1 Corinthians 11:13
Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
Original Language Analysis
αὐτοῖς
G846
αὐτοῖς
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
3 of 11
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
πρέπον
comely
G4241
πρέπον
comely
Strong's:
G4241
Word #:
5 of 11
to tower up (be conspicuous), i.e., (by implication) to be suitable or proper (third person singular present indicative, often used impersonally, it i
τῷ
G3588
τῷ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
9 of 11
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Historical Context
Greco-Roman culture valued decorum (τὸ πρέπον)—behaving appropriately according to one's station, gender, and context. Respectable women demonstrated modesty in dress and demeanor. Public worship was particularly sensitive—both pagan and Jewish traditions had gendered practices. Paul appeals to shared values of propriety while grounding them in deeper theological realities. His question assumes the Corinthians' cultural instincts align with biblical principle, inviting self-reflection rather than authoritarian diktat.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you discern which cultural practices embody biblical principles versus which are merely conventional?
- What role should 'seemliness' or propriety play in Christian worship decisions?
- How can churches engage cultural norms constructively without becoming legalistic or worldly?
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Analysis & Commentary
Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?—Paul shifts from theological argument (vv. 3-12) to appeals to propriety and nature (vv. 13-15). Ἐν ὑμῖν αὐτοῖς κρίνατε (judge among yourselves)—Paul invokes the Corinthians' own sense of decorum. Πρέπον ἐστίν (is it fitting/proper?) appeals to innate moral intuition and cultural appropriateness.
This isn't relativism but incarnational theology. Biblical truth engages cultural forms without being reducible to them. In Corinthian context, an uncovered woman praying publicly was aprepon (unseemly, improper)—it violated both creational order and social propriety. Paul doesn't separate theological truth from cultural expression; he expects theological truth to shape cultural practice. The Corinthians' own judgment, properly informed by Scripture and creation, should align with Paul's instruction. This rhetorical question expects agreement—surely you see the impropriety?