ANSWER: Women were obligated to wear a “veil” in the worship services of the church at Corinth. It was the custom of that time for women to show submission to their husbands by covering their heads. If a woman of Corinth worshiped without this “covering,” it indicated that she was in rebellion to the rule of her husband and, therefore, in violation of God’s will (Genesis 3:16). Paul, by supporting this custom at Corinth, is teaching the eternal principle that women are not to do anything that would show rebellion to their husbands, i.e., their “heads” (1 Corinthians 11:3). However, wearing of a “veil” (or not wearing a “veil”) in other times and places was not a custom that indicated rebellion. Certainly, this is not the custom in most places today! Where this is no such custom there can be no issue of submission and, therefore, in such places, the wearing of a “covering” is not scripturally binding!

That the “covering” under discussion by the apostle is an artificial covering, and not the hair, is made clear by his reference to both in 1 Corinthians 11:6.