Episode 215 - "Role and conduct of women in church worship" - 1 Corinthians 14:33-40

As in all the churches of the saints, 34 the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. 35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.

1Cor. 14:36 Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? 37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. 38 If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. 39 So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But all things should be done decently and in order.

Well, here we go again, another occasion where Paul offends the modern sensibilities of 21st century, western culture. In the span of a few verses, Paul says that women “should keep silent in the churches,” “are not permitted to speak,” “should be in submission,” and “it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.” (vv. 34-35) Pretty clear, huh? Case closed?

As I study for these posts, I confess that I’m typically only consulting a few commentaries. I simply don’t have the time for more exhaustive research on these passages where the instruction seems confusing or outright contrary to how things are often done today in our time and culture. But, I find that the scholars I consult, whose job it is to dig much deeper on some of these issues, offer a variety of perspectives to which they offer their critique on the strengths and weaknesses of the argument. So, I cannot point to the so-called experts and conclusively address the questions that statements like this raise. So, what I would like to attempt is to take these statements at face value, state the questions that are evoked in my own mind about the meaning, offer answers to those questions that I believe are drawn from the context of this letter, other writings of Paul, and the Scriptures as a whole. My desire is not that we create a list of rules from statements like this. But perhaps we can gain wisdom from Paul’s words that will serve us well in our churches today.

Let me begin with the question, “Does this sound vaguely familiar?” In other words, “Has Paul already offered, in this letter, instruction that sounds a bit sexist?” Go back and read chapter 11 of 1 Corinthians, where Paul gives instructions about head coverings and hair. In verse 3 of chapter 11, Paul writes, “But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.” I find this verse interesting because, in a culture like ours that is more strongly egalitarian, people take offense at statements like, “the head of a wife is her husband.” The tendency is to immediately interpret that as saying that the wife is less important or less valuable than the husband. But when we do that, we fail to consider another important statement in the same verse that checks that interpretation. Paul follows with, “and the head of Christ is God.” Wait a minute! Don’t Christians believe that Christ is God? Yes! And the Apostle Paul believes in the deity of Christ. Paul points out that Christ, the second person of the Trinity, submits to the Father. They are both equally God according to orthodox Christian theology. But, each member of the Trinity has a distinct role within the divine Godhead. One member may submit to another without being less God, less important, or less valuable. It seems that Paul is applying that principle within the relationships of a family and a church as well. The point is that we err when we immediately assume that submitting or controlling our spiritual gift or our tongue in certain situations means that God considers women less able, less smart, less valuable, or inferior to men. That’s not his point.

Does Paul teach anything else in Corinthians that indicates that women have important roles in ministry within the church? 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 is very clear that the Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts to all believers as he wills. These gifts are for the common good of the body. One cannot argue that Paul means that women are to not say a word at all in church. The Holy Spirit has gifted them, and they are to be used. On a personal note, I cannot possibly remember the countless times God has used women in the church to speak wisdom, encourage me, and build me up in my faith. Certainly, they were not disobeying God.

Does Paul have anything to say about women and their roles in church in other letters? In 1 Timothy 5:1, Paul instructs Timothy to encourage older women as mothers and younger women as sisters. In verse 3 of chapter 5, he tells Timothy to honor widows. In 2 Timothy 1:5, Paul extols the faith of Timothy’s grandmother and mother and their impact on Timothy’s faith. In Galatians 3:28, Paul writes, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” These are just a few examples of Paul’s writing that reveal that all believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ are equally valuable to God.

What about the rest of the Scriptures? One common argument I’ve heard about Christianity and the Bible is “The Bible was written by men.” As if that were, by default, a bad thing. The problem is that people fail to realize that what is included in the Bible is often descriptive of life and culture in the known world at that time. In other words, the Bible includes accounts of many things that are against God’s Law, character, and desire for humanity. That can include poor treatment of women. Yet, in this Bible, written “by men” are stories of amazing righteous women. One example is Deborah, a judge over Israel during a time of little to no godly leadership by men of the day. You can read about her beginning in Judges 4. Rahab was a harlot among pagan people who had faith in the God of Israel. Ruth was from another pagan group who wholeheartedly committed to the truth of the God of her Jewish mother-in-law and became an ancestor to David and to Jesus. Why would men who wanted to suppress women write about such women, and some of them were not even Israelites? As I understand the Scriptures, there is no justification in suggesting that women are somehow less important or valuable in God’s eyes.

So, what is the point of Paul’s prohibitions of women speaking in church, and what is he addressing? Again, judging from the context of 1 Corinthians as a literary work, we’ve observed that the primary issue Paul is addressing among the believers at Corinth is pride. Notice that Paul begins these prohibitive commands with, “As in all the churches of the saints . . .” Paul is suggesting that something that is happening within the Corinthian churches is not happening in other churches. Furthermore, it’s characterized by pride. Notice in verse 36, that he follows the prohibitions with, “Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached?” It sounds like this church or house churches at Corinth have gone rogue, and pride is manifesting itself in the form of women insisting their voice is heard when it comes to the interpretation of prophecy, thereby turning the worship into chaos and conflict. I think Paul is reverting back to the order of Creation and the unique roles God ordained and is saying, “The way other churches are conducting worship is that people are exercising their gifts in a way that demonstrates their humility and desire that there is harmony and universal blessing through the orderly conduct of the service.” (My interpretation) Perhaps women keeping silent certainly does not mean they are not to pray, as Paul clearly gave details earlier on how their prayers are to be conducted. Likewise, I’ve argued that he’s not demanding they not say anything at all. Otherwise, they couldn’t use their God-given gifts. I think it is more likely Paul’s thoughts are that God has intended men to be instruments of expressing the interpretation of God’s word to the congregation. These men are blessed by their grandmothers, mothers, wives, sisters, and other women who are using their gifts. In turn, they can distill this into doctrine and teaching for the church as a whole.

Notice Paul’s closing remark on this section. “But all things should be done decently and in order.” That’s what it’s all about. Regardless of what your church looks like today in terms of who is in the leadership positions and regardless of your church’s view and practice concerning spiritual gifts, your worship should be decent and in order, and serve to edify the whole body of believers. I’m sure that I’ve not raised or addressed all the questions or objections people may have to this passage. But, if you are listening to this and are in a tradition that doesn’t allow all believers the opportunity to use their God-given gifts, that you consider the arguments I’ve made suggesting that this passage is not to be used in such a way. For women, I hope you will find a way to use the gifts God has given you to bless believers around you. May your humility be as evident to others as the significance of your ministry.