Honour, Head-coverings and Headship: 1 Corinthians 11.2-16 in its Social Context

Abstract

A significant yet missing dimension of scholarly engagement with 1 Cor. 11.2-16 is the consideration of honour-shame and its critical importance in ancient cultures. As this section of Paul’s letter abounds in honour-shame terminology, analysis of the text within such a framework will allow a profitable exploration of the reasons why the Corinthians are changing their attire (for purposes of this paper, their head-coverings), in a way that appears to be contrary to what may be considered the Pauline norm. The argument offered here is that notions of honour come to the fore and higher-status male Corinthians are employing modes of head attire to maintain distinctions of status. At the same time, Paul insists upon female head-coverings to safeguard the honour of the community within a context of the potential presence of non-believers in a communal service of worship.