Should Women Keep Silent in Churches?

INTRODUCTION

One of the strongest current cultural phenomenons of the early 1990's is the women's liberation movement. This movement is making it's way into the church of our Lord.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the greatest liberator of women! He demanded that women be treated with dignity in marriage, and not as mere concubines for man's enjoyment (Matthew 19:3-12)!
He willed that men and women be redeemed from their sins by His blood (Acts 8:12, 13). Through the apostle Paul, He tells us that women are just as important to the church as men (Galatians 3:28).
Where would the church be without her women? Look around in our assemblies, and you'll see that they are mostly comprised of women. Bible school programs have mostly women teachers. How many men normally teach in the nursery, or pre-school, or grades 1-6?
Who does the most work in our Vacation Bible Schools, men or women? Are most of the teachers men or women? Who takes hot meals to the sick? Who generally sends the most cards of encouragement? Who raises our children in the Lord?
Most of these answers are the same: godly Christian women! Praise God for them!
However, the New Testament does teach some limitations as to their authority and role in the church. Given the current cultural climate, it's important that we examine this most important subject.
False teaching about the role of women is rampant in our brotherhood, and not all of it is "liberal." Some of it is "legalistic!" In this area and all others, may we simply be biblical, and not "liberal" nor "legalistic."
--Steve Hale, Feb. 4, 1994--

"Keep Silent In The Churches"

"For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church" (I Corinthians 14:33-35, NKJV).
This entire passage (I Corinthians 14, please read it now) is dealing with the use of special spiritual gifts. Paul begins the passage: "Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy" (I Corinthians 14:1).
Inspired prophets gave special revelations to the church before the New Testament was completed. In such gatherings through which these utterances were given, the conduct manifested was important.
Paul calls such men "prophets" (I Corinthians 14:32). "...your women..." was a specific command to the wives of these prophets (I Corinthians 14:34). These women were instructed to keep absolutely quiet (Gk. lalien) in the church, and if they had questions, they could ask their inspired prophets at home.
The same word for silence was even applicable to some of the men at this assembly: "But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and God" (I Corinthians 14:28). It was far better and more important, to prophesy and reveal the word of God than to speak in tongues (I Corinthians 14:4, 5).
Praise God, the New Testament has been completed for us today. We no longer rely on men to, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, prophesy among us. Today, we preach the word (II Timothy 4:1-5), which was given to us through the agency of the Holy Spirit (II Timothy 3:16, 17; John 16:13, 14).
It is clear then, that Paul was dealing with the needs of the infant church at Corinth during the apostolic age. In fact, there were some contexts in which even women, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, prophesied. Even in a different situation in Corinth, Paul said: "But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved" (I Corinthians 11:5).
The evangelist Philip had four virgin daughters who prophesied (Acts 21:8, 9). It is clear then, that I Corinthians 14 is not a universal formula for our worship assemblies, as our neo-Pentecostal friends aver. It was to meet this specific type of assembly through which the word of God was prophesied.
Were there assemblies in which women were permitted to speak, even in this apostolic age? Certainly! A similar word (Gk. lalountes) was used in the familiar command to sing: "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:19).
The root word, laleoo, means: "to utter a sound, to emit a voice, to make one's self heard" (Thayer). A woman is part of the royal priesthood of believers (I Peter 2:5) as a Christian, and is expected to participate in worshipping the Lord through singing. If I Corinthians 14:35-35 is taken as universal, she would be violating Ephesians 5:19; John 4:23, 24, etc.
Furthermore, how could she confess Christ with her mouth (Romans 10:9, 10) if I Corinthians 14:34-35 is applicable today? It is clear that the scriptures cannot contradict themselves (I Peter 4:11).
Therefore, the assembly of I Corinthians 14 was a special type through which the wives were commanded to be silent, ask their prophets any question at home. Brother Guy N. Woods correctly observed that these following women could not ask their husbands at home: "(1) Single girls; (2) Widows; (3) Women whose husbands are not Christians; (4) Women whose husbands have lately obeyed the gospel and are novices; (5) Women who know more than their husbands do" (Questions And Answers, p. 109).

Limitations Applicable Today

"Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence" (I Timothy 2:11, 12).
The word "silence" here is different from the one I Corinthians 14:34-35. The term (Gk., hesuchia), does not mean absolute silence. Rather, the term means: "quietness, peaceable" (Vine, p. 914).
This is not just a localized phenomenon, but is as a result of Eve's deception of Adam (I Timothy 2:13-15). Therefore, this passage is of the same force today as it was in the first century.
Therefore, a Christian woman may not:
1. Preach to a mixed assembly, thereby exercising authority over some men.
2. Rebuke with all authority, as the evangelist is told to do (Titus 2:15).
3. Be an elder, which is nonsensical, as he must be the husband of one wife (I Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:6).
The word "teach" is from the Greek didasko, which Thayer defines as to "deliver didactic discourses." She may not exercise this over the man.
However, she may help in teaching the gospel even if it involves teaching a man. Priscilla helped Aquilla teach Apollos the gospel more perfectly (Acts 18:26). We expect that she quietly and humbily helped Aquila convince young Apollos of the fully gospel. She clearly did not brazenly or presumptuously "have authority over him." But she was an important part of a dynamic teaching team.

CONCLUSION

In summary, the Christian woman is not bound by I Corinthians 14:34-35 not to utter a word in church services. She is bound by I Timothy 2:11-12 to be in humble quietness. She may participate in worship so long as she does not exercise authority over the man.
As with Aquila and Priscilla, she may help in expounding the gospel, but must do so with the right spirit, and in the private manner shown in Acts 18:24-28. She is prohibited from exercising authority over men, especially in reference to delivering didactic discourses.
May all of us, now and always seek to serve the Lord with all of our might, and with submission to Divine authority.

Order Additional Tracts From:
Mt. Juliet Church of Christ
P.O. Box #248
Mt. Juliet, TN 37122
Phone: (615) 758-2274

February 16, 1994

Related Articles:

The Role of Women in the Church -Jan 02, 1994

Print this Article

Discuss this Article

Back to the Sermon Page



Should Women Keep Silent in Churches? by Steve Hale INTRODUCTION One of the strongest current cultural phenomenons of the early 1990's is the women's liberation movement. This movement is making it's way into the church of our Lord. The Lord Jesus Christ is the greatest liberator of women! He demanded that women be treated with dignity in marriage, and not as mere concubines for man's enjoyment (Matthew 19:3-12)! He willed that men and women be redeemed from their sins by His blood (Acts 8:12, 13). Through the apostle Paul, He tells us that women are just as important to the church as men (Galatians 3:28). Where would the church be without her women? Look around in our assemblies, and you'll see that they are mostly comprised of women. Bible school programs have mostly women teachers. How many men normally teach in the nursery, or pre-school, or grades 1-6? Who does the most work in our Vacation Bible Schools, men or women? Are most of the teachers men or women? Who takes hot meals to the sick? Who generally sends the most cards of encouragement? Who raises our children in the Lord? Most of these answers are the same: godly Christian women! Praise God for them! However, the New Testament does teach some limitations as to their authority and role in the church. Given the current cultural climate, it's important that we examine this most important subject. False teaching about the role of women is rampant in our brotherhood, and not all of it is "liberal." Some of it is "legalistic!" In this area and all others, may we simply be biblical, and not "liberal" nor "legalistic." --Steve Hale, Feb. 4, 1994-- "Keep Silent In The Churches" "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church" (I Corinthians 14:33-35, NKJV). This entire passage (I Corinthians 14, please read it now) is dealing with the use of special spiritual gifts. Paul begins the passage: "Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy" (I Corinthians 14:1). Inspired prophets gave special revelations to the church before the New Testament was completed. In such gatherings through which these utterances were given, the conduct manifested was important. Paul calls such men "prophets" (I Corinthians 14:32). "...your women..." was a specific command to the wives of these prophets (I Corinthians 14:34). These women were instructed to keep absolutely quiet (Gk. lalien) in the church, and if they had questions, they could ask their inspired prophets at home. The same word for silence was even applicable to some of the men at this assembly: "But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and God" (I Corinthians 14:28). It was far better and more important, to prophesy and reveal the word of God than to speak in tongues (I Corinthians 14:4, 5). Praise God, the New Testament has been completed for us today. We no longer rely on men to, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, prophesy among us. Today, we preach the word (II Timothy 4:1-5), which was given to us through the agency of the Holy Spirit (II Timothy 3:16, 17; John 16:13, 14). It is clear then, that Paul was dealing with the needs of the infant church at Corinth during the apostolic age. In fact, there were some contexts in which even women, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, prophesied. Even in a different situation in Corinth, Paul said: "But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved" (I Corinthians 11:5). The evangelist Philip had four virgin daughters who prophesied (Acts 21:8, 9). It is clear then, that I Corinthians 14 is not a universal formula for our worship assemblies, as our neo-Pentecostal friends aver. It was to meet this specific type of assembly through which the word of God was prophesied. Were there assemblies in which women were permitted to speak, even in this apostolic age? Certainly! A similar word (Gk. lalountes) was used in the familiar command to sing: "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:19). The root word, laleoo, means: "to utter a sound, to emit a voice, to make one's self heard" (Thayer). A woman is part of the royal priesthood of believers (I Peter 2:5) as a Christian, and is expected to participate in worshipping the Lord through singing. If I Corinthians 14:35-35 is taken as universal, she would be violating Ephesians 5:19; John 4:23, 24, etc. Furthermore, how could she confess Christ with her mouth (Romans 10:9, 10) if I Corinthians 14:34-35 is applicable today? It is clear that the scriptures cannot contradict themselves (I Peter 4:11). Therefore, the assembly of I Corinthians 14 was a special type through which the wives were commanded to be silent, ask their prophets any question at home. Brother Guy N. Woods correctly observed that these following women could not ask their husbands at home: "(1) Single girls; (2) Widows; (3) Women whose husbands are not Christians; (4) Women whose husbands have lately obeyed the gospel and are novices; (5) Women who know more than their husbands do" (Questions And Answers, p. 109). Limitations Applicable Today "Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence" (I Timothy 2:11, 12). The word "silence" here is different from the one I Corinthians 14:34-35. The term (Gk., hesuchia), does not mean absolute silence. Rather, the term means: "quietness, peaceable" (Vine, p. 914). This is not just a localized phenomenon, but is as a result of Eve's deception of Adam (I Timothy 2:13-15). Therefore, this passage is of the same force today as it was in the first century. Therefore, a Christian woman may not: 1. Preach to a mixed assembly, thereby exercising authority over some men. 2. Rebuke with all authority, as the evangelist is told to do (Titus 2:15). 3. Be an elder, which is nonsensical, as he must be the husband of one wife (I Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:6). The word "teach" is from the Greek didasko, which Thayer defines as to "deliver didactic discourses." She may not exercise this over the man. However, she may help in teaching the gospel even if it involves teaching a man. Priscilla helped Aquilla teach Apollos the gospel more perfectly (Acts 18:26). We expect that she quietly and humbily helped Aquila convince young Apollos of the fully gospel. She clearly did not brazenly or presumptuously "have authority over him." But she was an important part of a dynamic teaching team. CONCLUSION In summary, the Christian woman is not bound by I Corinthians 14:34-35 not to utter a word in church services. She is bound by I Timothy 2:11-12 to be in humble quietness. She may participate in worship so long as she does not exercise authority over the man. As with Aquila and Priscilla, she may help in expounding the gospel, but must do so with the right spirit, and in the private manner shown in Acts 18:24-28. She is prohibited from exercising authority over men, especially in reference to delivering didactic discourses. May all of us, now and always seek to serve the Lord with all of our might, and with submission to Divine authority. Order Additional Tracts From: Mt. Juliet Church of Christ P.O. Box #248 Mt. Juliet, TN 37122 Phone: (615) 758-2274 February 16, 1994 Related Articles: The Role of Women in the Church -Jan 02, 1994 Print this Article Discuss this Article Back to the Sermon Page	Mt. Juliet Church of Christ 1940 N. Mt. Juliet Road P.O.Box 248 Mt.Juliet, TN 37122-0248 (615)758-2274 Fax:615-754-2351 Email Worship Services: Sunday Early Worship: 8AM Sunday Bible Study: 9:15AM Sunday Late Worship: 10:15AM Night Worship: 6PM Wednesday Bible Study: 7PM