The Way of the Woman...(Part 2)

In support of the argument that 1 Timothy 2:11-15 is teaching that women should be silent in church meetings and never speak, address, or especially teach the body of Christ, some would point to 1 Corinthians 14:33-35 as another proof text.

“…[33] for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.  [34] The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says.  [35] If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.”

It would be good to note that in early Christian meetings, in line with the practices of the Jewish synagogues, there was a separation between men and women.  The men would sit on one side and the women would sit on the other side in whatever place of meeting.  In v35, Paul teaches, “If they [women] desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home.”  Well, at first glance, this one statement could seem to teach that women do not need to learn anything in Christian public meetings.  If they want to learn, they need to learn at home from their husbands and only at home.  Thus, an over-the-top argument could be that women should never come to meetings because their place of learning is the home.  But that is obviously silly.  What was most likely happening was that, during the gatherings, many of the women were asking questions out loud to their husbands sitting across the room from them.  This was definitely a disturbance.  So Paul addresses this specific Corinthian situation directing the women to wait until they returned home to ask these questions, not do it out loud during the middle of the meeting, thus disturbing the flow of the meeting.  Questions are good, and Paul wanted these women to learn, for the current culture never allowed women much opportunity.  But he was teaching them they must wait until they got home instead of blurting out loudly and causing commotion.

So, again, if we understand the cultural and historical context, we understand the passage so much clearer.  And funnily enough, Paul just spent 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 teaching that when women prophesy and pray, they should wear head coverings. My very brief thoughts about head coverings are found above, but regardless, Paul has just taught women can prophesy and pray in the meeting.  So, therefore, 1 Corinthians 14:33-35 cannot be teaching that women are never allowed to speak in the public meeting.

I will end out with two Biblical examples of women in the New Testament that were used greatly by God in their gifting.  The first is Priscilla.  She had a ministry with her husband, Acquilla, and their ministry quite possibly could have been apostolic.  They had a relationship with Paul, which began in Corinth itself (see Acts 18:1-2), and this couple even worked in the same trade as Paul (Acts 18:3).  This couple traveled and worked with churches, helping further the gospel and teaching of Christ.  We specifically read in Acts 18:24-26 that both Priscilla and Aquila helped explain “the way of God more accurately” to Apollos.  Now, of course, Priscilla was usually with her husband, and so some see this as acceptable that they both instructed Apollos.  But I point out one small fact – isn’t it ironic that Priscilla’s name is many of the times mentioned first when they have their names listed together (see Acts 18:26 and Romans 16:3 – her name is spelled as Prisca in this verse)?  It could quite possibly be that Priscilla had the stronger gifting within the couple. And that’s okay.  Aquila can still be the head of his household and also recognize that his wife had the greater ministry gifting.  And in her gifting, Priscilla, along with her husband, “explained” the Scriptures more accurately to Apollos.  If 1 Timothy 2:11-15 teaches, as simply as some might think, that women cannot teach or exercise authority over a man, then Priscilla is being unfaithful to God and the words of their friend, Paul.  But I would argue that is not the case.

The final example would be Philip, one of the seven original deacons in Acts 6:1-7 and the evangelist that led the Ethiopian eunuch to Christ in Acts 8:26-40.  We read in Acts 21:9 that he had four unmarried daughters who prophesied (ESV), or the NASB calls them prophetesses.  Now, the question to ask is, “Did Philip’s daughters only prophesy outside of the public meetings?”  I ask this because, if we take 1 Timothy 2:11-15 and 1 Corinthians 14:33-35 at face value, without any further digging, then the conclusion would be that, though they were prophetesses, they could not prophesy when the church gathers.  In those church meetings, they needed to remain silent.  They could only express this gift outside their gatherings.  But of course that seems completely out of place.  Matter of fact, as we saw, Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 that women can prophesy in the meetings.  So, as with Priscilla, Philip’s four daughters with prophetic giftings are examples that the Timothy and Corinthians passages cannot be read simply as is.  There must be a deeper level of study into the culture, history, worldview, etc., of the people in Paul’s day to understand the passages more clearly.

There is much more that we could dig into, but I have given my understanding of the situation that Paul was addressing in both 1 Timothy 2 and 1 Corinthians 14.  I only hope this has been a helpful study looking at two very misunderstood passages by not only the American church, but much of the church worldwide (because it has been so affected by American missionaries).  We must allow for women to have their place to testify, prophesy, pray, sing, and even bring a teaching (see 1 Corinthians 14:26).  The body of Christ would only be found lacking if the public edification is left solely to men, and even more, only to men who are “ordained”.  We are called to share in the fruits and giftings of Christ’s people across the whole body.