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    Headcovering Throughout Christian History
    Headcovering Throughout Christian History
    Headcovering Throughout Christian History
    Ebook203 pages45 minutes

    Headcovering Throughout Christian History

    By David Phillips

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    About this ebook

    Have you ever wondered why Christian women, just two or three generations ago, often wore some type of covering on their heads while in church? -- And why men always took off their hats when it was time to pray?

    It is well-documented throughout Church history that the use of headcoverings was the norm for Christian women during times of prayer. Additionally, the widespread practice for Christian men -- since the beginning of the Church -- has been to remove their hats whenever they gathered for prayer. Among the churches in Western society, these practices have greatly declined (and often ceased) only within the last century.

    The Bible itself provided for the longevity of these symbolic actions. In the book of First Corinthians, the Apostle Paul explained the meaning of the unique practice of Christian headcovering. Countless pastors, theologians, and other Christians throughout history have studied (and written about) Paul's instructions about headcovering.

    "Headcovering Throughout Church History" provides an overview of the Church's response to 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 across the last 2000 years of Christianity. It features the writings of the Early Church, Augustine, Martin Luther, John Bunyan, Charles Spurgeon, and many others. It also documents contemporary theologians & denominations that endorse the Church's historical stand on this passage of Scripture.

    Now in Kindle format, this book contains the most comprehensive research currently available on the topic. Carefully referenced quotations allow you to hear from well over 50 theologians, pastors, and other Christian writers throughout Church history.

    __________________

    = = Book Excerpts = =

    "A man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God. But the woman is the glory of man... Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head... We have no other practice, nor have the churches of God." // The Apostle Paul, 1st Century AD

    “Indeed, the man's head ought not to be hidden, for the glory of God is seen in the man. A woman ought to cover her head in church out of reverence.” // Ambrosiaster, 4th Century AD

    "A woman praying in church without her head covered brings shame upon her head, according to the word of the Apostle... [and] the Apostle forbids men to pray in Church with covered head.” // Synod of Rome, 8th Century AD

    “It pertains to a man's dignity not to wear a covering on his head, to show that he is immediately subject to God; but the woman should wear a covering to show that besides God she is naturally subject to another.” // Thomas Aquinas, 13th Century AD

    “No man shall cover his head in the church or chapel.” // The Church of England, 17th Century AD

    “During my high school years, I never saw a woman in my mainline church whose head wasn't covered with a hat or a veil. That is one of those customs that has simply disappeared for the most part from Christian culture.” // R.C. Sproul (contemporary pastor & theologian)

    “It is only in the past three or four decades [since the 1960's] that its observance has slipped away — particularly in Western society.” // Mary Kassian (professor, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary)

    =======

    This book is a companion volume to the book, "Covered Glory: 1 Corinthians 11 & The Christian Use of Headcoverings."

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDavid Phillips
    Release dateMar 7, 2015
    ISBN9781310542329
    Headcovering Throughout Christian History

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      Book preview

      Headcovering Throughout Christian History - David Phillips

      Have you ever wondered why, just two or three generations ago, Christian women often wore some sort of covering on their heads while in church?  – And why men in church always took off their hats when it was time to pray?

      In the Bible, the Apostle Paul wrote two letters to the Christians who lived in the city of Corinth. Paul, in his first letter, expressed his desire that the Corinthian believers understand the headship relationships between the Lord and His people. He also explained the symbolic connection between God's glory and prayer: women should pray with their heads covered, and men should pray with their heads uncovered (1st Corinthians 11:2-16).

      Christians today who read the New Testament's directions about the use of headcoverings are often a little bewildered. However,  it is well-documented that the use of headcoverings (during times of prayer) has been the norm for women throughout Christian history.¹ Likewise, the widespread practice for Christian men throughout history has been to remove their hats whenever the local church gathered for prayer. In Western society, these practices have greatly declined (and often ceased) only within the last century. In other words, for about 95% of Church history, Christians have generally followed the Apostle Paul's instructions regarding the use of headcoverings during times of prayer.

      This book is an historical overview of the Church's response to 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 across the last 2000 years of Christianity. It features the writings of the Early Church, Augustine, Martin Luther, John Bunyan, Charles Spurgeon, and many others. It also documents contemporary theologians and denominations that endorse the Church's historical stand on this passage of Scripture.

      The Early Church To The Reformation

      The Early Church:

      ² Early church history bears witness that in Rome, Antioch, and Africa the custom [of wearing the headcovering] became the norm [for the Church].

      ³ Early Christian women accepted St. Paul's teaching as the directly inspired Word of God and therefore implemented the practice.⁴ The men prayed with their heads bare... the women covered.⁵ Because of the apostolic precept... women of the Oriental and African churches covered their heads... in the congregation.⁶ The apostle Thomas took the gospel to India and also taught the converts to Christ the importance of the head covering practice.⁷ Pictures on the walls of the Roman catacombs show the early Christian women wearing one.⁸

      Clement of Alexandria (theologian from Alexandria; c.150 - c. 215): Woman & man are to go to church decently attired... for this is the wish of the Word, since it is becoming for her to pray veiled.⁹ Because of the angels... let her be veiled.¹⁰

      Tertullian (theologian from Carthage; c. 160 – c. 220): The Christian man... [is] under no obligation to wear a covering and the woman's head is bound to have the veil.¹¹ "Throughout Greece, and certain of its barbaric provinces, the majority of Churches keep their virgins covered. There are places, too, beneath this (African) sky, where this practice obtains; lest any ascribe the custom to Greek or barbarian Gentilehood... It is not strange, since it is not among strangers that we find it, but among those, to wit, with whom we share the law of peace and the name of brotherhood... In fact, at this day the Corinthians do veil their virgins. What the

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