How do we know if/when a Bible verse is directly applicable to us and when one isn’t?

Paul is speaking to the Christians in Corinth and it's about public worship. "But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God" (1 Corinthians 11:3). The implications of this verse are found in the rest of the passage. The orderof authority is: God the Father, God the Son, the man or husband, and the woman or wife. The veil or covering on the head of a believing Corinthian wife showed that she was under the authority of her husband, and therefore under submission to God.

Paul is addressing an issue related to the Corinthian culture that was being allowed to disrupt the church. For a woman to have a shaved head was a disgrace (and, in Jewish thinking, a sign of mourning, Deuteronomy 21:12). Her hair was her “glory” (1 Corinthians 11:15). In the Corinthian culture, women normally wore a head covering as a symbol of their submission to their husbands. Paul affirms the rightness of following that cultural mandate—to dispense with the head coverings on women would send the entirely wrong signal to the culture at large. In fact, Paul says that, if a Christian woman refuses her head covering, she might as well shave her hair off, too (verse 6). A woman who refused to wear a covering in that culture was basically saying, “I refuse to submit to God’s order.” Therefore, the apostle Paul is teaching the Corinthians that hair length or the wearing of a “covering” by the woman was an outward indication of a heart attitude of submission to God and to His established authority.

God's order is that the husband is the head of the wife as God is the head of Christ, but there is no inequality or inferiority implied. God and Christ are equal and united, just as the husband and the wife are one. This is not a passage that teaches the woman is inferior to man or that she should be submissive to every man. It is teaching God's order and spiritual headship in the marriage relationship. In the Corinthian culture, a woman who covered her head during worship or when she was in public displayed her submission to authority.

In today's culture, we no longer view a woman's wearing of a head covering as a sign of submission. In most modern societies, scarves and hats are fashion accessories. A woman has the choice to wear a head covering if she views it as a sign of her submission to the authority of her husband. However, it is a personal choice and not something that should be used to judge spirituality. The real issue here is the heart attitude of obedience to God's authority and submission to His established order “as to the LORD” (Ephesians 5:22). God is far more concerned with an attitude of submission than an outward display of submission via a head covering. First Timothy 2:9-10, "I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God."

Furthermore, how would you apply 1 Corinthians 11 to unmarried Christian women? Was Paul saying they too must wear a headcovering during public worship? Insisting that women cover their hair in church reminds me of churches where traditions and man-made rules and regulations are more important than heart-felt worship. If Christians want to empty their churches overnight, then they should refuse entry to every woman who does not cover her hair. How stupid would that be?

The Bible says that women should remain quite in the Christian congregation and "if she has a question she should ask her husband."

There is no law in the Bible that says a woman can not cut her hair either.

Being a woman and a Bible student for decades, I know when a verse is directly speaking to me--and I hope all other women do too, and when I don't I can ask my husband who is the head of the house to help me to understand what I can't.

God bless all faithful Christians who follow this admonition!

I believe that God gave commands to Disciples in that time because the Israelite people were confused and controlling . Back then they viewed the man as the center of the Universe. God and Son wants to share the premise that we are all equal and we are all together ONE in the LORD.

YOU will know when God addresses and applies a message specifically for and to you . There will be no mistaking it. You will know exactly what he expects and what he wants from you. Whether it be your time or your attention or for you to cease a particular sin in your life, God will get your attention eventually. If there have been a few instances in the past months about a particular matter this is probably God trying to get your attention. It is not uncommon for us to ignore or turn our head or just keep them in the sand for a time until we can no longer ignore his warnings. But you will know...

Well...that passage does not require us to know the answer to that question. Why?

Because the passage instructs Christians in this way:

- when a woman is praying or prophesying (presumably in public - there's not point to the instruction if she is praying or prophesying in private)

- the woman must do one of these things

- - wear a veil (cover her head)

- - cut her hair (to an unspecified length)

- - shave her head

Now: in some cultures it is probably true that women do not frequently have their hair cut, and so in those cultures women would have to deal with whether or not that instruction is applicable to them. However, in most cultures, women do have their hair cut frequently - and so, in most cultures, women abide by that instruction voluntarily, as a matter of custom or fashion, and are not required to act differently than they normally do because of that Bible passage.

That being said: it seems to me that all of Paul's instructions were instructions for "Christians at large" and not for a particular group of Christians. I mean: if any particular instruction was for a particular group, that instruction was given only because **that group was not already following that practice** as were other groups. It would be pretty unreasonable to think that Paul gave one instruction to one church-full of Christians but allowed all of the other churches-full of Christians to ignore that same instruction - wouldn't it?

Corinthians also tells women not to speak in church. This is one of those things about the Bible that bugs non-believers when Christians go on about gay marraige.

Well, why are you allowing women to speak in church and why aren't Christian women covering their heads?

At the same time, I do understand (sometimes) the dilemma. Corinthians is a letter written by Paul to a church in Corinth (or the people there) and that needs to be taken into account when reading it. The Bible isn't like the Quran- a direct word written to all Christians. So sometimes I get it. I think that's why it's left up to the Pope and the church.

Honestly, if you don't listen to any authority, do what you feel is right. You can ask your church for guidance as well.

The whole Bible is still applicable to us today. in 2 Tim 3:16-17 it mentions "All Scripture is inspired of God+ and beneficial for teaching,+ for reproving, for setting things straight,* for disciplining in righteousness,+ 17 so that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work."

So the whole bible, not part of the Bible or what we only like in the Bible is benefitical for us. The hard thing is understanding the true meaning of the scriptures to know how to apply it in our lives. For example, 1 Cor 11:5 is still followed but it pertains to when women conduct certain religious activites that are bibically assign to men that need a women to take the lead, she would wear the headcovering as a sign of authority and respect for arrangement. Again it does take deep meditation to fully grasp how each scripture can be applied in our lives, but with God`s help he will grant you that opportunity.

If you have any questions you can check out the website: www.JW.org or check out this video that will help answer more on this question and others at http://www.jw.org/en/video-why-study-the-bible/

re kate that Paul tells women not to speak in the church, to remain quiet and ask their husbands at home, as the husband is the authority in the home, went to a church where they had women pastors, the husband became her slave as she assumed authority and most men would not listen to her, as they called her "that woman" as no man will take discipline from a woman unless maybe his wife.so a woman is ineffectice in applying discipline. as for the hats, one woman would come to church every sunday with a new hat, everyone wondered how she could afford a new hat each week, Someone finally found at that she ordered one from Sears and Roebuck wore it returned it and ordered another one. So it can become a fashion show which isnt what church is about.

The Lord knows how to give what it is He want us to know and apply to our situation. Some of the Bible is literary reading for us to learn by, and some are specific instructions for us to do. The Holy Spirit of God will guide you into all truth. Just study to show yourself approved unto God; a workman that need not be ashamed, but rightly understanding the Word of Truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

Also, Hebrews 4:12,13 says what the Word of God is, and what it can do. We will know what is what without a doubt as we draw closer to God. He reveals His secrets to His people. (Amos 3:7)

If you think you can understand the King James bible without God the Holy Spirits help,then you better wonder where your going to spend eternity! The Holy Spirit is the One Who hands the understanding of His book to Christians in the light that Hold Jesus Christ as Lord!

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Marriage, like life, is a cycle of ups and downs. It's easy to say your marriage is in good health when the world around you is prospering, but when your fortunes turn and your world is in hardship, how you interact within your marriage can often paint an altogether different picture.