1 Corinthians 14:34: Why Must a Woman be Silent?

1 Corinthians 14:34: Why Must a Woman Be Silent?

1 Corinthians 14:34-35 tells us:

“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. ³⁵ And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands.“

Here we have the apostle Paul stating that women are not allowed to speak in churches and that if they wish to learn, they can ask questions of their husbands at home. This is the same apostle that said any woman praying or prophesying in the church should have long hair as her covering. It is the same apostle that said the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every member of the body in to edify the entire body. How can they pray and prophesy in church, but also remain silent? It obviously illustrates two different situations.

These situations are quite different. It was the normal order of events in a synagogue or an early church gathering that the people discuss matters of teaching. Notice in verse 35 that Paul writes “And if they will learn anything…” It is clearly in regard to doctrinal matters in the local assembly. It would be unscriptural for a woman to enter into debate or to ask questions regarding the doctrines. They are not to handle the Word of God in this way.

1 Timothy 2:11-12 states: “¹¹ Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. ¹² But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.”

She can pray, prophesy, speak in tongues and interpret as the Spirit gives utterance; but she is not to become a teacher or leader in the local assembly. She is to submit and learn in silence. She cannot handle the Word of God in this way. In our day and age everyone is to remain silent in church unless the Spirit gives them utterance and there is a space for them to do so. But in the early church it was common for them to have public discussions and disputations over the scriptures, to gain better understanding of it. Now we have Bible studies and question and answer sessions, wherein we have made it acceptable for sisters to ask questions during these sessions. It is of course with the understanding that she not overstep her bounds and become a teacher and leader of the group of men and women.