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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 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"===
===Verse 12, "Judge for Yourselves"===
===Verse 13, "It Is Proper"===
This is the most a difficult verseto 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==
===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===
===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 workagain.
==Quotes==
==Links==
[http://williamwelty.com/docs/rethinking_the_veil.pdf Rethinking the Veil] - William Welty agrees with Bushnell; in pdf format.
{{returnto}} [[Head Coverings]]