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Head Covering: Bushnell View

4,930 bytes added, 19:34, 5 September 2005
explained new translation and interpretation outcomes from it
Interpreting the passage as cultural and temporary brings the problemm that much of Paul's evidence is not cultural, but theological. Things like man and woman being binded together, the woman being created for man, and nature are not temporary but eternal. If Paul uses eternal arguements, his conclusion must be eternal.
==The Symbolism of Covering== ===Male Covering===Jewish tradition mandated that men cover their heads when praying to God as a reminder of their sin and shame. However, because "there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ," Paul commands the believers to uncover their heads. ===Female Covering===Culturally relative, for a Jewess to uncover her hair to those outside the family was seen as sexually promiscuous (similarly in modern Muslim communities). This was considered grounds for divorce. Also, women accused of adultery could be punished by having their heads shaved, a grave dishonor to her husband. ==Another Translation==The American Standard Version translates relatively the same as all other well known translations. The following compares this with Bushnell's translation and explains her reasons. Only explanations for the more important differences are explained. Read [[God's Word to Women Lesson 32]] and [[=God's Word to Women Lesson 33 | Lesson 33]] for complete explanations.
===Translation Comparison===
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!width="4%" class="MainPageBG" style="border: 1px solid #ffddc0; color: #000; background-color: #ffffee"|(5)
|width="48%" class="MainPageBG" style="border: 1px solid #ffddc0; color: #000; background-color: #ffffee"|But every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonoreth her head; for it is one and the same thing as if she were shaven. For if a woman is not veiled, let her also be shorn:
|width="48%" class="MainPageBG" style="border: 1px solid #ffddc0; color: #000; background-color: #ffffee"|But any wife praying or prophesying bareheaded dishonors her [other] head [her husband], for it would be one and the same thing as [having] her head shaved.
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!width="4%" class="MainPageBG" style="border: 1px solid #ffddc0; color: #000; background-color: #ffffee"|(6)
|width="48%" class="MainPageBG" style="border: 1px solid #ffddc0; color: #000; background-color: #ffffee"|For if a woman is not veiled, let her also be shorn: but if it is a shame to a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be veiled.
|width="48%" class="MainPageBG" style="border: 1px solid #ffddc0; color: #000; background-color: #ffffee"|For [Jewish law provides that] if a woman is not covered, let her be shorn. Now if it would bring disgrace to a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
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|width="48%" class="MainPageBG" style="border: 1px solid #ffddc0; color: #000; background-color: #ffffee"|But if anyone thinks to be contentious [in defense of such a custom as either men or women veiling for worship], let him know that "we have no such custom, neither the Churches of God."
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===Verses 5, 6, Jewish Quotation===
As noted above, in the Jewish tradition it was suitable punishment to shave the head of a women accused of adultery, as would an uncovered women would likely be if she were married to a nonChristian Jew. It was unusual for Paul to agree with any Jewish tradition, let alone not directly connected with the [[Messiah]]. It also strange that Paul would say "If it is a shame . . ." after mentioning why it would so shameful.
 
To harmonize with Paul's arguements against veiling, Bushnell interprets that Paul is refering to Jewish tradition, not his own ruling. A different translation could be to insert quotation marks beginning with verse 5 and ending after the first sentence of verse 6. Thus in the latter part of verse 6 Paul is not being redundant, he is responding to the Jewish tradition.
 
===Verse 10, "Her Angels"===
The correct translation is "her," not "the." Paul says that angels are inferior to humans (1 Corinthians 6:3) and Jesus says, "in heaven their [children's] angels do always behold the face of My Father." Paul's arguement is that if angels are not veiled before God, neither should women who are above the angels.
 
===Verse 12, "Judge for Yourselves"===
Koine Greek does not separate words into sentences, much less into verses. Both were added later by scribes and translators interpreting the text. Thus the phrase "judge for yourselves" could belong and apply to verse 12 or verse 13. Because Paul would not trust the Corinthians to judge such a hard issue as covering, but he would trust them to judge a simple one like verse 12, Bushnell moves it to verse 12. Thus there is no colon but simply a period, completing the thought.
 
===Verse 13, "It Is Proper"===
This is the most difficult verse. Because Koine Greek contained no marks ending a sentence, the question mark in traditional translations could also be a period or an exclamation mark. The first word of verse 13 is literally translated "it is." Where English reverses these words to form a question, Greek had no such method. Thus the only way to tell between a simple statement and question was context; if spoken, it could be known through inflection of voice, as in English. To harmonize with the rest of the passage, and because there is little sense in Paul asking about what he is teaching, Bushnell translates this as a statement. "It is proper for a woman to pray unto God unveiled."
 
===Verses 14, 15, "Nor does even Nature"===
For the reasons in verse 13 above, these verse may be translated "Not does even nature" instead of "Does not even nature." Also, because question marks did not exist, verse 14 and 15 can be joined into a single sentence. Thus both verses are in the negative; Paul is saying a woman's hair is ''not'' given as a covering.
 
==New Interpretation==
Obviously, with the completely reversal of one of two main points of a half chapter comes new conclusions. First notice that all the contradictions and confusions disappear, as if we realized we had skipped a chapter while reading a novel.
 
===Women May Veil===
Paul does ''allow'' women to veil, but only if it is shame for her to be shaven, which would only happen if her husband made her shave (perhaps by pressure of his family who are unhappy with her conversion from Judaism). However, Paul makes no allowances if she is not to be shaven. Veiling is the exception to rule.
 
===Women should Unveil===
To most women, Paul insists that they unveil. This is then another great separation from traditional Judaism where many Christians are coming from, another emphasis that Jesus changes the lives of believers in a visible manner. It also treats men and women on the same scale. Women should unveil because she is in the image of God, because Christ is her head, because even the angels are uncovered before God, and because she should have a sign of authority. To non-Christians who say the Bible holds women back, this is another historical example that it actually made a great stride forward.
 
===A Passage not Ignored===
Many Christians fear reading and interpreting this passage for fear of confusion or a contradiction to their view that women need not veil. This interpretation invites readers to come again and marvel at Paul's wisdom and Jesus' great work.
==See Also==
[http://williamwelty.com/docs/rethinking_the_veil.pdf Rethinking the Veil] William Welty agrees with Bushnell; in pdf format.
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