Is Nature against males having long hair?

[McCulloch]

Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her for a covering.

What did Paul mean by this? In what way does nature teach this?

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 1 by McCulloch]


1 CORINTHIANS 11:14
"Isn't it obvious that it's disgraceful for a man to have long hair?" - New Living Translation

I have explained this passage when you asked a very similar question earlier, here is the answer in case you missed it. LINK What did Paul mean that "nature" teaches us about hair?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 927#814927

VARIOUS COMMENTARIES

Barnes' Notes on the Bible
The word nature (φυ�σις phusis) denotes evidently that sense of propriety which all men have , and which is expressed in any prevailing or universal custom. That which is universal we say is according to nature.

New Living TranslationEllicott's Commentary for English Readers
Nature itself.—This may mean, either “the native inborn sense of what is seemly� as contrasted with revelation; or it may signify the ordinary and evident arrangement of things in creation.

Matthew Poole's Commentary
The apostle arguing, that as the male and female sex are artificially distinguished by garments, and it was the will of God they should be so, so they should also be distinguished by the wearing of their hair; and it was no less shame for a man to wear his hair like a woman, than to wear garments like a woman.

QUESTION: Was Paul implying it was "shameful" for a lion to have a mane, or that other such like creatures should be shaved?

No, Paul specifically referred to human males (a man) made no mention of animals. The "hair" on animals is usually referred to as "fur" and Paul's reference to "nature", far from a call to model hairstyles after the animal kingdom seems to be an idiomatic reference to human custom or understanding (see above)




JW



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What did Paul mean that "nature" teaches us about hair?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 27#p814927
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 44#p866744

Are the Apostles Peter and Paul prohibiting the wearing of gold and the braiding of hair?
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To learn more please go to other posts related to...

JESUS CHRIST, APPEARANCE, and ...JEHOVAH'S WITNESS ARTWORK

[Elijah John]

Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her for a covering.

What did Paul mean by this? In what way does nature teach this?

Paul's statement is yet another one of his non-sequitors, and diminishes his credibility.

Some others:

-"If works of the law could save you, then Christ died in vain"

-"If Christ is not raised, you are still in your sins".

How do any of these things follow??

[McCulloch]

[Replying to post 2 by JehovahsWitness]

It seems that you are saying that when Paul uses the word nature, he really means artificial, human custom. Your explanation has helped me understand just how you have difficulty seeing contradictions in scripture. Up might be down; black might be white.

[Justin108]

Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her for a covering.

What did Paul mean by this? In what way does nature teach this?

But... what about Samson?

[onewithhim]

Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her for a covering.

What did Paul mean by this? In what way does nature teach this?

But... what about Samson?

Samson was a Nazarite, which is a certain group of faithful men (or, occasionally, women) set aside for a special purpose. "Nazarite" actually means "one singled out; dedicated one; separated one." Regulations governing Nazarites are found in chapter 6 of the book of Numbers. Three particular restrictions for those that vowed to be Nazarites:

1) They were to drink no intoxicating beverage or eat any product of the grapevine.
2) They were not to cut the hair of their heads.
3) They were not to touch a dead body.


.

[McCulloch]

[Replying to post 6 by onewithhim]

You say that they are faithful. Paul says that they are dishonourable. Who is wrong? Can they be both?

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 6 by onewithhim]

You say that they are faithful. Paul says that they are dishonourable. Who is wrong? Can they be both?

Both are correct, if we understand that Paul not speaking in the absolute. Did you miss my comment in this regard? I'll link you back to it just in case (see below)

Did Paul's word's contradict the Mosaic law about long hair?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 273#815273

RELATED THREADS

What did Paul mean when he used the expression "nature" teaches us about long hair?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 744#866744

Did Paul advocate the shaving of lions and other animals with fur?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 852#867852

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 4 by McCulloch]


QUESTION: When Paul said "nature" teaches us about long hair, was Paul implying it was "shameful" for a lion to have a mane, or that other such like creatures should be shaved?

No, Paul specifically referred to human males (a man) made no mention of animals. The "hair" on animals is usually referred to as "fur" and Paul's reference to "nature", far from a call to model hairstyles after the animal kingdom seems to be an idiomatic reference to human custom or understanding (see above)




JW

[onewithhim]

[Replying to post 6 by onewithhim]

You say that they are faithful. Paul says that they are dishonourable. Who is wrong? Can they be both?

Obviously the Nazarites were not of the regular population. It was a specific instruction that they were not to cut their hair. Therefore it must have been common for men to wear their hair short. The Nazarites were a group SET APART.