women to keep silent

[givennewname]

maybe i get a politically non correct thing to say off my chest. I am a martial arts exponent of akido. We are taught the when two excessive and aggressive energy (hard) fights, injury will occur or even death. In akido, we use a soft approach to blend with his energy, neutralise his energy and direct the energy back to the opponent to neutralise him.

God created woman to be softer, more nurturing. If they start acting like a man, wear the trousers in the family and wanting to be in authority it creates disharmony. A ship cannot have two captains. some one is bound to get hurt. Sorry guys, i know it is not politically correct.

Edited August 22, 2008 by givennewname

[Floatingaxe]

maybe i get a politically non correct thing to say off my chest. I am a martial ars exponent of akido. We are taught the when two aggressive energy (hard) fights, injusry wii occur or even death. In akido, we use a soft approach to blend with his energy, neutralise his energy and direct the energy back to the pponent to neutralise him.

God created woman to be softer, more nuturing. If they satrt acting like a man, some one is bound to get hurt. Sorry guys, i know it is not politically correct.

And how does a woman act like a man, where someone would get hurt...especially as we are told to submit to one another?

[BlindSeeker]

If God has given a command, however unpalatable it is to our personal taste and believes, should be followed even if it is beyond our comprehension. When God gave that command, he did not qualify that with exclusion criteria or even state that it may be ignored should culture change in the future.

But that assigns values to my position that neither me nor anyone else who shares my position (at least on this baord) has expressed.

It is not that the commandment is unpalatable, or beyond comprehension. The problem is in the methods employed or not employed in understanding the passage.

What we are discussing however is whether the admonition of Paul for women to keep silent in public and for women to subject themselves to church authority and not to teach which is clearly stated in scriptures has universal application today and a question as to whether this commandment should be placed in cultural context of Corinth being a notorious sex centre.

Actually, the issue with Corinthian immorality was not directed at the "women keeping silent" but rather the headcovering discussion.

Dear brother Shiloh,

Grettings to you in the name of the Lord.

Thank you for the kind patience and the very kind manner in which the topic had been discussed so far. The reason why i had brought out this topic is due to a problem that had arised in my circle of family friends, that of marital break down. Currently my wife is seeking a divorce from me despite both of us being in the body of Christ and so are lots of my Christian friends, all of whom seem to be walking with God. I have had many of my friends interviewed, the problem is the same.... that of the wife refusing at least to place herself under the headship of the husband at home or even in public.

Actually, the issue with Corinthian immorality was not directed at the "women keeping silent" but rather the headcovering discussion

1Co 11:2 Now I praise you that ye remember me in all things, and hold fast the traditions, even as I delivered them to you.

1Co 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

1Co 11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoreth his head.

1Co 11:5 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.

1Co 11:6 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.

1Co 11:7 For a man indeed ought not to have his head veiled, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

1Co 11:8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man:

1Co 11:9 for neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man:

1Co 11:10 for this cause ought the woman to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels. 1Co 11:11 Nevertheless, neither is the woman without the man, nor the man without the woman, in the Lord.

1Co 11:12 For as the woman is of the man, so is the man also by the woman; but all things are of God.

1Co 11:13 Judge ye in yourselves: is it seemly that a woman pray unto God unveiled?

1Co 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a dishonor to him?

1Co 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

1Co 11:16 But if any man seemeth to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

1Co 14:33 for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

1Co 14:34 let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law.

1Co 14:35 And if they would learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is shameful for a woman to speak in the church.

Well as you can read from the passage above the issue of women keeping silent and head covering are interrelated, both seem to flow one into another in the same chapter.. Paul is dealing with the issue of headship of the church. Verse 1Cor 11:2 &3 Sets the context of Paul's message in this chapter where he says the head of man (or the authority over man is Christ) and the head over woman is man and the head of Christ is God. Now no one would dispute the headship of Christ over man, neither would anyone dispute the headship over Christ is God, therefore why would any one dispute headship of woman is man? one cannot dispute part of a verse that is clearly written.

I am not disputing the equality of a man and a woman either in ability, spirituality or deed any more than i would dispute the equality of God the father and the Lord Jesus within the Trinity, but in authority, Jesus is placed under the headship of the Father.

Being in headship does not mean that the man is superior in knowledge or even in character, he is placed there by God himself. For an example, there is the Head of Department in obstetrics in the university where i used to work who is both an idiot and of questionable morals. Since he is the head of department, we accord him our respect and subject to his authority and his word is law. It does not mean he is superior in deeds or even knowledge, but since God put him there, we are subject to the authority in office. Similarly in the book of Samuel, David recognises the office of the King in Israel and even if he had been appointed by God, he refuses to harm Saul until God removes him.

Similarly, God has placed the woman under the authority of man in the family, whether she likes the decision he makes or not. I have told my wife when ever she disagrees with me to refer the case to my head, the Lord Jesus and will i am wrong, he will rectify the mistake. I realise that it is difficult in this modern times when some women are highly educated and may even skillful in many tasks, but i believe that the Father is all knowing, all powerful to institute such a command.

We are told to adorn the doctrine of Christ in all things. In marriage this is done by husbands loving their wives as Christ loved the church and wives submitting to their husbands as unto the Lord . . . its the word of God.

Many times you'll hear women respond to the command for them to be subject to their husbands by addressing how men need to love their wives and Christ loved the church . . . they would do well to remember just how Christ did loved the church . . . He did not spoil it or let it go its own way, rather He gave her words to adhere to and live by and in the end laid down His life for it.

[givennewname]

maybe i get a politically non correct thing to say off my chest. I am a martial ars exponent of akido. We are taught the when two aggressive energy (hard) fights, injusry wii occur or even death. In akido, we use a soft approach to blend with his energy, neutralise his energy and direct the energy back to the pponent to neutralise him.

God created woman to be softer, more nuturing. If they satrt acting like a man, some one is bound to get hurt. Sorry guys, i know it is not politically correct.

And how does a woman act like a man, where someone would get hurt...especially as we are told to submit to one another?

In the conditions as stated in above. Ever since the Garden of Eden, Eve had desired more position and knowledge than she is given. She desired knowledge so that she can be like God.

In wanting to exert control over the man who have been placed in headship over her by God.. and according to Paul, speaking out in public complaining about her husband when things should be sorted out in the privacy of the home..

especially as we are told to submit to one another?

I have not seen a comand for husbands tosubmit to wife, to God yes, to love wife yes but not asked to submit to headship of wife.........

[givennewname]

If God has given a command, however unpalatable it is to our personal taste and believes, should be followed even if it is beyond our comprehension. When God gave that command, he did not qualify that with exclusion criteria or even state that it may be ignored should culture change in the future.

But that assigns values to my position that neither me nor anyone else who shares my position (at least on this baord) has expressed.

It is not that the commandment is unpalatable, or beyond comprehension. The problem is in the methods employed or not employed in understanding the passage.

What we are discussing however is whether the admonition of Paul for women to keep silent in public and for women to subject themselves to church authority and not to teach which is clearly stated in scriptures has universal application today and a question as to whether this commandment should be placed in cultural context of Corinth being a notorious sex centre.

Actually, the issue with Corinthian immorality was not directed at the "women keeping silent" but rather the headcovering discussion.

Dear brother Shiloh,

Grettings to you in the name of the Lord.

Thank you for the kind patience and the very kind manner in which the topic had been discussed so far. The reason why i had brought out this topic is due to a problem that had arised in my circle of family friends, that of marital break down. Currently my wife is seeking a divorce from me despite both of us being in the body of Christ and so are lots of my Christian friends, all of whom seem to be walking with God. I have had many of my friends interviewed, the problem is the same.... that of the wife refusing at least to place herself under the headship of the husband at home or even in public.

Actually, the issue with Corinthian immorality was not directed at the "women keeping silent" but rather the headcovering discussion

1Co 11:2 Now I praise you that ye remember me in all things, and hold fast the traditions, even as I delivered them to you.

1Co 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

1Co 11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoreth his head.

1Co 11:5 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.

1Co 11:6 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.

1Co 11:7 For a man indeed ought not to have his head veiled, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

1Co 11:8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man:

1Co 11:9 for neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man:

1Co 11:10 for this cause ought the woman to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels. 1Co 11:11 Nevertheless, neither is the woman without the man, nor the man without the woman, in the Lord.

1Co 11:12 For as the woman is of the man, so is the man also by the woman; but all things are of God.

1Co 11:13 Judge ye in yourselves: is it seemly that a woman pray unto God unveiled?

1Co 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a dishonor to him?

1Co 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

1Co 11:16 But if any man seemeth to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

1Co 14:33 for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

1Co 14:34 let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law.

1Co 14:35 And if they would learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is shameful for a woman to speak in the church.

Well as you can read from the passage above the issue of women keeping silent and head covering are interrelated, both seem to flow one into another in the same chapter.. Paul is dealing with the issue of headship of the church. Verse 1Cor 11:2 &3 Sets the context of Paul's message in this chapter where he says the head of man (or the authority over man is Christ) and the head over woman is man and the head of Christ is God. Now no one would dispute the headship of Christ over man, neither would anyone dispute the headship over Christ is God, therefore why would any one dispute headship of woman is man? one cannot dispute part of a verse that is clearly written.

I am not disputing the equality of a man and a woman either in ability, spirituality or deed any more than i would dispute the equality of God the father and the Lord Jesus within the Trinity, but in authority, Jesus is placed under the headship of the Father.

Being in headship does not mean that the man is superior in knowledge or even in character, he is placed there by God himself. For an example, there is the Head of Department in obstetrics in the university where i used to work who is both an idiot and of questionable morals. Since he is the head of department, we accord him our respect and subject to his authority and his word is law. It does not mean he is superior in deeds or even knowledge, but since God put him there, we are subject to the authority in office. Similarly in the book of Samuel, David recognises the office of the King in Israel and even if he had been appointed by God, he refuses to harm Saul until God removes him.

Similarly, God has placed the woman under the authority of man in the family, whether she likes the decision he makes or not. I have told my wife when ever she disagrees with me to refer the case to my head, the Lord Jesus and will i am wrong, he will rectify the mistake. I realise that it is difficult in this modern times when some women are highly educated and may even skillful in many tasks, but i believe that the Father is all knowing, all powerful to institute such a command.

We are told to adorn the doctrine of Christ in all things. In marriage this is done by husbands loving their wives as Christ loved the church and wives submitting to their husbands as unto the Lord . . . its the word of God.

Many times you'll hear women respond to the command for them to be subject to their husbands by addressing how men need to love their wives and Christ loved the church . . . they would do well to remember just how Christ did loved the church . . . He did not spoil it or let it go its own way, rather He gave her words to adhere to and live by and in the end laid down His life for it.

I agree totally.. but to love wife does not mean that one has to give in to her every whim and fancy. I have always held to the rule that i have a discussion, and she can tell me i am a fool, yet if she still disagrre, she can bring it to God to correct me.

[givennewname]

Corinth was THE most immoral city in Greece according to most historians. Male and female temple prostitutes were the norm and if we understand Paul correctly, even the very magistrates themselves were wholly given over to these vices. The Christians at Corinth were being saved out of things like male prostitution as well as other heinous sins. The women were the same way. These were people who have just come out of a lifestyle and Paul's instruction is in part directed at encouraging them not to dress and carry themselves like they did when they were in the world. The men were instructed to cut their hair since the men in Corinth who were homosexual, wore long effeminate looking hair to attract men.

I do not think Corinth was the centre of Temple prostitution, in fact Ephesus was the Centre of the worship of Diana the Goddess of love and fertility in the roman world. Temple prostitution and as a result woman were the real economic power in Ephesus and temple prostitutes were every where. If the commandment was a law specific to distinguish woman who were former prostitutes convert to Christ, the problem would be more acute in Ephesus and the command would be included to the epistle to the Ephesians. In fact Paul's main message to Ephesus is about church leadership of church structure, meaning there was no problem of head covering and women trying to exert authority in Church despite women holding the economic power in Ephesus.

[Floatingaxe]

maybe i get a politically non correct thing to say off my chest. I am a martial ars exponent of akido. We are taught the when two aggressive energy (hard) fights, injusry wii occur or even death. In akido, we use a soft approach to blend with his energy, neutralise his energy and direct the energy back to the pponent to neutralise him.

God created woman to be softer, more nuturing. If they satrt acting like a man, some one is bound to get hurt. Sorry guys, i know it is not politically correct.

And how does a woman act like a man, where someone would get hurt...especially as we are told to submit to one another?

In the conditions as stated in above. Ever since the Garden of Eden, Eve had desired more position and knowledge than she is given. She desired knowledge so that she can be like God.

In wanting to exert control over the man who have been placed in headship over her by God.. and according to Paul, speaking out in public complaining about her husband when things should be sorted out in the privacy of the home..

especially as we are told to submit to one another?

I have not seen a comand for husbands tosubmit to wife, to God yes, to love wife yes but not asked to submit to headship of wife.........

Paul was not speaking about complaining women. He was speaking to a congregation where women were consulting noisily about what was being said, and generally being disruptive. That is a far cry from exercising the gifts of the Holy Spirit in prophecy or teaching.

There was a problem in Corinth with order. Period.

The command from Paul is that we all submit one to another. Open mindedness is essential here, or you get caught up in male dominance issues. Unattractive and not of God. There are many times a godly man will submit to the voice of his godly wife. God speaks wisdom to her as well. Thank God.

Ephesians 5:21

And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

1 Peter 5:5

All of you young people should obey your elders. In fact, everyone should be humble toward everyone else. The Scriptures say,

"God opposes proud people,

but he helps everyone

who is humble."

[givennewname]

maybe i get a politically non correct thing to say off my chest. I am a martial ars exponent of akido. We are taught the when two aggressive energy (hard) fights, injury will occur or even death. In akido, we use a soft approach to blend with his energy, neutralise his energy and direct the energy back to the opponent to neutralise him.

God created woman to be softer, more nurturing. If they start acting like a man, some one is bound to get hurt. Sorry guys, i know it is not politically correct.

And how does a woman act like a man, where someone would get hurt...especially as we are told to submit to one another?

In the conditions as stated in above. Ever since the Garden of Eden, Eve had desired more position and knowledge than she is given. She desired knowledge so that she can be like God.

In wanting to exert control over the man who have been placed in headship over her by God.. and according to Paul, speaking out in public complaining about her husband when things should be sorted out in the privacy of the home..

especially as we are told to submit to one another?

I have not seen a command for husbands to submit to wife, to God yes, to love wife yes but not asked to submit to headship of wife.........

Paul was not speaking about complaining women. He was speaking to a congregation where women were consulting noisily about what was being said, and generally being disruptive. That is a far cry from exercising the gifts of the Holy Spirit in prophecy or teaching.

There was a problem in Corinth with order. Period.

The command from Paul is that we all submit one to another. Open mindedness is essential here, or you get caught up in male dominance issues. Unattractive and not of God. There are many times a godly man will submit to the voice of his godly wife. God speaks wisdom to her as well. Thank God.

Ephesians 5:21

And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

1 Peter 5:5

All of you young people should obey your elders. In fact, everyone should be humble toward everyone else. The Scriptures say,

"God opposes proud people,

but he helps everyone

who is humble."

I am not going to go through the whole issue of women submitting to their husbands. I think scripture is clear enough and repeated often enough to make that a universal command not only to the church in Corinth, Paul repeats that teaching in Titus, Timothy and other portions of scripture. In addition, Peter writes about it in his epistle. There is also an active discussion in other segments of this discussion.

You wives must submit to your husbands' leadership in the same way you submit to the Lord. For a husband is in charge of his wife in the same way Christ is in charge of his body, the church...So you wives must willingly obey your husbands in everything, just as the church obeys Christ...and the wife must see to it that she deeply respects her husband - obeying, praising, and honoring him." (Eph. 5:22-24,33) The Living Bible

This applies to Godly marriages.

There was nothing in her post that says she isn't in a Godly marriage. There is no indication that she isn't striving for a Godly marriage. However, she is treading dangerously close to violating her role as a supporting and loving Godly wife by seeking external support against her husband.

This shouldn't be turned into a thread of predestination vs. free will...there are plenty of those. What should be discussed is the issue of the wife refusing to follow her husbands spiritual leadership and taking it outside the marriage for support. What is the husband supposed to do? Change his mind to please his wife? NO! The husband is to lead the wife, and if he leads her wrong then he will be judged for that. She is allowed to disagree with him, she is allowed to discuss those disagreements, she is allowed to pray that God will change his heart. She is not allowed to do her own thing in spite of her husbands leadership.

This is a christian man who is making a doctrinal decision for his family, and leading his family based on his understanding of the scriptures. There is NO scriptural support for women who decide they don't like their husbands spiritual guidance.

Pray for your husband. Encourage his spiritual growth. As he grows spiritually maybe he will start to see the extremist position he has taken and gain a new understanding of God's word. There are plenty of women who would die for a husband that would lead them spiritually so be thankful that you husband is trying (and let him know that.)

Well just to add my 2 cents worth.. Paul's teaching is not applied only to christian husbands. He did not say submit to husbands who are Christians, who are correct and who are perfect. He asks a woman to submit even when the husband is an unbeliever.

Eph 5:22 Wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

Notice the verse never said wives subject yourself only when you are in agreement or only when you husbands are correct, a christian and perfect.. the verse never said that or give exclusion principle allowing for women not to subject if they think their husband is wrong.. God knows all husbands sin and are wrong occasionally.. Believers or unbelievers. I can say some unbeliever husband do far worse than unbelievers. But Paul gives that instruction in spite of knowing all the limitations and arguments, so does Abba father..

1Co 7:10 But unto the married I give charge, yea not I, but the Lord, That the wife depart not from her husband

1Co 7:11 (but should she depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband); and that the husband leave not his wife.

1Co 7:12 But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she is content to dwell with him, let him not leave her.

1Co 7:13 And the woman that hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband.

1Co 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

Paul also gives instruction that the wife does not leave her unbelieving husbands and the same commandment applies to them. Whether an unbeliever or not, the same blessings apply to the unbelieving partner.

Edited August 22, 2008 by givennewname

[givennewname]

maybe i get a politically non correct thing to say off my chest. I am a martial ars exponent of akido. We are taught the when two aggressive energy (hard) fights, injusry wii occur or even death. In akido, we use a soft approach to blend with his energy, neutralise his energy and direct the energy back to the pponent to neutralise him.

God created woman to be softer, more nurturing. If they start acting like a man, some one is bound to get hurt. Sorry guys, i know it is not politically correct.

And how does a woman act like a man, where someone would get hurt...especially as we are told to submit to one another?

In the conditions as stated in above. Ever since the Garden of Eden, Eve had desired more position and knowledge than she is given. She desired knowledge so that she can be like God.

In wanting to exert control over the man who have been placed in headship over her by God.. and according to Paul, speaking out in public complaining about her husband when things should be sorted out in the privacy of the home..

especially as we are told to submit to one another?

I have not seen a command for husbands to submit to wife, to God yes, to love wife yes but not asked to submit to headship of wife.........

Paul was not speaking about complaining women. He was speaking to a congregation where women were consulting noisily about what was being said, and generally being disruptive. That is a far cry from exercising the gifts of the Holy Spirit in prophecy or teaching.

There was a problem in Corinth with order. Period.

The command from Paul is that we all submit one to another. Open mindedness is essential here, or you get caught up in male dominance issues. Unattractive and not of God. There are many times a godly man will submit to the voice of his godly wife. God speaks wisdom to her as well. Thank God.

Ephesians 5:21

And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

1 Peter 5:5

All of you young people should obey your elders. In fact, everyone should be humble toward everyone else. The Scriptures say,

"God opposes proud people,

but he helps everyone

who is humble."

Brother,

Greetings in the name of the Lord..

Paul was not speaking about complaining women. He was speaking to a congregation where women were consulting noisily about what was being said, and generally being disruptive. That is a far cry from exercising the gifts of the Holy Spirit in prophecy or teaching.

There was a problem in Corinth with order. Period.

Yes Paul may have given the order for women not to prophesize to maintain order but he asks them not to speak and ask their husband at home any doctrinal question in order to show submission to their husbands.. Anyway the order is repeated in Titus where paul makes it very clear why he ask the women not to speak in public..

Ti 2:9 In like manner, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefastness and sobriety; not with braided hair, and gold or pearls or costly raiment;

1Ti 2:10 but (which becometh women professing godliness) through good works.

1Ti 2:11 Let a woman learn in quietness with all subjection.

1Ti 2:12 But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness.

1Ti 2:13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve;

1Ti 2:14 and Adam was not beguiled, but the woman being beguiled hath fallen into transgression:

What is 1Ti 2:14 talking about? Paul refers to this passage:

Gen 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

Gen 3:5 for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil.

The sin that Eve succumb to was not a sin of gluttony, it was a sin of wanting to be God.. That is why Paul ask a woman to submit to man..

The command from Paul is that we all submit one to another. Open mindedness is essential here, or you get caught up in male dominance issues. Unattractive and not of God. There are many times a godly man will submit to the voice of his godly wife. God speaks wisdom to her as well. Thank God.

Where is the scriptural basis for open mindedness and compromise? We are not male chauvinist pigs, what we believe is in scripture.

And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

I don't think i run a one man dictatorship in my house. I do give long discussions about issues in my family. where is is still disagreement, i think the family still needs a head, that is the husband.

[Guest shiloh357]

Corinth was THE most immoral city in Greece according to most historians. Male and female temple prostitutes were the norm and if we understand Paul correctly, even the very magistrates themselves were wholly given over to these vices. The Christians at Corinth were being saved out of things like male prostitution as well as other heinous sins. The women were the same way. These were people who have just come out of a lifestyle and Paul's instruction is in part directed at encouraging them not to dress and carry themselves like they did when they were in the world. The men were instructed to cut their hair since the men in Corinth who were homosexual, wore long effeminate looking hair to attract men.

I do not think Corinth was the centre of Temple prostitution, in fact Ephesus was the Centre of the worship of Diana the Goddess of love and fertility in the roman world. Temple prostitution and as a result woman were the real economic power in Ephesus and temple prostitutes were every where. If the commandment was a law specific to distinguish woman who were former prostitutes convert to Christ, the problem would be more acute in Ephesus and the command would be included to the epistle to the Ephesians. In fact Paul's main message to Ephesus is about church leadership of church structure, meaning there was no problem of head covering and women trying to exert authority in Church despite women holding the economic power in Ephesus.

Well for starters, I did not say that Corinth was the center of temple prostitution. I said that it was the most immoral Greek city of its day. Being a major port city in Greece, Corinth made a lot of money off of temple prostitution especially from sailor/merchants who have been on boats for perhaps weeks at at time and are seeking out sexual pleasure.

In fact, it is likely that Corinth in the interest of keeping the revenue flowing would have been quite accomodating of the religious practices of pagan sailors who were not of the Greek religion.

The difference between Corinth and Ephesus could not be more acute. The degree of paganism and the scope of it, woul like the difference between shooting a bullet and throwing it. No city could have held a candle next to Corinth. In fact, I don't know of a major city in the US that would come close to Corinth. We, in our day, just do not have a grasp on the degree and scope of the decadance of this city.

The book of Ephesus is believed by several scholars to be a general letter and not a personal letter. The reason is that there are no personal greetings to individuals from that congregation mentioned in the letter, no references to that specific congregation. It is believed that in the case of Ephesians, the same letter was copied to several churches and the one we have in our Bible just happened to be the copy sent to Ephesus.

More to the point, both 1 and 2 Corinthians are personal letters. They are not like the general epistles of 1, 2, and 3 John or 1 and 2 Peter.

In both letters to the Corinthians, the way they are structured indicates that Paul is writing responses to letters and queries written to him from that congregation. Much of the issues addressed are "Corinthian specific" given the flavor of the letters.

If wearing a headcovering were meant to be understood as a universal custom, we would see it developed doctrinally in and all over the New Testament. If we examine baptism and the Lord's Supper we see many places where these specific actions are mentioned and taught and developed. We have no such treatment for things like women's headcoverings or men being expected to keep their hair a certain length or anything.