Re: Big head-covering problems

On 6 May, 22:52, Robert Billing <uncle...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
celia wrote:
Now how do you interpret "because of the angels ?" Contemporary or
biblical references please.

It always seems to me that something is lost in translation here. The
word translated "angel" means IIRC "messenger", and hence it is
reasonable to read this as "because of messengers" or to use a more
modern idiom "because of the message it sends".

This of course sits easily with my contention that the real force of the
passage is "do not cause offence" with a "worked example" for the
particular society to which the epistle was written.

The alternative reading, that length of hair and presence or absence of
hat, is a matter of importance to God, and that this is independent of
the society in which we move, seems to contradict the general tenor of
scripture.

In this sort of case I tend to look to the mandatum novum itself, as
being the clearest possible exposition of what practical Christianity is
about. We are commanded to love one another, and that includes
unbelievers. Now we are supposed to use our brains to decide how we can
best express our love.

Your general conclusion certainly rings true.
I considered the 'messenger' interpretation, visiting Christian
leaders perhaps, but it didn't quite work in the context.
Part of the snag with the 'fitting in with the customs of society so
as not to offend' argument is that that would be rather like choosing
your headwear in present day London in order not to offend society the
customs covered just about every option.
Without this passage as a Jew and a Roman citizen I would have
guessed that Paul would have covered his head when praying and the
women although covered while out and about would have removed their
head covering while praying.
It is curious that while staying in the home of Christian Jews who
had recently come from Rome, next door to another family of Christians
with a Jewish heritage and having as one of the most prominent
converts Crispus, the former leader of the synagogue, and worshipping
in the synagogue, Paul appears to be trying to turn Jewish and Roman
custom on its head in favour of the custom of some of the surrounding
pagans.
The problem is compounded by the arguments that Paul puts forward
for men praying bareheaded and women covered all seem rather faulty.
It was while reading a series of posts by ex Mormons on how the
biggest step they had to take when leaving their former faith was the
wearing of normal underwear again rather than the 'garments' that
signified that commitment that I realised that small though the custom
of head covering in prayer might seem it was actually psychologically
quite difficult to change. For Paul to move so far from the tradition
that he was brought up in, and most of the Christians he worshipped
with had also been part of, would I think have required a direct
command from God. Paul mentions no such divine order in this passage
but instead appeals to tradition and says his readers should judge for
themselves.

Celia



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