Prayer of Thanksgiving: Thank God that he hears and answers our prayers and for his steadfast love that endures forever.

Prayer of Supplication: Pray for those in our congregation who live alone and for our youth Sunday School teachers.

Bible reading and commentary:

Read: 1 Corinthians 11:2-16

In the next major section of the letter (11:2-14:40), Paul addresses a series of problems related to worship in the Corinthian church. In each case, self-promotion, a spirit of independence, and neglect of others' good are at work. Only through the power of the gospel can such patterns of sin be displaced by love (13:1-13).

The first such problem concerns women who are dishonoring their husbands by praying and prophesying without wearing head coverings (11:5). Interpreters debate precisely how Paul’s discussion of praying and prophesying with covered heads applies to today’s church. Whatever the case, the apostle’s instructions are rooted in two clear gospel principles.

First, Christ and his Father are bound to one another as closely as a head to a body (“the head of Christ is God” v 3). Within this relationship of love, Christ gladly honors his Father, and neither seeks to establish independence from the other. Therefore, when Scripture calls believers to unity, love, and the sharing of common life, it is calling us to respond and reflect patterns of divine love. In marriage (vv 3-6; Eph. 5:21-33), this means that a wife should respect her husband’s authority (as the Son honors the Father), and a husband should delight in his wife (as the Father delights in the Son). And while a spirit of mutual dependence should certainly characterize a marriage (1 Cor. 11:11-12), the principle applies to all other relationships in the body of Christ as well.

Second, reflecting the love that exists within the Trinity has been God’s purpose for his image-bearers since creation (vv 7-9, 12). In the church, God is restoring relationships that have been distorted by sin, so that his unchanging character may be displayed. It is therefore crucial that believers’ conduct in worship reflect the character of divine love.

R. C. Sproul: Orthodox Christianity believes original meaning determines faithful application; therefore, we study the background of each biblical book. When we know the particular issues being addressed, we can better identify which teachings are principles and which are customs. Principles are God’s standards for all times and all places. For instance, “do not murder” (Ex. 20:13) remains valid today. Customs, on the other hand, are not eternal norms. Things like currency do not transcend time and space. Tithing as a principle (Num. 18), for example, holds true, and we must give money to the church today. However, the custom of paying with shekels is not the way in which we can be faithful to this principle in the United States today!

Unfortunately, distinguishing principle from custom can be difficult. Today’s passage is a fine example of this. Many believe women must continue to wear head coverings today because Paul apparently bases his teaching on the principle of a husband’s authority (1 Cor. 11:7–10). Yet certain factors may indicate head covering is only a custom. Paul might have been trying to shield Christian women from charges of immorality since prostitutes in Corinth advertised their “trade” with uncovered heads.

Sometimes, after we have studied the background of a text thoroughly, we are still not sure whether it is giving us a principle or a custom. But it is better to treat a custom as a principle than a principle as a custom. If we think a custom is a principle, we are only guilty of being overly scrupulous. However, in disregarding what is really a principle because we say it is a custom, we disobey God. When faced with unclarity, treat the biblical teaching as if it is a principle.