Priscilla Papers | Academic Journal | Summer 2006
An interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed academic journal exploring Bible interpretation, theology, church history, and other disciplines as they address a biblical view of women’s equality and justice in the home, church, and world.
"Priscilla and Aquila instructed Apollos more perfectly in the way of the Lord." (Acts 18:26)
Academic JournalsThe opinions expressed in these articles are those of the authors. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of CBE International or its members.
Summer 2006
Volume: 20 | Number: 3
Understanding “Head” and Head Covering
The meaning of “head” and the significance of head coverings are essential elements in today’s global Christian discussion.
Contents
When a woman covers her head in faiths as diverse but related as Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, we should all want to know why—and what that requirement means for her and for all women, as well as for men.
In the case of our understanding of “head,” an enormous emotional and spiritual significance is attached, as the Bible declares God to be the head of Christ and man to be the head of woman. To declare the Father as “boss, chief, or authority over” is to deny the status of the eternally begotten Son, [...]
C. F. D. Moule wrote that the problems raised by 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 “still await a really convincing explanation.” G. B. Caird added, “It can hardly be said that the passage has yet surrendered its secret.” W. Meeks regarded it as “one of the most obscure passages in the Pauline letters.”
The time is more than ripe for church men and women to tear off their intellectual chadors so that the genderless, awesome love of Jesus can be presented to a suffering humanity: to veiled and enslaved women in the Middle East, as well as to our own congregations.
What is the niddah? The niddah ritual separation is historical in Jewish, Muslim, and some other religions. The niddah veil is their warning signal. They believe, if a woman is menstruating, she is unclean.
This volume truly represents a landmark in the reclamation of a good word, "complementarity," from its misuse by the equal-but-unequal school of thought. A formidable collage of scholars with complementary gifts of the Spirit have contributed to a book which is sure to become a primary textbook and resource in the Christian circles of church [...]
