Pentecostal Hair Styles

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You know we have been over this before but...

> Sis:
>  I do, however, believe that the bible teaches
> that women should have long, *uncut* hair ( I Cor 11:13-15).
> 
> Brother Litteral:
> Missed one Sis:
>
> 1 Corinthians 11:16
> But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom,
> neither the churches of God. 
> 
> "we have no such custom, neither the churches of God."
> 
> Which proves of a certainty that Paul WASN'T in the UPC. 

This is a controversial scripture (1 Cor 11:16).  Many modern 
translations translate 'no such custom' as 'no other custom'. 
For example:

"If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other 
practice--nor do the churches of God."  (1 Cor 11:16 NIV)

The underlying Greek text gives more credence to the 'no such' 
translation, but the verse must be read in context.  First, consider 
what Paul has been talking about throughout 1 Corinthians -- 
problems in the Church.  So many people want to dismiss this 
chapter as meaningless to us today primarily because of verse 
16.  But why would Paul spend so much time and space on 
something he was then going to refute?  That would go against 
the general preponderance of Paul's writing style.  However, verse 
16 makes perfect sense if one takes it to mean exactly what it 
says, that if anyone wants to be contentious (about the hair 
issue), we have no such custom.  What custom?!?  The custom 
of being contentious.  In other words, we don't argue or debate 
about this.  We do it.  Why would Paul say it is a shame for a 
man to have long hair and then say, Oh, but we have no such 
custom. Why would Paul say that a woman's long hair is her glory, 
that it is a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, then turn 
around and say, Oh, but we have no such custom.  That would 
make no sense whatsoever.  Paul was much more direct than 
that.  He said what he knew to be pertinent for the Church.  Paul 
was trying to quell the divisions in the Church.  He was warning 
against contentions, not against long (uncut) hair for women 
and short (cut) hair for men.

I realize this is an interpretation issue, but we must look at the 
big picture, not just the isolated verse.

Kathy Dimick
Falkville, Alabama
kdimick@colsa.com
kedimick@hotmail.com
http://members.tripod.com/~coffeepleaz/index.html

"For to me to live is Christ"