When and where can women teach today?<\/p>\n
“Let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law<\/em>” (I Corinthians 14:34). Earlier in this same letter, the apostle had spoken of “coming together in the church<\/em>” (I Corinthians 11:18). And earlier in chapter 14, he speaks of the church “come together<\/em>” (I Corinthians 14:23). From this, it is evident that this has to do with the public services of the church.<\/p>\n While I Corinthians 14 regulates the use of miraculous gifts in public worship (which we do not have now), it would seem the principle would apply to any assembly of the church of a similar nature. The added phrase, “as also saith the law,” supports this. The principle was there in the old law, it is there in the new. By referring to the old law, you’ll find that the women were not allowed to “lead” the public worship of the Lord’s people in any way, nor to speak out nor ever ask a question (I Corinthians 14:35).<\/p>\n I Timothy 2:11-12 does not deal with the worship services of the church. The inspired apostle here makes the contrast between men and women in any public place (I Timothy 2:8). Men may “pray in every place<\/em>,” but women are restricted. For a woman to assume to pray or teach in the marketplaces of that time would shame both her and her husband. So, women are reminded that in public places and gatherings they are to conduct themselves as is fitting for Christian ladies.<\/p>\n None of the above, however, prohibits a woman from teaching or praying, if she does not violate the principles noted above. Scriptures reveal to us that women did teach (Acts 18:26; 21:9; I Corinthians 11:5). In fact, women are commanded to teach (Titus 2:4-5). While women may teach in many types of situations, she may not teach in any assembly or public place where such action is in violation of the Scriptures noted above. This would not prevent her from teaching a group of women or a group of children, or even privately teaching a man (as Priscilla did in Acts 18). But it will prevent her from being a preacher or otherwise leading in public worship or in a public setting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Clem Thurman via Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 21, May 23, 2008. Question: When and where can women teach today? Answer: “Let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law” (I Corinthians 14:34). Earlier in…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[82],"class_list":["post-15065","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-womens-roles"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":93630,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-role-of-women-in-the-church\/","url_meta":{"origin":15065,"position":0},"title":"The Role of Women in the Church","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 1, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"by Mike Johnson via Seeking Things Above The role of women in society has changed dramatically in recent years.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Some changes have been good, but many have not.\u00a0 Societal changes eventually filter into the church.\u00a0 Renewed discussion is occurring on this issue, and some are contending for an expanded role\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":7479,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/could-you-clarify-when-women-may-speak-in-church\/","url_meta":{"origin":15065,"position":1},"title":"Could you clarify when women may speak in church?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 20, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have been having a terrible time in our Bible study on Sunday mornings.\u00a0 I had been approached by at least two people saying it bothered them that I spoke up in class.\u00a0 One couple said that I was usurping the authority of the speaker and that I should\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":7889,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/silent-in-the-churches\/","url_meta":{"origin":15065,"position":2},"title":"Silent in the Churches","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 20, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"Text: I Corinthians 14:34-37 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Interest has risen in the subject of women speaking during Bible classes and in the assembly. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I would like for us to delve into this topic in detail, but first I would like to commend the women here. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Recently, some of the women here became\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":5069,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-a-woman-speak-out-in-response-to-a-question-or-say-amen-during-the-worship\/","url_meta":{"origin":15065,"position":3},"title":"Can a woman speak out in response to a question or say “amen” during the worship?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 27, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Is it scriptural for a woman to speak out during a public worship service to answer a question asked by the preacher? Is it scriptural for a woman to say \"amen\" at the close of public prayers?\u00a0 I have noticed this being done lately, and I thought women were\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":37451,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/are-women-prohibited-from-ever-teaching-men-in-an-assembly-of-any-kind\/","url_meta":{"origin":15065,"position":4},"title":"Are women prohibited from ever teaching men in an assembly of any kind?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 1, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Is there any verse, to your knowledge, that prohibits women from ever teaching men in an assembly of any kind? I know she can't teach from a position of authority such as an elder, deacon, preacher, evangelist, etc. And, I know that she can't usurp authority over a man,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":47680,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/does-the-new-testament-authorize-deaconesses\/","url_meta":{"origin":15065,"position":5},"title":"Does the New Testament Authorize Deaconesses?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 17, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"by Carrol R. Sutton via\u00a0Guardian of Truth, November 16, 1989 The question under consideration in this study is one about which scholars are divided. Some do not hesitate to say that deaconesses are authorized in the New Testament. Others say that it is questionable and still others suggest that there\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15065","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15065"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15065\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15065"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15065"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15065"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}