Swimwear in this setting would be inappropriate, if not immodest. Or a bare-chested guy wearing only his swimming trunks to church. In today’s western world, it would be like a woman wearing a bikini to church. This was doubtless because, without a covering, she might distract other worshippers, especially men. He encourages the women to wear head coverings at church. Paul finds himself in the awkward situation of having to interpret church gatherings as public spaces even though the homes they meet in are private spaces. And so the women at these gathering felt comfortable uncovering their heads in these homes. The problem the Corinthians face was that in the first century, churches met in homes. They were free to take off the covering in the privacy of their own homes. It was standard for women, especially married women, to wear such coverings when in public. In Paul’s world, head coverings were a sign of modesty (as they still are today in certain cultures). Social and historical context is important here.
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