Expert: John Fields - 1/19/2012

Question
1Cor.14:34-35 Explain this verse for me what Paul is really saying.

Answer
1 Corinthians 14:33-37 (33) For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the congregations of the saints, 34 women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. 35 If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. 36 Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? 37 If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.

Paul seems to be saying that women are not allowed to speak or teach in such a way as over-rides or supersedes male leadership.

I have tried to see and understand this as a cultural situation but simply do not believe that one can get that from the context of this passage.  

Notice that Paul says that it is this way ALSO in the Law. So in Old AND New Testaments it is to be the way that Paul says above. Additionally, speaking against it only applying in one localized setting is the fact that Paul says as it is in ALL the congregations.

Paul also said regardless whether one was a prophet or gifted that what he was saying here was GOD'S command. In other words, unless another command came along to belay this one, it stands. Do we have such a command? Not only do we not, but we have other scripture which backs it up.

Look at what Paul says in 1 Timothy 2:11-14 .

In 1 Timothy 2:11-14 (11) A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.

Notice that in this second passage that Paul ties the command NOT to their own culture. He ties it to the culture of Adam and Eve! The culture of that time is closer in time to ours than it was to Adam and Eve's time. So their culture had VERY LITTLE in common with Adam's time.