Sunday, October 21, 2012
pm
STUDIES IN 1 CORINTHIANS
(50)
Proper Conduct in the Assembly - 4
“Let Your Women Keep Silent in the Churches”
1 Cor. 14:34-35
This is a continuation of a study dealing with proper conduct
in worship. That is the
premise of 1 Corinthians 14 and we need to keep that in mind.
In the immediate context of this statement Paul has addressed the
need for orderliness for the sake of edification.
You may recall in our last lesson we discussed how those who lead
the service take turns, present that which is helpful in an orderly
fashion, respect the place of silence and act with control.
We need to give consideration to these things as we examine our
text today.
a.
Women can teach –
i.
Some assume that women
cannot engage in teaching.
Usually when such statements are made it is an incomplete statement or
misunderstanding scripture based upon a single text.
ii.
Acts 18:26 – Aquila and
Pricilla teach Apollos. While there is no indication Pricilla to a
leading role on this occasion, she help him teach.
iii.
Titus 2:3-5 - Older
women are instructed to be “teachers of good things” and to teach the
younger women about their roles.
iv.
2 Tim. 1:5, 3:15 –
speaks of Timothy’s genuine faith which was first found in his mother
Eunice and grandmother Lois.
Later in the same book, Paul indicates that Timothy had been taught the
scriptures from childhood
All indications are that he was taught primarily by his mother and
grandmother. His father was
a Greek (Acts 16:1).
v.
Acts 2:15-18 – Peter on
the day of Pentecost speaks of the prophecy of Joel (2:28-32)
in which he said, “Your sons and daughters shall prophesy.”
Acts 21:8-9 – Philip had four daughters that prophesied.
vi.
The point in all these
examples is to show that there are circumstances when women can and even
need to be teaching. They
have an integral part in the spreading of the gospel.
b.
But there are also other
passages that place LIMITATIONS upon their responsibilities.
i.
NOTE: It needs to be
said that we are living in a time where what I am about to say is
politically incorrect and resisted by society.
The role of women has changed in many churches.
It is not uncommon to hear of women preachers, pastors, and other
roles in the denominations.
And even within churches of Christ we are seeing changes, with women
being placed in some roles of leadership and worship.
Whether popular or not to say this, we MUST respect God’s word in
what we do.
ii.
1 Tim. 2:11-15 – a very specific passage that limits the role of women in teaching man.
In this text Paul instructs Timothy to make it clear that a woman
is to learn in silence with all submission.
The point being, when she is learning (the emphasis would be on
the teachings of God’s word) she must respect her role in God’s eyes
which is one of submission.
Paul is even more specific in vs. 12 where he notes that a woman is not
to teach or have authority over a man (in teaching), but to be in
silence (quiet respect). This
limits what she can do.
He then gives two reasons – 1) Adam was formed first and then Eve; 2)
Eve was the one deceived, and as a part of her punishment she was to be
in submission to her husband (cf. Gen. 3:16).
The text concludes by noting that her salvation is found in
“childbearing” and continuing in faith, love, holiness and self-control.
Certainly the text is NOT saying
that a woman’s salvation depends upon her ability to have children.
The idea of childbearing is that she understands her role and
fulfills it.
NOTE that this text is NOT exclusive to when we are assembled together,
but it would include such.
iii.
1 Corinthians 11:3-12 – the head covering demonstrates submission to man. The text
is dealing specifically with women prophesying.
Because such involves teaching, possibly in the presence of
believing men, she is to place a symbol of understanding her place in
God’s hierarchy on her head.
The point being, she does NOT usurp authority while prophesying.
NOTE: This text does not necessitate that her actions are when the
church is assembled together.
In fact, if you consider our text tonight, it could be that her
prophesying was NOT when the church was assembled.
A study of 1 Cor. 14 shows that it was men who were prophesying
(14:2, 4, 11, 13, 21, 27, 28, etc.) and the context we are about to
consider would come into consideration as we deal with this.
iv.
Our text – 1 Cor. 14:34-35. Paul says, “Let
your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to
speak; but they are to be submissive as the law also says.
And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own
husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.”
This is a challenging text with more questions than we can
adequately answer in this lesson.
It is a statement that is blunt and obviously designed to address
another problem within the assemblies in Corinth.
We must keep this in mind as we study this text, noting that
while specifics might be exclusive to that congregation, but the
principles must be respected always (i.e. order in the assemblies,
respect for the word of God, etc.).
v.
NOTE: Before we move on,
it is worthy of note that ALL 3 of these texts address the subject of
submission as a part of God’s divine order for mankind. 1 Cor. 11:3
gives that divine order.
a.
This text is associated with conduct in
the assembly.
As we have studied this text (ch. 14), it has continually spoken
of brethren assembling together – 14:4-5, 12, 19, 23, 26.
And in our text, there are at least 3 statements that associate it with
the church being assembled together:
1) “Let your women keep silent in the churches…”
2) “IF they want to learn something, let them ask their husbands at
home.”
3) “For it is shameful for women to speak in church.”
b.
The entire chapter, up
to this point, has dealt with men
in leadership positions conducting the various acts of worship (and the
response of all who are present).
(14:2, 4, 11, 13, 21, 27, 28, etc.)
c.
“Let
the women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to
speak.”
The word “silent” is a Greek word that means to say nothing, to not even
utter a sound. The word is
used 3 times in this chapter:
14:28 – “But if there is no
interpreter, let him keep silent in the church…”
14:30, “But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the
first keep silent…”
14:34 – our text.
NOTICE how Paul’s point in the first 2 uses is NOT that one doesn’t say
anything at all in the assembly, but rather, as he addresses the
assembly (publicly), that he respect the teachings of another or
insures that what he says is beneficial.
And if it is not, be quiet!
When another is speaking, be quiet!
Since these texts are dealing with addressing the assembly (as is
the bulk of chapter 14), the same could be said of vs. 34.
IF it means that a woman cannot
utter a word then she could not sing (Col. 3:16) or respond and confess
her sins in the assembly, or speak to her child to discipline him, etc.
“For they are not permitted to
speak…” The word “speak”
(laleo) is a very common word in the New Testament and can mean either
to utter a sound (even babbling or prattling) or it can be a public
proclamation. The word is
used some 24 times in THIS CHAPTER (speak, speaking, etc.) and in this
context it is dealing with the one addressing the assembly.
COULD IT BE that there were present some women who sought to speak up
and address the assembly as the men who were teaching were doing,
and thus assume a leadership role over men?
SINCE, this portion of chapter 14 is dealing with confusion in
worship (vs. 33, 40), perhaps the conduct of some of these women led to
further confusion, similar to more than one speaking at a time, or
speaking in tongues with no interpreter, etc.
Were they questioning the
teachings and public proclamations of the prophets during the assembly
and thus adding to the confusion and creating disorder?
Paul’s point is that women keep their God-given place (as everyone
must do in their circumstances) and that she not be domineering in her
demeanor or speech. In
other words, she is not to assume the role of one publicly addressing
the assembly (such as a preacher or teacher).
d.
“They
are to be submissive, as the law also says” – Paul is probably
referring back to Gen. 3:16, where a portion of the curse of woman was
to be in subjection to her husband.
Paul had addressed this in 1 Tim. 2:13-14.
However, you understand this context; this principle is an
underlying factor.
e.
“And
if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at
home; for it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.”
Consider that in this text Paul is dealing with conduct that led
to confusion within the assembly.
If women (or anyone) spoke up out of turn, it could lend to
further confusion beyond that which Paul has already addressed.
I suspect that the reason Paul makes this statement is that there
was a problem with this, as with the other things Paul addressed in this
passage. These were things
that led to confusion. So
Paul’s point again is that women keep their God-given place and show
respect by remaining silent rather than domineering.
He said she could clear matters up by asking her husband.
What about women without husbands
or unbelieving husbands?
Bear in mind that Paul is dealing with WHEN they are assembled as
the church. Provided there
is an understanding of submission, there is nothing to preclude her from
asking or making clarification when the church is NOT assembled.
Remember, the text says, “for
it is shameful for a woman to speak
in church.”
NOTE: One thought, the text is dealing with prophesying which includes
the revelation of God’s word.
We have noted that at that time, they did NOT have complete
revelation, so they relied on miraculous, spiritual gifts.
Today, we have the completed word of God and women can learn
God’s will without violating her role by reading and studying it.
That doesn’t mean she will not have questions that she needs help
with, but the point is that she has other possible options (not
available back then).
f.
What about speaking up in a Bible class?
First, when a woman asks questions in class or answers a question, she
does so not to take over the class but with understanding of her
submissive role in such circumstances. Because of this, when women speak
up, they need to be careful not to take over the class or speak in such
a way that she is doing the teaching over the men in the class.
Furthermore, there is some
question as to whether or not the Bible study (with different classes)
is actually the church assembling together.
This entire chapter is dealing with the church assembling to
worship at an appointed time – there is singing, prayers and studying
God’s word in a united assembly (also the Lord’s Supper and giving at
the appropriate times).
When we meet for Bible study, the whole church is NOT together in the
same way as the collective assembly.
And if that is the case, then the rules of 1 Cor. 11:34-35 would
not apply (though the principles of 1 Tim. 2:13-14 are still in place).
NOTE: This is WHY when we assemble together to worship, we need
to be TOGETHER! This is why
I would question the saints assembling for the worship services and then
offering a “children’s church” or “a young adult church” or “women’s
church” or “a church with a different language” which separates the
assembly. It is also why we
reserve the Lord’s Supper for a worship assembly (cf. 1 Cor. 11:20, Acts
20:7) – when all come together.
Much more could be said about the purpose and authority for Bible
classes, but that will be reserved for a future lesson.
These are my thoughts on this passage.
It may not a popular doctrine, but we never base what we do upon
popularity. Rather, we must
respect God’s will in all things.
I urge you simply to consider these things and let us
all act with submission
according to God’s word (we do ALL submit!)
Let us remember that when we assemble together to worship God, we
MUST respect His will in all that we do.
Are we? Think about
it!