Should a Woman Keep Silence in the Church?
I Cor. 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.
I Cor. 14:35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
In the original Greek there is only one word for "man" and none for "husband"; and only one Greek "woman" and none for wife. You must determine from the context whether a text is talking about women in general or specifically about wives.
Verse 34 cannot be talking about all women because the next verse says, "If they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands…" ; all women don't have husbands.
Unmarried women certainly are not included in this text.
The other famous text on this subject is much like the first one.
1 Tim. 2:11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
1 Tim 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
1 Tim. 2:13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
1 Tim. 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
1 Tim. 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
Remembering these things about our texts will help you understand them:
Paul is not talking about all women, but about wives.
He is talking about learning something and asking questions in church.
Use the word wife instead of woman and it will make sense to you. In Timothy, Paul refers to Adam and Eve, a husband and wife. He's dealing with a husband and wife situation. The wives were asking questions because in those days women had little or no education, thus the questions which were disruptive to the service.
THE LAW OF SCRIPTURAL INTERPRETATION
Every scripture must be interpreted in light of what other scripture says on the same subject. It must harmonize with all other scriptures. You can lift verses out of their setting and make them say anything you want them to say.
1 Cor 11:5 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.
Paul is talking about women praying and prophesying in the church. Had Paul become illogical? Here he was writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to tell women they could prophesy or preach if their head was covered and then in Chapter 14 he tells them to be silent? It doesn't make sense.
Acts 2:18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
This is the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy in Joel 2:28.
Notice the daughters and handmaidens also received the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, not just the 12 apostles. They all prophesied. We see that they are all there receiving!
Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
Acts 1:15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
Acts 2:4 Then they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak in utter tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance
Women who prophesied in the Bible:
Luke 1:39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;
Luke 1:40 And entered into the house of Zacharius, and saluted Elisabeth.
Luke 1:41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
Luke 1:42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
Here we see the Spirit of God came upon Elisabeth. She spoke out and began to prophesy. The Lord gave her a message.
Luke 1:46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
Luke 1:47 And my spirit at rejoice in God my Saviour.
Here Mary began to Prophecy (Matt. 18:20)
Luke 2:36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;
Luke 2:38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
ANNA WAS SPEAKING IN THE HOUSE OF GOD.
Paul would not prevent women from speaking messages given to them by the Spirit. For the Lord had said, "Your daughters shall prophesy". Paul could not countermand the Lord's order.
Paul was saying "I suffer not a wife to teach or usurp authority over her husband." Yet, if the husband were not a Christian, he wouldn't know anything to teach his wife. She might have to teach him, even taking authority which is not really hers and teaching the children in the home.
Those who take a strong stand for keeping women silent in the church services advocate letting them teach in Sunday schools & mission fields.
Someone says, "Well, Paul means that women should not teach men." Let's look at more scripture…
Acts 18:26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. Who was Priscilla? A woman!
Acts 21:8 And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
Acts 21:9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
So we see that in light of the scriptures, there were many women who preached. Women are called and used of God today as in the days of old. God wants everyone to be used to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SEE THE ASSEMBLY OF GOD POSITION PAPER: http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Position_Papers/pp_4191_women_ministry.cfm
