Kevin Conner Presents Alternative Interpretation of Head Covering Passage

Tuesday, Sep. 8, 2009 Posted: 5:09:47PM HKT

A prolific Bible commentator offered his interpretation of a controversial passage. Recorded in the first letter to the Corinthian Church, the passage appears to support the wearing of a head covering by women.

According to Kevin Conner, the passage must be seen in the context of the immoral practices that took place at Corinth.

It was common at that time to see temple prostitutes, with their heads shaved, ‘advertising’ themselves to men. The Apostle Paul, who wrote the passage in question, was referring to those among these women who became believers when he talked about the need to don head coverings.

“These women needed to have a covering, because they were temple prostitutes,” said the elderly, Australian scholar.

Paul, who emphasised that the believers are temples of the Holy Spirit, was ‘encouraging’ such women to wear a head covering until their hair grew back. A woman’s “hair is given her for a covering”, said Conner.

Theologians have traditionally argued that the donning of a head covering was a common, cultural practice adopted by Christians at the time of writing. Seen as a form of cultural relativising of Scripture, the passage has been cited to support bringing homosexuality into the Church.

A leader in the Pentecostal movement, Kevin Conner has written commentaries on 60 books of the Bible. He has also written theology textbooks, theological resources and other Christian themed books, including a book on the subject of head coverings. His textbooks are widely distributed around the world and have been used in well-known theological institutions.

Conner was speaking at the inaugural Ministers Fellowship International Asia Conference held last week at the City Missions Church. He was the keynote speaker at the meeting, whose theme was: The Unshakeable Kingdom of God. In the three messages he delivered from Thursday until Saturday, Conner promoted and explained the Church and defended the exclusive role of the local church in providing spiritual covering to the believers.

Edmond Chua
edmond@christianpost.com