This has been an on going debate among Christians for decades.
Can it be that women shouldn't even speak in Church?
What does the scripture actually say?
Is it truly just a 'mans world' out there, or are we missing something?
There are two main scriptures:
Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.
1 Corinthians 14:34-35
Also,
But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.
For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve.
And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.
1 Timothy 2:12-15 (New American Standard Bible)
Ok, so lets look at this problem in light of the day Paul was living in, and not confuse things by using our western world glasses, and not seeing things from a early church perspective.
First off, our idea of church is wrong. The church Paul was talking to (in Corinth) was a group of believers who met casually in one of the homes, ate together, shared together. It was not, 100% NO WAY, the idea many of us have for church today, where a leader (generally a man), gets up and we all face him as he preaches at us - that is NOT the new testament model for church.
They fellowshipped together, enjoyed each other!
Ok, so they met in homes, broke bread, ate together, shared together what next?
Now, there are many scriptures that prove that women prophesy, which is speaking.
How can they prophesy, and not speak?
This entire section of scripture in 1 Corinthians 14, is talking about 'church life'. Its discussing starting in 1 Corinthians 12 about brothers and sisters using their spiritual gifts.
Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.
That is found in 1 Corinthians 12:1
Then he (Paul) goes into an entire teaching on gifts and love for all believers, including prophesy and teaching, which are spoken gifts.
Ok, so there are gifts for all (men and women).
There are many types of scriptures showing women prophesying and sharing, talking.
Look at the resurrection, JESUS first told the ladies, who went to tell the men - the good news, that JESUS really did rise from the dead!
Imagine, JESUS could tell anyone first the best news, man would ever receive, and HE (GOD) chose the women first!
Philip had four unmarried daughters who had the ability to speak what God had revealed.
The NIV reads it like this:
He (Philip) had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.Acts 21:9
We know that 5 women are mentioned in the Bible as Prophetesses. They were: Anna, Deborah, Huldah, Miriam, and Noadiah.
This should be ample proof, that women indeed talked and spoke as they prophesied. So, how does that leave the scripture where they should remain silent and not speak?
Let all things be done decently and in order. 1 Corinthians 14:40
When we 'do' "Home Church", one thing we have to watch out for is people talking out of order or turn. Usually its done as excitement but if we aren't careful, this gets noisy and disruptive. In the early Church (House Churches again), they had the woman sit at one side, and the men on the other. As women were being allowed (liberated by GOD) into more freedom (as they should) they were hugely excited! This enthusiasm (zeal) without knowledge can get interruptive, for which they aught not to speak.
Its no accident that this verse is right with the verses of using your gifts in order, and speaking in order and asking questions at the right time as well.
Now, 1 Timothy 2:12-15
Tells, us that women should not teach and exercise authority over a man.
Paul tells the Corinthians that they should be silent, meaning not take over a meeting.
I think that is good advise, I think that is love, I think that is exactly what GOD wants!
-eric
