Changes

The foundation of this view is not of interpretation, but translation. Most of the translation error is because Because [[Koine Greek]] has no puncuation, thus it does not always clearly show quotations, the ending of sentences, and questions. All of these are put in place by the translator. ===Problems with Traditional Translation=== When using the traditional translation, the Bushnell view postulates that several problems and contradictions arise.

==Problems with Traditional Translation==When using the traditional translationVerse 4, several problems and contradictions arise. For these reasons alone we must interpret that Paul is not commanding the covering of women. Bushnell's view eliminates all these problems."Dishonors his Head"====

===Verse 4According to the Bushnell view, "Dishonors his Head"===If if a man dishonors his Head, Christ, by covering it, then woman, whose Head is Christ also, would dishonor her Head, Christ, by covering it. This implies women should uncover.

====Verse 7, "Image of God"===If a man should uncover because he is in the image of God, then woman, who is in the image of God, should uncover also. This implies women should uncover.=

===Verse 10According to the Bushnell view, "Because if a man should uncover because he is in the image of the Angels"===The first problem is discovering what God, then woman, who is meant in verse 10 by "because the image of the angelsGod, should uncover also." Scholars seem to agree there is no obvious interpretationThis implies women should uncover.

====Verse 10, "Must have AuthorityBecause of the Angels"===Paul commands women to have authority on their head. What is the "authority?" By context, it can only possibly be a head covering, or a lack of a head covering. By reasoning, a head covering is not a sign of authority; Paul forbids the men from covering because their covering a sign of sin, which makes slaves of its owners. Thus Paul must be ordering women to uncover as a sign of their authority.=

===Verses 11, 12, There is no clear consensus on the interpretation of "Man and Woman Unitedbecause of the angels"===These verses say that man and woman are together. Why would Paul include this in a passage where he treats men and women differently? The verses are an arguement that the same rule applies to women as to men, implying that women should unveil as well.

====Verse 1310, "Judge for YourselvesMust have Authority"====Paul write the lengthy letter of 1 Corinthians mostly to teach and correct. The Corinthian church is divisive, arrogant (1 Cor 4:18), houses a sexually immoral man (5:1), and Paul implies they are at least tempted by prostitution (6:16). This is not a group Paul would trust to make their own conclusions concerning women ("judge for yourselves"). Moreover, he would not write this passage instructing them on covering if he later told them to decide for themselves.

===Verse 14, Nature's Teaching ===An honest attempt Paul commands women to answer Paul's question, "Does nature teach . . have authority on their head. What is the " will yield an undeniable authority?"No By context, it can either be a head covering, or a lack of a head covering." It According to the Bushnell view, by reasoning, a head covering is not a shame for man to have long hairsign of authority; Paul forbids the Nazarite vow (Numbers 6:5) certainly deny this. If anything, Nature teaches that everyone should have long hair, men from covering becausetheir covering a sign of sin, left on which makes slaves of its own, anyone's hair will grow longowners. Thus Paul must be ordering women to uncover as a sign of their authority.

===Verse 16=Verses 11, 12, "No such CustomMan and Woman United"===Paul denies that neither he nor other churches have "such custom." What custom is he refering to? It must be the custom of covering, for no other custom is mentioned. Thus he has contradicted himself, or at least, the view that he is commanding covering.=

===The Contemporary view===Interpreting the passage as cultural and temporary brings the problemm These verses say that much of Paul's evidence is not cultural, but theological. Things like man and woman being binded are together, . As pointed out by the woman being created for manBushnell view, why would Paul include this in a passage where he treats men and nature women differently? The verses are not temporary but eternal. If Paul uses eternal arguementsan arguement that the same rule applies to women as to men, his conclusion must be eternalimplying that women should unveil as well.

====Verse 13, "Judge for Yourselves==== Paul wrote the lengthy letter of [[1 Corinthians]] mostly to teach and correct. The Corinthian church appears to have been divisive, arrogant ([[1 Corinthians 4:18]]), housing a sexually immoral man (5:1). According to the Bushnell view, this is not a group that Paul would have trusted to make their own conclusions concerning women ("judge for yourselves"). Moreover, he would not write this passage instructing them on covering if he later told them to decide for themselves. ====Verse 14, Nature's Teaching==== According to the Bushnell view, an honest attempt to answer Paul's question, "Does nature teach . . ." will yield an undeniable "No." It is not a shame for a man to have long hair; the Nazarite vow ([[Numbers 6:5]]) certainly seems to deny this. If anything, nature teaches that everyone should have long hair, because, left on its own, anyone's hair will grow long. ====Verse 16, "No such Custom"==== Paul denies that neither he nor other churches have "such custom." What custom is he refering to? According to the Bushnell view, it must be the custom of covering, for no other custom is mentioned.  ====The Contemporary view==== Interpreting the passage as cultural and temporary brings the problemm that much of Paul's evidence is not cultural, but theological. According to the Bushnell view, things such as a man and woman being bound together, the woman being created for man, and nature itself, are not temporary but eternal things. And so, if Paul uses eternal arguements, his conclusion logically would be eternal. ===The Symbolism of Covering=== ====Male Covering====

====Female Covering==== 

===Another Translation=== The American Standard Version translates relatively the same as all similarly to 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 [[:  ====Translation Comparison====God's Word to Women Lesson 33 | Lesson 33]] for complete explanations.

===Translation Comparison===Note that Bushnell's words within brackets '''[ ]''' are intended as aided interpretation. If a reader where were comfortable with her translation and interpretation, these thoughts would occur mentally while reading. They are not intended as insertions to the text; that is, if it were published within a complete translation of the Bible, they would be removed or used only in footnotes. Note also that the many minor differences between the texts are simply the result of different paths of translation. Ideally, a comparison would be made between the Revised Standard Version which Bushnell usually used herself and probably used to aid her in this translation.

====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 non-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 arguments against veiling, Bushnell interprets that Paul is refering referring 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.=

According to the Bushnell view, the correct translation is "her" and not "the". Thus Paul is saying 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" and so Paul's argument is that if angels are not veiled before God, neither should women who are above the angels. ====Verse 12, "Judge for Yourselves"====Koine In the original Greek does the text sentences are not separate words into sentences, much less into clearly demarcated and versesdidn't exist. Both of these features 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 Bushnell believes that 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.

This is a difficult verse to translate. 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 With this understanding both verses are in the negative; and Paul is was saying a woman's hair is ''not'' given as a covering. ===New Interpretation=== With the completely reversal of one of two main points of a half chapter comes new conclusions.  ====Women May Veil==== According to Bushnell, 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==== According to Bushnell, for 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.

==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.A Passage not Ignored====

===Women May Veil===Paul does ''allow'' women to veil, but only if it is shame Many Christians fear reading and interpreting this passage for her fear of confusion or a contradiction 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 their view that women need not to be shavenveil. Veiling is the exception This interpretation invites readers to rulecome marvel at and Jesus' great work again.

==Quotes=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=Links==Many Christians fear reading and interpreting this passage for fear of confusion or a contradiction to their view that women need not veil[http://williamwelty.com/docs/rethinking_the_veil. This interpretation invites readers to come again and marvel at Paul's wisdom and Jesus' great workpdf Rethinking the Veil] - William Welty agrees with Bushnell; in pdf format.

==See Also=={{returnto}} [[Head Coverings]][http[Category://williamwelty.com/docs/rethinking_the_veil.pdf Rethinking the VeilChristian doctrine and debates]] William Welty agrees with Bushnell; in pdf format.