Holiness Bible Study
LESSON 6: ATTITUDE
Table of Contents:
Key Verse..…………………...…………………………..……..………….…….……….. 3
Lesson Objectives….......................................................................………4
Understanding Holiness for Men and Women……....…........ 4
Key Points……………………………………………………....….......…...... 10
Women’s Holiness Area Three - Attitude………...…......…....... 10
A Meek and Submissive Spirit…………………..………......…........ 10
Context……………………...…………………………………....….......…...... 10
Hair…….……..…………………………………………………………..…........ 10
Conclusion…….……..……...………………………………………..…........ 10
Hair Application Q&A…….……..……...………………………..…........ 10
Conclusion…..……..………….……………....…..........................…….…........ 10
Review…..……..…………...………………………………….......…...…….…........10
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Key Verse
1 Corinthians 11:15 King James Version
15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a
covering.
Lesson Objectives
By the end of this lesson, learners should understand:
• Attitude is an inward feeling that is visibly expressed through behavior.
• Spiritual identity is seen without words—God’s people are recognized by their inner
character.
• Peter instructed Christian women to adorn themselves with a submissive and meek
spirit (1 Peter 3:3-4).
• God’s order of creation—God always existed, Jesus was the plan from the beginning,
man was formed by God, and woman was formed from man, establishing divine
headship.
• Paul used creation to teach gender distinction—men should have short hair, and
women should have long, uncut hair (1 Corinthians 11:14-15).
• A woman with uncut hair and a submissive spirit carries angelic power (1 Corinthians
11:10).
Understanding Holiness for Men and Women
There are six key areas of holiness, three for women and three for men.
Women’s Holiness Areas:
• Adornment
• Apparel
• Attitude
Men’s Holiness Areas:
• Appetite
• Anger
• Apathy
Although these areas are specifically highlighted for each gender, that doesn’t mean the
opposite gender cannot struggle with them. These distinctions reflect common tendencies
based on the unique nature of men and women, but holiness applies to everyone in all areas
of life.
Key Points:
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LESSON 6: ATTITUDE
Holiness starts on the inside—True holiness begins in the heart and is reflected
outwardly, regardless of gender. Both men and women should seek real, internal
holiness.
The Holy Ghost is essential—To truly understand holiness, one must have the baptism
of the Holy Ghost. Without God’s Spirit, these teachings cannot be fully grasped (1
Corinthians 2:14).
The Holy Ghost empowers holiness—When we receive the Spirit of God, we receive
His very nature, giving us the power to overcome sin and live righteously (Acts 1:8,
Romans 8:9).
Obedience is key—Holiness is lived out through submission to three teachers: spiritual
leadership, God’s Word, and God’s Spirit.
Holiness brings freedom, not bondage—It is not imprisonment, but freedom from sin’s
curse and bondage (John 8:32, Romans 6:22).
Holiness isn’t forced—People who see holiness as slavery are often hurt or jaded. Our
role is simply to follow and teach God’s Word—each person must choose to accept or
reject it.
Ephesians 4:22-24 King James Version
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt
according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and
true holiness.
It’s time to transform your understanding of holiness, enabling you to become a new person in
Jesus Christ!
John 8:34-36 King James Version
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the
servant of sin.
35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
It’s time to learn how to live in true freedom by becoming a servant of Jesus Christ instead of
sin, according to Scripture!
Women’s Holiness Area Three - Attitude
A Meek and Submissive Spirit
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Attitude is an inward feeling that manifests through outward behavior. It is impossible to deny
that the condition of the inward man is revealed externally through our actions.
Men and women only operate under one of two spirits—God’s or the world’s. It is abundantly
clear to God and those around us which spirit is at work in us through our outward actions.
Mankind cannot conceal the true fruit of the inner man.
Luke 6:43 King James Version
43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth
good fruit.
Men and women of God are identified by their spiritual inner man, which is why attitude can be
perceived without a single word.
For example, a small segment of society identifies as goth. From a distance, their clothing
makes this clear. Up close, their attitude, spirit, and demeanor confirm it. People who wish to
be part of a particular group will act and dress accordingly. Likewise, the people of God are
always identified in both ways—by their attitude and their appearance.
Peter addressed this topic in depth:
1 Peter 3:1-6 King James Version
1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the
word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing
of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the
ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God,
adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:
6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as
ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
In verse 5, Peter states that holy women adorned themselves by being in subjection to their
husbands. Notice that there is no reference to clothing, jewelry, or physical adornment in this
verse. Peter’s message to Christian women is that their true adornment should be a
submissive and meek spirit.
He uses the marriage relationship as an example to illustrate this principle. However, this
example does not exempt unmarried women or men from applying these scriptures. Because
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we are all the bride of Christ. Peter’s analogy of marriage reflects our relationship with our
heavenly Groom.
Paul agreed with Peter when he wrote:
Ephesians 5:22 King James Version
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
A meek and submissive spirit is a clear mark of a godly woman according to the teachings of
the Word of God. As with nearly all holiness teachings, these biblical principles concerning a
woman’s attitude are rooted in the way God created humanity. In everything we do, God
expects a clear distinction between the genders. This is a headship issue that goes all the way
back to Creation—not because women are inferior to men, but because of God’s established
order.
Context
When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, Corinth was a thriving city with diverse religious practices,
including the worship of deities like Apollo and Aphrodite. Many historical accounts suggest
that the temple of Aphrodite in ancient Corinth was associated with prostitution. The
geographer Strabo recorded that the temple “had possessed more than a thousand temple
slaves, courtesans, whom both men and women used to dedicate to the goddess.”
The priestesses of these temples engaged in ritual prostitution as a form of worship and often
participated in these ceremonies with disheveled or shorn hair, a visible sign of their devotion.
These immoral religious practices were regarded with disgust by those with any moral integrity
in Corinth.
In Greco-Roman society, a woman’s head covering symbolized modesty, submission, and
marital status. An uncovered or shaved head was associated with prostitution, shame, or
rebellion against social norms. Women in Corinth typically wore head coverings as a sign
of modesty and submission to their husbands, a practice still observed in some Eastern and
Middle Eastern cultures today. To be seen without a head covering could imply promiscuity,
rejection of male authority, or even an association with the immoral temple priestesses.
A few verses prior to chapter 11, Paul wrote this, setting the stage for a showdown between
Christian liberty and cultural custom:
1 Corinthians 10:23 King James Version
23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for
me, but all things edify not.
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Paul, the great champion of Christian liberty, having been freed from the ceremonial laws of
the Old Testament as a former Jew, found himself acting as a referee in a disagreement within
the church at Corinth. Some of the women were exercising their liberty by choosing not to wear
scarves as they went about their day-to-day lives.
They did this because they understood that their true covering was not a scarf but was
instituted in both creative order and nature—in creative order as Jesus Christ, man, and then
woman, and in nature as their uncut hair.
Paul had all this context in mind when writing his letter to the Corinthians, particularly in
chapter 11.
Hair
1 Corinthians 11:3 King James Version
3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the
woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
It is important to recognize that the word "head" in this passage does not primarily
denote authority as it is often understood in Western society. Instead, in Eastern
culture, "head" represents the flow of life—the source and order through which life is given and
sustained. This is its primary meaning in this context.
Paul is not establishing a hierarchy of dominance but rather illustrating the divine flow and
order of creation:
• God as the source of all things.
• The redemptive plan of Jesus Christ, foreordained before the foundation of the world.
• Adam, formed from the dust by God.
• Eve, brought forth from Adam.
This order of creation is foundational to everything that Paul is emphasizing, and we will see
this pattern reinforced throughout the rest of this passage.
1 Corinthians 11:4-6 King James Version
4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth
her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a
woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
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Paul here is directly addressing the issue in Corinth, as previously discussed. He wants
the Christians there to avoid any association with the immoral behaviors taking place in
the temples of Apollo and Aphrodite.
1 Corinthians 11:7-12 King James Version
7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory
of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
8 For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man.
9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the
man, in the Lord.
12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things
of God.
Again, the reason Paul is emphasizing this teaching on the order of creation and the flow of life
as headship is because the women leading the temples of Aphrodite would be comparable
to today’s modern feminist movement. They were completely unsubmissive, entirely lacking
meekness, and openly seductive in their behaviors. They dressed immorally and, in many
cases, shaved off their hair as a sign of their defiance.
Paul was clarifying for the church’s sake that this was not God’s plan. There were likely former
temple prostitutes who had become part of the Corinthian congregation. They may have
assumed they could bring the same behaviors into the church. Paul was explaining why this
was not acceptable—because that behavior contradicts God’s creative order.
1 Corinthians 11:13-15 King James Version
13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto
him?
15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a
covering.
Paul starts with a question, “Is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?” The answer
was obvious and apparent to both those in Corinth and beyond—No! But rather than offering
his own opinion, Paul directs them back to creation. He allows the natural order established by
God to do the teaching.
For men, God designed them with a genetic tendency toward male pattern baldness. As men
age, they naturally lose hair on their heads while still being able to grow facial and body hair.
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Baldness is common among men as they age, whereas for women, it is much less frequent
and drastic.
For women, God created them with the natural ability to grow long hair while preventing them
from growing facial and body hair to the extent that men do. When women do experience hair
loss, it is often a result of sickness or an abnormality, rather than being a genetic norm.
Nature itself teaches this distinction so plainly that we sometimes overlook its simple truth.
Paul used these genetic differences between men and women to teach a biblical principle of
gender distinction. He explained that it is a shame for a man to have long hair and for a woman
to have short hair because it contradicts God’s natural order. Conversely, it is a glory for a man
to have short hair and for a woman to have long hair.
Now, we can understand what Paul meant when he said, “For this cause ought the woman to
have power on her head because of the angels” in verse 10.
A woman’s hair is more than just hair—it is a sign for both the spiritual world and those on the
earth. A woman with uncut hair demonstrates that she has no issue with the order of God’s
creation—Jesus, man, and then woman. It is a sign of submission to both God and man.
According to 1 Peter 3:4, it is an “ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of
God of great price.”
This verse highlights a unique spiritual benefit that only women receive. When a woman
embraces a submissive and meek spirit and keeps her hair uncut, she has angelic power upon
her. This power is manifested in prayer. There is something undeniably special about the
prayers of a submissive and meek woman shown through her uncut hair.
1 Corinthians 11:15 King James Version
15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a
covering.
There is no denying that Paul is talking about hair when he uses the Greek word
for "covering"—peribolaion—means “a covering thrown around.” Paul was clearly painting a
word picture for us to imagine a woman’s hair blowing around in the wind! He could’ve used a
variety of other words to describe this glorious hair, but he wanted to ensure that the hearer
would understand the power of long uncut hair.
Conclusion
Paul was addressing multiple topics, some that impacted just the church in Corinth and others
that impacted all Christians.
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Topics addressed and owners:
• Creation’s order – all believers
• Nature’s teachings on hair – all believers
• Separation from the appearance of ungodliness – all believers
• Scarf usage – specific to certain cultures
Let those who have ears hear the Word of God clearly. Many have become so simpleminded that they refuse to study this out, failing to understand the full context of Scripture. As a
result, they remain shallow and uneducated in applying the Word of God, especially when it
comes to the biblical teaching on hair.
The scarf discussion was a matter of Christian liberty versus cultural custom. However,
the matter of men’s and women’s hair was never up for debate—it was established in both
nature and creation itself. Women are to have uncut hair, and men are to have cut hair. To do
otherwise is a shame against nature and the Creator of nature—God.
Hair Application Q&A
Question #1
In order to please God, how long does my hair have to be?
Answer #1
First and foremost, as with any question, we must turn to the Word of God for the answer.
• 1 Corinthians 11:14-15 King James Version
14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a
shame unto him?
15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a
covering.
• What is the definition of long? – The Greek words for "long"—koma and kome—
mean "uncut" or "allowed to grow." This indicates that Scripture is not referring to a
specific measurable length but rather to hair that remains uncut. According to the
Bible, long hair is simply hair that has never been cut and is allowed to grow naturally
without interference.
• 1 Corinthians 11:5-6 King James Version
5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered
dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a
woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
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• Is there a difference between shaving hair and cutting hair? – The Greek word
for “shaven”—xyraō—means "to shave or shear." The Greek word for “shorn”—keirō—
means "shearing or cutting short the hair of the head," similar to the shearing of a
sheep.
In conclusion, Paul’s definition of “shorn” or “shaven” hair is hair that has been cut or trimmed,
even slightly. In essence, Paul was saying that if you trim your hair, even a little, you might as
well shave your head. Partial disobedience is still disobedience. The scripture purposefully
never defined an exact hair length, because there would be some women that would never be
able to be holy to God. There are some cultures where women can’t naturally grow long hair.
God and the apostle Paul understood this, so no matter what culture you were born into, if your
hair is uncut, it is long in the eyes of God.
Question #2
How long does my hair have to be uncut before I am considered holy in the eyes of God?
Answer #2
First and foremost, as with any question, we must turn to the Word of God for the answer.
• Salvation is progressional, requiring continual faithfulness, obedience, and growth in
holiness.
o Past – We were saved from sin's penalty.
Ephesians 2:8 King James Version
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is
the gift of God.
o Present – We are being saved from sin’s power.
I Corinthians 1:18 King James Version
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but
unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
o Future – We will be saved from sin’s presence.
Romans 13:11 King James Version
11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of
sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
• Grace is part of salvation’s process, as it keeps and sustains you until you come into the
fullness of revelation.
o Titus 2:11-12 King James Version
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live
soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.
o The Greek word for “teaching"—paideuō means “to train, instruct, discipline, or
educate over time”—much like how a child is gradually taught and trained. This
shows that grace is not a one-time event but an ongoing process, continuously
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working in a believer’s life. You can’t arrive at a place called “saved” because
“saved” is always a progression forward.
In conclusion, it may take years for someone to come into the full revelation of holiness, as we
have been discussing in this Holiness Bible Study. This is where the mercy and grace of
God come into play. Just as human babies are not born with the ability to walk—yet they are
still perfectly designed and created by God—newborn believers in Jesus Christ may not
immediately grasp the biblical principles of submission and meekness as expressed through
their hair. When Christian women are ready to understand holiness and receive its teaching, at
that moment, their hair becomes uncut in the eyes of God. From that point forward, as long as
they never cut or trim their hair again, it is just as long, uncut, and holy as the hair of someone
who has never cut theirs.
Question #3
Is it a sin or just a “shame” for a woman to cut her hair?
Answer #3
First and foremost, as with any question, we must turn to the Word of God for the answer.
• Shame did not exist in God’s perfect creation:
o Genesis 2:25 King James Version
25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
o Before sin, mankind had no reason to be ashamed. Shame was a foreign
concept and did not exist.
• Shame is a byproduct of sin:
o Genesis 3:7 King James Version
7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were
naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
o Adam and Eve’s reaction would’ve been our reaction-they tried to cover
themselves. They did their best to sew together some leaves and cover their
lower extremities, but it took God’s intervention to remove the shame.
• Shame and sin are linked throughout the entirety of the Bible:
o Ezra 9:6 King James Version
6 And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee,
my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is
grown up unto the heavens.
o Jeremiah 3:24-25 King James Version
24 For shame hath devoured the labour of our fathers from our youth; their
flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.
25 We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have
sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even
unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God.
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o Hosea 4:7 King James Version
7 As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I
change their glory into shame.
o Daniel 12:2 King James Version
2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to
everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
o Luke 22:61-62 King James Version
61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the
word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou
shalt deny me thrice.
62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
o Ephesians 5:11-12 King James Version
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather
reprove them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them
in secret.
• Let’s review the scripture in question.
o 1 Corinthians 11:6 King James Version
6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a
shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
o This word shame comes from the Greek word aischron which refers to something
that is a disgrace. It is the neuter form of aischros which means “filthy” or “that
which is opposed to modesty or purity.”
• Let’s review a similar scripture.
o Deuteronomy 22:5 King James Version
5 The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall
a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto
the Lord thy God.
• This word abomination comes from the Hebrew word toeba or tonebah which refers
to something that is a disgusting and an abhorrence. Paul’s word for shame and
Deuteronomy’s word for abomination are nearly identical.
In conclusion, according to the teachings of Paul, it is evident that any amount of hair cutting
by women is a sin. Paul used the word shame to highlight the importance of women having
uncut hair. When words like shame or abomination are used, there is special sinful emphasis
being placed on the action. It goes beyond just sin, but it goes against the creation that God
intended. To not acknowledge this fact is to deny the sinful nature of other abominations such
as idolatry, sexual sins, dishonest dealings, pride, false worship, witchcraft, and other wicked
behaviors. God has given all women a special and powerful covering, hair, and He expects it
to remain natural and uncut.
Question #4
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Do Christian women have to wear a veil/head scarf today?
Answer #4
First and foremost, as with any question, we must turn to the Word of God for the answer.
• 1 Corinthians 11:15 King James Version
15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a
covering.
• Remember the context – The local church in Corinth existed within a culture deeply
influenced by pagan temple worship and Jewish traditions. In the temples of Apollo and
Aphrodite, priestesses engaged in ritual prostitution and cut off their hair as part of their
worship. Meanwhile, Jewish women traditionally wore headscarves or coverings as a
sign of modesty and religious devotion.
In conclusion, Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 11 addressed both groups, emphasizing that a
woman’s long, uncut hair is her God-given covering (1 Corinthians 11:15)—setting Christian
women apart from both pagan practices and man-made traditions. Since hair itself serves as
the covering, an additional veil is unnecessary. Wearing a headscarf is a personal choice, but
it is not a biblical requirement for Christian women.
To further prove this point, the phrase “for a covering” in 1 Corinthians 11:15 is translated
differently in various Bible versions, reinforcing the idea that long, uncut hair itself is the
covering:
• Young’s Literal Translation: “instead of a covering”
• Today’s English Version: “to serve as a covering”
• Interlinear Greek-English New Testament: “instead of a veil”
Conclusion
Paul said:
1 Corinthians 14:37 King James Version
37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the
things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
The writings of the apostles are commandments from Jesus Himself. We are blessed to have
these teachings to lead and guide us, and we must follow them regardless of personal
opinions or convictions, because God’s Word is the final authority over our hearts, minds, and
bodies.
Our outward actions, dress, and behavior reflect the condition of our inward spirit and attitude.
As believers, we should strive to represent God in submission and meekness—both in spirit
and in body.
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Review
1. Attitude is an inward feeling expressed by outward behavior.
2. Men and women of God are identified by their spiritual inner man. This is why an
attitude can be seen without a single word being said.
3. Peter’s message to Christian women was that they should adorn themselves with a
submissive and meek spirit.
4. God always was, Jesus became the plan from the foundations of the earth, man was
formed by God, and the woman was formed by God from the man. These things show
the “headship” or the order of God’s creation.
5. Paul used the genetic way God created mankind to teach a Biblical principle of gender
distinction – men with short hair and women with long hair.
6. When a woman has a submissive and meek spirit and her hair is uncut, she has angelic
power upon her.
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