Women and Worship at Corinth: Interview with Dr. Lucy Peppiatt

Today Dr. Will Ryan and Dr. Matt have a conversation with
Dr. Lucy Peppiatt about 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 and the issues
surrounding head coverings.





Bio:


Dr. Peppiatt has been Principal at Westminster Theological Centre
(WTC) since 2013. She teaches courses in Christian doctrine and
in spiritual formation. Lucy holds bachelor’s degrees in both
English and Theology, and completed an MA in Systematic Theology
at King’s College, London, and a PhD through the University of
Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Her research interests are Christ
and the Spirit, Charismatic theology, theological anthropology,
discipleship, 1 Corinthians, and women in the Bible. Lucy is part
of Crossnet Anglican Church in Bristol, which is led by her
husband, Nick Crawley. Together, they have four sons and four
daughters-in-law. 





Rhetorical Reading of 1 Corinthians 11:2-16





Paul:


2 I commend you because you remember me in everything and
maintain the traditions just as I handed them on to you.
3 But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of
every man, and the husband is the head of his wife, and God is
the head of Christ. 





Male opponents: 


4 Any man who prays or prophesies with something on his head
disgraces his head, 5 but any woman who prays or prophesies
with her head unveiled disgraces her head—it is one and the same
thing as having her head shaved. 





Paul:


6 For if a woman will not veil herself, then she should cut
off her hair; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her
hair cut off or to be shaved, she should wear a veil. 





Male opponents: 


7 For a man ought not to have his head veiled, since he is
the image and reflection of God; but woman is the reflection of
man. 8 Indeed, man was not made from woman, but woman from
man. 9 Neither was man created for the sake of woman, but
woman for the sake of man. 10 For this reason a woman ought
to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the
angels. 





Paul:


11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man
or man independent of woman. 12 For just as woman came from
man, so man comes through woman; but all things come from God.
13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to
God with her head unveiled? 





Male opponents: 


14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long
hair, it is degrading to him





Paul:


15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her
hair is given to her for a covering. 16 But if anyone is
disposed to be contentious—we have no such custom, nor do the
churches of God. 








Buy the book:


https://a.co/d/bKf4i5W





Westminster Theological Centre:


https://wtctheology.org.uk