1 Corinthians 11:13
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
1 Corinthians 11:13
13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
Chapter Context
1 Corinthians 11 is a pastoral epistle chapter in the New Testament that explores themes of truth, judgment, mercy. Written during Paul's third missionary journey (c. 55 CE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: The church existed in a prosperous, cosmopolitan, morally permissive Roman colony.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-34: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it demonstrates God's faithfulness despite human unfaithfulness. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within 1 Corinthians and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
1 Corinthians 11:13
13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
Analysis
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?
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.
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?
Word Studies
- God: Θεός (Theos) G2316 - God