we do not force it upon others who do not believe this is a necessary part of the gospel. Remember that the Apostle Paul would not do that which might harm another's beliefs (eating pork).
~~~
.|||God created the Man to be the Head. He is the Provider, Protector and Priest over the Woman. This is the way it is suppose to be.
Ephesians 5
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