Troublesome Topic: Is it Wrong for Today’s Women to Cut Their Hair Short? 1 Cor 11

1 Corinthians 11:15

Translation

but, if a woman has long hair, it is her glory?

For long hair was given to her as a substitute for a veil.

Paraphrase

while if a woman has long hair, it is a source of glory for her? She was given the ability to look good with long hair because it coincides with, and looks like a veil, which you understand as a sign of respect and submission.

IS IT WRONG FOR TODAY’S WOMEN TO CUT THEIR HAIR SHORT?

The answer to this question must be shaped by the culture one is in. Our culture is very different from that of Paul the Apostle. The need for respect of authority remains the same, but how we show that can change from culture to culture. It is not just the length of hair that is in view here, it is more an issue of whether or not the hair style is considered by our culture to be that of a man or of a woman. I am of the opinion that it is wrong for a woman to do anything regarding her personal appearance that makes her look just like a man. Other than that I believe there is freedom to choose, as long as all other important issues, such as modesty in clothing, are also considered.

The next lesson is: This Is a Universal Principle and there Is a Cultural Element 1 Cor 11

Footnotes

1

Verse 14 and the first part of 15 are one question which asks about the accepted understanding of their cultures about the length of hair for a man and for a woman. I placed some comments after verse 14 because that is where they fit best, but doing so had the negative effect of breaking up the question.