Cheryl Schatz

Paula,

I agree that Paul is answering a question of the Corinthians regarding the length of hair and head coverings, etc.

I just do not think that this is one place that is a direct quote (false tradition) presented by the Corinthians and then directly refuted by Paul.  I believe that Paul is refusing to allow men to follow the Jewish oral law that demands that men cover their heads when they pray but he is leaving the decision for women to the women’s own authority to make a decision as her head covering presented a huge dilemma for married women because of the culture of that day.

This passage has been a difficult one for many because the translators typically have put their own interpretation into the passage by adding words that are not in the original text.  These added words change the original meaning and make the passage almost impossible to properly interpret.  It is only when we discard the added words that Paul’s meaning becomes much more obvious.