Expert: Mike Muya - 3/24/2009

Question
Does the Bible forbid women from preaching and teaching?

Answer
HI SUSAN
WE FIND THE TEXT YOU REFERRING TO IN 1COR14:34,35,WHICH SAYS: 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.

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.

TWO PRINCIPLES SEEM TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS COUNSEL OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH.FIRST,THERE WAS DEFINITELY A VIOLATION OF THE PRINCIPLE OF PROPRIETY AND DECENCY.IN VERSE33,PAUL SAID,"GOD IS NOT THE AUTHOR OF CONFUSION,BUT OF PEACE."AGAIN HE ADMONISHED,"LET ALL THINGS BE DONE DECENTLY AND IN ORDER"(VERSES40).
IT IS NOT HARD TO VISUALIZE THE SITUATION WHICH BROUGHT THE RATHER STERN REBUKE FROM PAUL IN VERSES34 AND35.IN THAT EARLY CHURCH,THE MEN AND WOMEN SAT IN SEGREGATED GROUPS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE ROOM.
APPARENTLY SOME OF THE WOMEN WERE CREATING CONSIDERABLE DISORDER BY CALLING ACROSS TO THEIR HUSBANDS,ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION OF CERTAIN POINTS IN THE SERMON.PAUL COMMANDED THEM TO STOP BRINGING IN THIS CONFUSION AND TO WAIT AND ASK THEIR HUSBANDS AT HOME OF EVERYTHING THAT WAS NOT CLEAR.
EASTERN CULTURE DICTATED THAT A MODEST WOMAN BE VEILED AND REMAIN IN THE BACKGROUND.THERE WAS DANGER THAT THE  WOMEN IN THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH MIGHT BE LINKED WITH THE SHAMELESSLY BOLD WOMEN WHOSE CONDUCT STIGMATIZED THE CITY OF CORINTH.

THE SECOND PRINCIPLE INVOLVED IN PAUL'S COUNSEL HAD TO DO WITH THE HEADSHIP OF MEN IN BOTH HOME AND CHURCH AFFAIRS.THE MAN WAS PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR LEADING OUT IN WORSHIP. IN 1TIMOTHY 2:12,PAUL WARNED THAT WOMEN WERE NOT"...TO USURP AUTHORITY OVER THE MAN..."THEREFORE THEY SHOULD ASSUME NO POSITION IN THE CHURCH THAT WOULD FRUSTRATE THAT DIVINE ORDER OF THINGS.

WITHIN THESE TWO PRINCIPLES OF PROPER DECORUM AND VESTED AUTHORITY,WOMEN HAVE SERVED MOST EFFECTIVELY IN THE WORK OF THE CHURCH.THEY HAVE BEEN CALLED BY GOD INTO PROPHETIC OFFICE(LUKE2:36,37;JUDGES 4:4; ACTS21:9) AND WERE GIVEN RECOGNITION BY PAUL IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE WITNESSING ROLES(1COR11:5).THE PRINCIPLES OF PAUL'S COUNSEL APPLY JUST AS STRONGLY TODAY,EVEN THOUGH THE ABSENCE OF A CHRISTIAN WOMAN'S VEIL DOES NOT BRING REPROACH ON HER CHURCH,NOR IS SHE STEREOTYPED AS A CLAMOROUS CONFUSER IN THE CONGREGATION.
HOPE THIS HELPS.
REGARDS MIKE