Ask Husbands at Home 1 Corinthians 14:35

Paul the apostle instructed the church members in Corinth to, “let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak”, and in chapter fourteen and verse thirty-five of First Corinthians, Paul shared if a woman had a question concerning what was being said in the church, they were to, “ask their husbands at home”, where we read:

And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home:

for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

The verse begins, “And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home:”. Paul began with the words, “and if” or “in addition whether and per chance” “they will learn” which means “the women have in mind, intend, resolve, determine and purpose to be apprised, increase in knowledge, be in the habit or accustomed to” “anything” which refers to “a certain one thing”, “let them ask” or “allow and permit the women to question and inquire their male marriage partner” “at home” which means “in the woman and man's inhabited house, building, palace or dwelling place”. Paul instructed the “women” in the “church” who desired to know some particular thing to “ask their husbands” about them in their homes rather than in the church.

The verse continues, “for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.” Paul continued with the word, “for” which means “even as, indeed, seeing then, verily and therefore” “it is a shame” or “to speak in church is base and dishonorable” “for women” which means “for the female virgins, wives or widows” “to speak” or “to utter a voice or to emit and articulate a sound in order to declare one's mind and disclose one's thoughts” “in the church” which refers to “within the assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting”. Paul declared it to be “base and dishonorable” for “women” to “declare and disclose their thoughts and mind” when the “assembly” of believers in Jesus were gathered.

When we think through these words from Paul, we are certainly challenged by his words. We wonder, did Paul really mean “it is a shame for women to speak in the church”? For certain he wrote those words, and it is important to know why. Let us imagine the church set up in those days. Unlike most churches today, men sat on one side of the church, and the women sat on the other. If a woman had a question about something that was said from the teacher or preacher, in order to know what he meant, she might yell over to her husband and ask him what was meant by those words. We can understand how that would have been very disruptive to the service especially if there were multiple women asking their husbands at the same time. Therefore Paul promoted “order” within the church services. Women have been used mightily by the Lord Jesus within His church to “build up” and “edify” other believers, and if we keep Paul's words in context, we can understand the reason for writing such challenging words. May the Lord lead us to the truth concerning His church and the way He desires for it to be managed.

Next time Paul questions the church members, “came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.