Churches that practice head covering are a minority in the Western World. Those who are visiting these churches for the first time will immediately notice the distinction between men and women and many will wonder (especially those who are not Christians) what it means. On many church websites there are sections for frequently asked questions, beliefs and/or a page telling visitors what they can expect when visiting. We’d like to share some examples of church websites that do mention head covering and how they introduce the topic to potential visitors. Read more
[Note: This is a response to pages 78-81 in Roman Wives, Roman Widows (Eerdmans, 2003) by Bruce Winter. The content appears under the heading “The Significance of the Veil in Marriage.” For part one of our response which deals with pages 81-83 (The Significance of the Removal of the Veil in Public) please click here.]
In Roman Wives, Roman Widows, Bruce Winter seeks to make a case that a woman wearing a veil communicated that she was married, faithful and modest. He begins his case by linking the veil to marriage through various historical sources. He mentions that Plutarch believed that “‘veiling the bride’, was in effect, the marriage ceremony” 1) Bruce Winter – Roman Wives, Roman Widows (Eerdmans, 2003) Page 78
and that “other writers in the early Empire confirm that the bride’s veil was an essential part of her apparel.”2) Ibid
Winter, by pointing out this evidence, seeks to convince the reader that the headcovering women were removing in 1 Corinthians 11 was their “marriage veil.” By taking it off they were identifying themselves as independent and immodest women.
The Connection between “Marriage” and the “Veil”
It would be helpful for us to now take a look at the original writings that Winter puts forth to support the connection between marriage and the veil. He references the writings of Plutarch, Juvenal and Tacitus. Read more
References
1.
↑ Bruce Winter – Roman Wives, Roman Widows (Eerdmans, 2003) Page 78
[Series introduction:This post is part of a series that examines what certain leaders in church history believed about head covering. Their arguments, choice of language and conclusions should not be misconstrued as an endorsement from us. The purpose of this series is to faithfully show what they believed about covering rather than only selectively quoting the parts we agree with.]
Thomas Wall (17th Century) is the author of numerous works including “Baptism Anatomized”, “A Comment on the Times” and “Tythes, No Gospel”. He lived in the United Kingdom and was actively writing in the late 17th century.
In 1688, Thomas Wall published a book entitled “Spiritual Armour To Defend the Head From the Superfluity of Naughtiness.” It was a passionate rebuke of men wearing their hair long (contrary to 1 Cor 11:14) and women cutting their hair short (contrary to 1 Cor 11:15). This was a widespread issue, which Wall says was “suffered in almost every Congregation that say they are the Churches of God.” He said that this “sin is so generally spread, that it is as a Leprosie”. He hoped that his book would help Christians take seriously what God’s word and nature teaches us about our hair.
The Apostle Paul’s reason for proper hair lengths is “grounded in God’s order in Nature” and was for people “in all ages”. Read more
“Hi, My name is Jeremy,” I said with a confident business-like demeanour. It was just the agent and I, a respected man who represents many well-known Christian authors. We had 10 minutes together for me to convince him why my book on head covering should be considered for traditional publishing. I continued introducing myself, “and I’m the founder of the Head Covering Movement”. As soon as I mentioned “head covering”, I knew the pitch was finished. Instantly, his face soured. Read more
In Genesis 24 we read the account of the marriage between Issac and Rebekah. Abraham (Issac’s father) had sent his servants to the land of his fathers to find a wife for Issac. His servants went as Abraham instructed and prayed for something specific for the Lord to do, to show them which woman would become Issac’s wife. The Lord answered that prayer and Rebekah was shown to be that woman. After they all spoke with her family and received their blessing, Rebekah goes back with Abraham’s servants to meet Issac and become his wife. Later on, Issac is in the field meditating when he looks up and sees people approaching on camels. He starts walking towards them which leads Rebekah (who is on one of the camels) to ask, “Who is that man walking in the field to meet us?” (Gen 24:65). One of the servants tells her that it’s his master, the one who will be her husband. It is at this point where “she took her veil and covered herself.” (Gen 24:65) Once she did this, “Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and he took Rebekah, and she became his wife…” (Gen 24:66)
Since this is an early Biblical record of a woman veiling herself, many wonder how this relates to Paul’s instructions about head covering in 1 Corinthians 11. Before we answer this question we must first review a fundamental principle of Biblical interpretation. Read more
The topic of head covering causes many modern readers to scratch their heads. “Why would Paul want women to cover their heads?And why does he forbid men from doing the same? Surely there has to be a reason.” Thinking that there is no explanation for this practice in the Scriptures, many believers turn to cultural studies to fill in the presumed gaps. When this is done, some form of cultural significance is usually attached to the passage and seen as the key to interpreting it correctly. This then obscures the actual reasoning that the Apostle himself gives. Let’s now turn our attention to the two Greek words that let us know that there is a biblical reason for head covering. Read more
Last Updated: July 7, 2025 | Fixed some broken links.
What follows is a list of all the commentaries that teach that head covering is for today. We will update this list as we discover new ones and verify them.
If you know of a commentary or study bible that is not mentioned, please let us know by leaving a comment below or e-mailing us so we can look into it.
The Wycliffe Bible Commentary
Commentator: S. Lewis Johnson
Editor(s): Charles F. Pfeiffer & Everett F. Harrison
(Moody Press, 1962) Purchase:Book
“In the final analysis, the hat, or veil, is not the important thing, but the subordination for which it stands. The prescence of both is the ideal.” (Pg 1248 – 1987 Version)
Believer’s Bible Commentary
Commentator: William MacDonald
Editor(s): Charles F. Pfeiffer & Everett F. Harrison
(Thomas Nelson, 1989) Purchase:Book / Logos
“In verses 7-10, Paul teaches the subordination of the woman to the man by going back to creation. This should forever lay to rest any idea that his teaching about women’s covering was what was culturally suitable in his day but not applicable to us today.” (Pg 1785 – 1995 Version)
Commentaries on Romans and 1-2 Corinthians (Ancient Christian Texts)
Commentator: Ambrosiaster
Translator(s): Gerald L. Bray
Editor(s): Thomas C. Oden & Gerald L. Bray
(IVP Academic, 2009) Purchase:Book
“Paul says that the honor and dignity of a man makes it wrong for him to cover his head, because the image of God should not be hidden. Indeed, it ought not to be hidden, for the glory of God is seen in the man.” (Pg 172 – 2009 Version)
The Church’s Bible (1 Corinthians)
Commentator(s): Ambrosiaster, Augustine, John Chrysostom, Theodore of Mopsuestia, Theodoret, Severian of Gabala & a dialogue of a Montanist with an Orthodox Christian
Editor(s): Judith L. Kovacs
(Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2005) Purchase:Book / Logos
“…the business of whether to cover one’s head was legislated by nature (see 1 Cor 11:14-15). When I say “nature,” I mean “God.” For he is the one who created nature. Take note, therefore, what great harm comes from overturning these boundaries! And don’t tell me that this is a small sin.” (pg 180 – 2005 version – Quoting John Chrysostom)
The Ryrie Study Bible
Various Bible Versions
Various Publishers Purchase:Book
“Women should be veiled or covered in the meeting of the church, and the men should not. Paul’s reasons were based on theology (headship v.3), the order of creation (v.7-9), and the presence of angels in the meeting (v.10). None of these reasons was based on contemporary social custom.” (page 303 – 1976 NASV by Moody Publishers)
Commentary on the First Epistle to the Corinthians
Commentator: Frédéric Louis Godet (1812-1900)
(Originally published by T&T Clark, 1886)
Various Publishers offer an English reprint Purchase:Book / Logos
“Was this conviction solely a matter of time and place, so that it is possible to suppose, that if he lived now, and in the West, the apostle would express himself differently? This supposition is not admissible; for the reasons which he alleges are taken, not from contemporary usages, but from permanent facts, which will last as long as the present earthly economy.” (pg 133 – Vol II – Zondervan, 1957)
The Numerical Bible (Volume 6)
Commentator: F.W. Grant (1834-1902)
(Loizeaux Brothers, 1902) Purchase:LogosRead:Online
“There are some practical consequences in the exhibition of this order of things upon the earth. If a man pray or prophesy having his head covered, he dishonors his head; in itself a very small thing surely,–in that which it signifies not small at all. Everything depends upon the truth which is in it…All this has reference, of course, to present display. It is not a question of what is final, what is heavenly, what is eternal. It is God’s order as He has instituted it, and which we are bound to respect. There is meaning in it also, and we shall suffer if we refuse it…” (pg 501)
The First Epistle to the Corinthians
Commentator: H. L. Goudge
Editor: Walter Lock
(Methuen & Co, 1903) Purchase:Logos
“…the Jewish and Gentile members of the Corinthian church would have grown up with diverse customs, and in the interests of orderly worship, it was well for the Christian practice to be definitely settled. S. Paul’s decision, though not ignoring the dictates of natural propriety, is based upon Christian doctrine. The rule of faith here, as everywhere, gives the rule of worship.” (page 94)
F. B. Hole’s Old and New Testament Commentary
Commentator: F.B. Hole
1947 Read:Online
“Now if any believer, man or woman, has to do with God and His things, whether it be in praying (i.e., addressing oneself to Him), or in prophesying (i.e., speaking forth words from Him), there is to be the observance of these directions as to the uncovering or covering of the head, as a sign that God’s order is recognized and obeyed.”
A Commentary on the First Epistle to the Corinthians
Commentator: Thomas Charles Edwards
(Hamilton, Adams & Co., 1885) Purchase:Logos
“…the reference in [1 Cor 11:2] to the ordinances or traditions suggests that the use of the veil by the women and by them alone was a peculiarly Christian arrangement, imposed on the Churches partly to distinguish Christian worship from that of Jew or Greek, partly to symbolize the mystical doctrine of the headship of Christ.” (page 270 – from the 1979 reprint by Klock & Klock)
The Expositors Greek Testament
Commentator: G.G. Findlay
Editor: William Robertson Nicoll
(Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1956) Purchase:LogosRead:Online
“Paul’s directions do not agree precisely with current practice. Jewish men covered their heads at prayers with the Tallith…Amongst the Greeks, both sexes worshipped with uncovered head…while Roman men and women alike covered their heads during religious rites. The usage here prescribed seems to be an adaptation of Greek custom to Christian conceptions. With us the difference of sex is more strongly marked in the general attire than with the ancients; but the draped head has still its appropriateness, and the distinction laid down in this passage has been universally observed.” (page 873)
Practical Reflections on Every Verse of the New Testament
Commentator: Anonymous Clergyman
(London : Rivingtons, 1883) Read:Online
“Let us have no other faith or worship but such as was set up at the first, and has prevailed throughout the Church. We should believe and worship like the saints of old, that is enough for us. Stand on the old ways and you will be safe. This applies not only to small things, like women covering their heads, but to all matters which are in dispute amongst Christians.” (page 319)
The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible
General Editor: Joel Beeke
NT Editor: Gerald Bilkes
(Reformation Heritage Books, 2014) Purchase:Hardcover / Logos
“When You come to the house of God for corporate worship, how you conduct yourself matters. Paul argues for proper decorum in public worship according to His created order.” (page 1661)
