1. The “uncut hair for women doctrine” has absolutely no basis in the OLD TESTAMENT. (Look up the word “hair” in a good concordance and see for yourself).
2. The only passage of Scripture in the entire Bible that is used for this doctrine is 1 CORINTHIANS 11:2-16. In order to have a solid Biblically established doctrine, one should always have at least two or three passages of Scripture to back it up. (See 2 CORINTHIANS 13:1). A listing of erroneous doctrines that are promoted by other groups - who also do not follow this good rule for sound Biblical doctrine - includes snake handling, poison drinking, playing with fire and baptizing for the dead, etc.
3. To honestly believe that 1 CORINTHIANS 11:2-16 teaches that a woman should never cut or trim her hair, one must read something into the passage that is just not there.
(Please read it again for yourself).
4. Reading 1 CORINTHIANS 11:2-16 without any preconceptions, one can easily see that the passage is dealing with headship, i. e. authority. The “uncut hair for women doctrine” has caused many to miss what Paul is teaching about authority. He uses the difference in men’s and women’s hair as a metaphor - or symbol - to express his points about God’s chain of command for marriage; i. e. God, Christ, husband and wife. (It’s that simple).
5. The word “shaven” means exactly that, “shaven”. Also, the word “shorn” means to cut off next to the skin, i. e. as one would shear a sheep. The words “cut” or “trim” are not used anywhere in 1 CORINTHIANS 11:2-16. (Please read the passage once again with these definitions in mind).
6. The word - Paul uses in 1 CORINTHIANS 11:2-16 - that is translated “long hair” is the Greek word komai. He uses it - interchangeably - when talking about men’s hair and women’s hair. It simply means “long hair”. If komai meant “uncut hair” then it would be Scriptural for a man to have hair to his shoulders as long as he kept it trimmed. Such an interpretation would make Paul’s teaching here contradict itself. Since he is making a distinction between men and women, it can be easily understood that Paul is referring to a feminine length of hair when using the word komai and not to a woman never cutting or trimming her hair. (Anyone can see that a man could grow long hair and keep it cut regularly - or trimmed - even though it would still be considered long).
7. In the Great Commission, MATTHEW 28:18-20, the Lord Jesus told His followers to go into all the nations, make disciples and baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit; as well as to teach them to “observe everything” He commanded. While reading everything Christ commanded, it can easily be seen that He never even mentioned women’s hair.
Therefore, it is reasonable to believe the apostles never taught the “uncut hair for women doctrine” or anything else Christ did not command.
8. In dealing with the controversy among Jewish believers, as to how Gentile believers should live the Christian life, women’s hair is not mentioned by the Early Church leaders, according to ACTS 15:4-21; nor is it mentioned in the letter that was sent from the Jerusalem church to the Gentile churches. (See 15:22-29). Surely, if a woman cutting her hair was a sin, this would have been mentioned. (James, a half-brother of Jesus Christ, was the chief spokesman in this matter).
9. As can be seen thus far, the “uncut hair for women doctrine” requires more of a woman than God does. Having caused many “little ones” to fall - by placing unnecessary burdens on them - this erroneous belief is a stumbling block that needs to be stopped because the Lord Jesus Christ really cares about those He considers to be “little ones”. (See MATTHEW 18:6-9; MARK 9:42-48 and LUKE 17:1-2).
NOTE: Doing a study on “stumbling blocks” would be very helpful in understanding the importance of not making people stumble; which is something this - evangelism hobbling - “uncut hair for women doctrine” has been doing for far too long.
10. The “uncut for women doctrine” came into existence as a result of men not always truly studying the Scriptures; therefore they did not always rightly divide the Word of Truth. (See 2 TIMOTHY 2:15). This doctrine continues to be perpetuated by those who do not follow the example of the Bereans; who made it their practice to search the Scriptures to see if all the things they heard were true. (ACTS 17:`10-12)
FOR THOSE WHO ARE CONCERNED WITH OUR PENTECOSTAL HERITAGE
The “uncut hair for women doctrine” did not originate with 20th Century Pentecostal pioneers. It was a tradition handed down to them from previous denominations. (Please consider what Jesus had to say about man-made traditions in MATTHEW 15:2-9 and MARK 7:2-13; as well as what Paul wrote in COLOSSIANS 2:8,20-23 and Peter’s writings in 1 PETER 1:17-19).
It is a known fact that our forefathers put a lot of man-made traditions to rest. Let's continue their legacy by doing the same with this one.
FOR THOSE CONCERNED WITH PASTORAL AND DENOMINATIONAL AUTHORITY
The Bible does not give any Leader(s) the authority to keep God's people bound to unscriptural traditions.
FOR THOSE CONCERNED WITH BACKSLIDING
If you desire to be set free from any unscriptural tradition - like the “uncut hair for women doctrine” – Jesus Christ and His truth are more than enough to help you. Get closer to Him and His Word personally and He will make you free.
JOHN 8:31b-32
…..“If you continue in My word, then are you My disciples indeed;
and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. JESUS CHRIST
May the Holy Spirit, as Jesus promised, lead and guide you into all truth. (JOHN 16:13)
Alan Latta
P. O. Box 5005
Granbury, TX 76049
alan@generationspeople.org
