“Women Keep Silent in the Churches”

“Women Keep Silent in the Churches” 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 1 Timothy 2:12-13

Women Keep Silent? • Very touchy subject in today’s society. • Passages are misinterpreted, misrepresented, and ignored by many. • Many have great distain for Paul’s instruction here. • Nevertheless, it is an issue that must be dealth with. • As a command of God, this issue requires just as much attention as every other command of God (1 Cor. 14:37). • In order to come to a proper understanding of it we must set our minds on the things of God and not man.

Introduction • As some read this text they are concerned that God (or Paul) is diminishing the role of women. • However, God shows us that this is not His intention. • Throughout the scriptures God shows equality between men and women. • 1 Pet. 3:7: They are equal heirs in the kingdom. • Gal. 3:26-27: Spiritually, there is no distinction. • He does, however, distinguish between the different roles of men and women, just as with every other part of the church body. • Every body has different parts which are equally members of the same body. • 1 Cor. 12:12-19

1 Corinthians 12:12-19 Not a Body

1 Corinthians 12:12-19 Many MembersOne Body Not a Body 1 Cor. 12:18

Introduction • In passages such as 1 Cor. 14:34-35 God is describing the organization His body requires in order to function properly. • In order for us to be able to apply His instruction we have to receive His words with meekness (James 1:21). • Not quickly come to false conclusions. • Not take offense if different than what we want. • Rather, understand to the best of our ability and obey its commands (1 Cor. 14:37).

The Context1 Corinthians 14:34-35 • Paul’s discussion does not begin here. • It begins back in 12:1, “Now, concerning spiritual gifts…” • He ends it in 14:40. What his purpose for the discussion? • “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Cor. 14:40). • He is instructing the body (the church) on how to organize itself in the worship services in a decent and orderly manner. • Since their services included miraculous gifts, there are some points of discussion that don’t necessarily apply to us today. • But the principles behind them certainly do.

The Context1 Corinthians 14:34-35 • Chapter 12: A single body is made up of many members. • Members must fulfill their own function (12:17-18). • They must cooperate in a loving and considerate manner (12:23-26). • Chapter 13: A functioning body require love from all of its members. • The gifts will cease (13:8). • But love will never fail. • Therefore every member must work out of love for the others.

The Context1 Corinthians 14:34-35 • Chapter 14: • The Benefit of prophecy over tongues (1-5) • Tongues only profitable when understood by all (6-12) • All things be done with understanding (13-19) • Tongues are for a sign, not for those who believe (20-25) • Many elements in a service, but all must be edifying (26).

The Context1 Corinthians 14:34-35 • Chapter 14: • Vs. 27-28: Speak in tongues is orderly only if there by an interpreter. • If no interpreter, tongue speaker keep silent in the church. • Can he sing with the rest? Yes. • Can he say amen? Yes. • Silent means he cannot lead the congregation by speaking in tongues. • Vs. 29-33: Prophets speak in turn as each receives a revelation. • If another receives a revelation while the first is speaking, let the first be silent. • Can he sing with the rest? Yes. • Can he say amen? Yes. • But cannot lead the congregation by prophesying after his turn.

The Text1 Corinthians 14:34-35 • Now we come to our text • “Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak. • How does this fit into the context? • Tongue speakers to lead in their turn. • Prophets to lead in their turn. • Women not to have a turn in roles of leadership of the church, therefore concerning leadership they are to be silent. • Can they sing? Yes. • Can they say amen? Yes. • But in terms of leadership they are to be silent.

The Text1 Corinthians 14:34-35 • That is the thrust of Paul’s comments. Women are not to fill roles of leadership or take authority over men in the assembly of the church. • What about Bible classes? Vs. 35 says they cannot ask questions. • To understand the nature of this instruction we must again connect it with its context.

The Text1 Corinthians 14:34-35 • Look again at the instructions for the prophets: • It extends from vs. 29-38. • The prophecies were to be given. • Then they were to be examined by the rest in order to determine their authenticity and to gain proper understanding (since there was no complete Bible at the time). • Prophets to practice self-control and not be arrogant. • The instruction to women is given smack in the middle of this section (vs. 34-35). Why?

The Text1 Corinthians 14:34-35 • Why mention women? Because women may have desired to take part in the examination of the prophets. • We know women were not to take leadership in the assembly, but what if they just wanted to ask the prophet to clarify something? • Examining the prophets in such a way was the role of the leaders in the assembly, most likely the other prophets (vs. 29). • For one to examine a prophet in such a way would have been to exert authority. • In such a context, Paul said that women were not to speak, not even to ask questions. • If they had a question about the prophecy they could ask another man in a private setting (husband or someone else). • But they were not to exercise authority by speaking out in the services.

The Text1 Corinthians 14:34-35 • It should also be pointed out that there was no distinction between worship services and classes in the NT. • The assembly was the assembly and where men were present women were to participate in the assembly in “submission” (vs. 34). • Today the teacher may ask questions of the whole congregation to which all are welcome to respond. Such is still in submission. • However, women should be careful that they do not become overconfident so as to speak out in such a way that exerts authority in the assembly. • If error is taught the men need to deal with it in an expedient manner. • If one of the women pick up on an error that was taught, let her bring it to the attention of one of the men in a private setting so that it can be dealt with in an expedient manner.

The Text1 Corinthians 14:34-35 • What about women reading scripture in classes? • Our reading scripture was the equivalent of their giving a prophesy. • Therefore it remains the same for both, “women keep silent in the churches.” • Paul gives little in the way of explanation in this passage. • His explanation was already given in a previous discussion in chapter 11. • Paul also gives an explanation in 1 Tim. 2:11-15. • Each of these passages will be dealt with individually in future lessons.

Conclusion • As we conclude let us understand that submission is not humiliating, nor is it degrading, therefore none should take offense at it. • In the husband/wife relationship both are to be submissive to one another in their own turn (1 Cor. 7:3-4). • In the organization that God has set forth Christ is in submission to the Father, man to Christ, women to man (1 Cor. 11:3). • Is Christ humiliated because He is in submission to the Father? • Neither should women be humiliated because they are in submission to men. • According to God’s pattern each member of the body receives honor in its own time and in its own way. • When men alter God’s pattern that is no longer the case. • Therefore let us heed Paul’s words as instructed in 1 Cor. 14:37.

“Women Keep Silent in the Churches”