Veil

Woman’s veil Is God’s commandment

Christ commanded that during worship service men should not cover their heads, but women ought to cover their heads.

1 Cor. 11:1-6 『Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ....』

The Apostle Paul emphasized that his teachings were from Christ, not from his own personal opinions.

1 Cor. 11:4-5 『Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head-it is just as though her head were shaved.』

Through Christ's teaching, we discover that men ought not to cover their heads, but that women should cover their heads while worshiping God.

During the time of Moses, the head of a woman stood for the man. Thus, it was regarded as very shameful if a woman uncovered her head in front of a man or even loosened her hair. In fact, when a Jewish man chose to marry a Gentile captive, he would shave the woman's head to wash away the shame of her prior ignorance of God.

The words, "It is just as though her head were shaved," refer to this very shameful occurrence.

Women’s veil shown through the providence of creation

Even through the Creation, we can see that men ought not to cover their heads, but that women should cover their heads while in the presence of God.

1 Cor. 11:7-9 『A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man....』

God created Eve as Adam's helper. In the work of preaching the new covenant, too, man is the head and woman is the helper; however, men must not arrogantly ignore their female counterparts. As it is written:

1 Cor. 11:11-12 『In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.』

Could the gospel work be completed by only men? Or, if only women worked for the gospel, could it be fulfilled? Men and women should help each other in the gospel work. Both should remain devoted to their missions and faithful to the titles and positions given to them by God.