Let Women Keep Silence in the Church 1 Corinthians 14:34

Paul the apostle told the church members in Corinth, “God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints”, and in chapter fourteen and verse thirty-four of First Corinthians, Paul declared, “let your women keep silence in the churches”, where we read:

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.

The verse begins, “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak;”. Paul began with the word, “Let” or “be and make sure” “your women” which means “the church's female virgins, married or widow” “keep silence” which refers to “hold their peace and be concealed” “in the churches” or “the assemblies of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting”: “for” which means “even as, indeed, no doubt, verily and therefore” “it is not permitted” or “not allowed or given leave” “unto them” which refers to “for the women” “to speak” or “to utter a voice, emit or articulate a sound”. Paul told the “women” who belonged to the “churches” because they were not allowed to “speak”.

The verse goes on to say, “... but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also says the law.” Paul continued with the word, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated “they are commanded to be under obedience” which is all one Greek word “hypotassō”or “arranged under, subordinated, in subjection and obedient”, “as also” or “in the same way even and indeed” “says” which means “affirms, maintains, exhorts, advises, intends and mentions” “the law” or “the rule producing a state approved of God”. Paul shared how the “law of God” instructed “women” to be “subject and subordinated” within the “churches”.

When we meditate upon these words from Paul, we may think this is a harsh rule established by him. This is clarified when we realize that men and women sat on opposite sides of the church, and wives tended to ask their husbands questions while the preaching was being presented. Rather than have disorder within the church, Paul instructed the women to be “silent” “in the churches”. This in no way makes “women” of lesser value. It speaks specifically to when they are “in the churches”, and since Jesus Christ desires “edification” and “unity” within His church, this instruction from Paul was to produce that result.

Next time Paul tells the church members, “if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home”, 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.