What does 1 Corinthians 11:8 mean?
Paul has written in the previous verse that man is the image and glory of God. This seems to be because the first man, Adam, was formed by God in the image of God. As such, man is different from all the rest of creation. Man is the glory of all God made during creation week.Paul described woman, though, as the "glory of man." Now he shows why. Eve, the first woman, was made from one of Adam's ribs (Genesis 2:18–24). She was literally made from man. In the following verse, he will reference the same passage to show that woman was also made for man, causing her to become the man's glory.
Much damage has been done by ripping verses and phrases from the Bible out of their context. These words are not meant to be interpreted or understood except in connection with the surrounding passage. Paul's meaning here has nothing to do with submission, value, or politics between the sexes. Rather, this section deals with the importance of Christians honoring their spiritual impact on others. That includes a respectful approach to conduct, modesty, and behavior.
First Corinthians 11:2–16 describes Paul's correction of an inappropriate practice of some women in the Corinthian church. Contrary to social norms of that era, they were not wearing head coverings when praying or prophesying before the church. Paul insists that both women and men consider what their chosen appearance implies about their relationship with God. Cultural details may vary, but the principle does not: Christian men and women ought to be ''respectable'' in their manners and dress. In parallel, this teaching also touches on the concept of spiritual leadership.
Paul confronts two issues the church in Corinth was failing to practice correctly. First, some women were not wearing head coverings while praying or prophesying in their meetings. Paul insisted they must do so, and that men must not, based on mankind's relationship to God and the social implications of that covering. Second, Paul describes the reasons for observing the Lord's Supper and how it should be done. The Corinthian Christians had brought God's judgment on themselves for practicing communion in a way which dishonored Christ's sacrifice for sin and humiliated the poor among them.
