Headship, head coverings, and glory – what was Paul thinking in 1 Cor. 11? (Part 4: How I understand it)
My best guess for explaining the passage
I think – but do not teach – that Paul was probably responding to things the Corinthians wrote to him here. (See 1 Cor. 7:1 for evidence Paul was speaking, in the latter part of 1 Corinthians, of some things they wrote to him about.)
He is probably quoting the contradictory views among them, views they probably argued (see “contentious” in vs. 16) about. And then, at the end of stating (mocking?) the way their views contradict each other, Paul gives this message: “Women should have authority on their own heads … Decide for yourself… I say this to anyone who wants to argue.”
In my view, Paul’s message (after quoting the Corinthians) is:
10 It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels.
Because all your contradictory arguments come to no conclusion, and believers will judge angels one day, sure women could decide for themselves what to wear on their heads. (more…)