This objector to the head covering accuses Paul of violating his own teachings about grace versus law

The arguments against the head covering I dealt with in my research on this subject were all from within the Bible-believing church. I didn't try to deal with the feminist arguments.

But now I've heard from someone who argues what is really a feminist position although she may not see it that way; she simply thinks Paul was not qualified to be an apostle, certainly not a writer of God's word. That's a typical stance of an unbeliever, and of feminists who consider themselves to be Christians but refuse to take the Bible as God's word.

I've posted this elsewhere but I realized it belongs on this blog in full as an example of one attitude toward the head covering.

This is to my mind about the most offensive kind of argument possible, an amazing display of sophistry pitting Paul's own teachings against himself in the service of what can only be a mere personal dislike of his writings on the head covering and on women in general.

Paul was NOT PERFECT. Paul made errors in what he said and did, that as you align them with the teaching of the Word -- they don't line up. For example, look at this.

Acts 23 1And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
2And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.
3Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
4And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?
5Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

Paul was speaking of the "mindset" as if the priesthood of the old covenant was still in force -- and AS IF the high priest of the OT was still the high priest. But this is not true. Jesus Christ is the High Priest of the second covenant. Paul was not completely renewed in his mind. Paul even wrote the Book of Hebrews declaring the change in priesthood, that Jesus is now the High Priest and Jesus is therefore the Ruler. Yet, in his humanity, Paul was not "in the Spirit" as he spoke giving respect and submission to the outdated priesthood and thus not giving respect and submission to Jesus Christ. It was an error because Paul was not perfect and Paul was not entirely renewed in his mind.

Hebrews 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

Hebrews 7:11If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
12For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
13For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

The scripture is clear that the priesthood before God CHANGED when Jesus went to the cross and the vail was rent in two, Jesus resurrected, and ascended to the right and of God the Father. The priesthood of the OT was not in effect. The priest who CLAIMED to be the high priest towards whom Paul gave respect was NOT the High Priest in the sight of God -- but rather Jesus Christ was/is the High Priest.

But, Paul, being human and having been a Pharisee of the Pharisee, was much like the Jews who left Israel and kept thinking like slaves of Egypt wanting to go back to be under Pharoah after God having sent Moses to bring them to the Promised Land.

Paul, though the scripture refutes his behavior, kept "thinking" that the high priest of the OT before whom he had appeared -- really WAS the high priest at that time. This is impossible. The high priest of the OT had LOST his place and position when Jesus Christ replaced the first covenant with the second covenant and replaced the high priest of the OT having become the High Priest of the NT in His death, burial, resurrection, ascension to the right hand of God and the sending of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost.

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Paul, basically, was not entirely renewed in his mind and gave up his dominion in Christ by submission to a high priest who had no authority before God... rather Jesus Christ did.

We all make mistakes.

Paul has a habitual "strain" of Pharisaical sin in him "showing through" in which he knows better than to believe that righteousness can be attained by the law, knows better than to believe that the law is still in effect, knows that the only righteousness there is to be gained is through Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God and the High Priest and the Temple of the New Covenant -- by His blood and death burial and resurrection and through faith alone in Jesus by grace alone -- but Paul just "can't get his mind" to think that way 100%.

So, unless you want to denounce Jesus Christ as the High Priest of the New Covenant and return to the law and replace Jesus with a current high priest of the Old Covenant -- we can see that Paul made a mistake there out of human conditioning.

The matter of head coverings is a LIKE ERROR on Paul's part -- perhaps.

Because, spiritually, in Christ, Jesus Christ Himself has become the covering of all saints by the Spirit. What was in the natural is now in the spiritual.

The law was a shadow of things to come but the reality is found in Christ.

When Paul states, "AS the law also states...!!" -- we should be able to see that the old nature of Paul is "showing through". He has not yet "left behind" the law and pressed fully into Christ.

1 Corinthians 14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.

This is why he states in Philippians 3 that he has not yet been made perfect, but is striving to be found fully in Christ having no righteousness that comes from the law but rather in resting fully in faith in Jesus Christ and the righteousness that comes from faith in Christ.

When Paul starts quoting the LAW in relation to women -- wanting them to come under some natural element -- you see that the church resisted him. They would not obey and instead asserted their liberty in Christ.

What Paul is saying about SPIRITUAL COVERING and being under submission to God in Christ and having the HOLY SPIRIT UPON ONE is New Testament theology.
But going back to the law -- and Paul getting so uptight because women weren't wearing natural veils -- friend, that doesn't "line up" with scripture any more than Paul's grovelling before the high priest of the OT (and him forgetting Jesus as the High Priest of the NT in that moment) lines up with scripture and spiritual Kingdom laws, principles and dynamics -- the reality of the Spirit.

I may come back to add some comments later.