Text: I Corinthians 14:34-37<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nI. Interest has risen in the subject of women speaking during Bible classes and in the\nassembly.\n A. I would like for us to delve into this topic in detail, but first I would like to\ncommend the women here.\n 1. Recently, some of the women here became aware there are members here\nwho are uncomfortable with the idea of women speaking in Bible class.\n 2. In concern for not offending a brother’s conscience, they privately\ninformed me that they would rather not speak in class than to cause offense\n– I Corinthians 10:32-33\n
3. For that sensitivity, I commend them.<\/p>\n B. Still, it is a topic that needs to be considered and studied. Please do not look at this\nas arm twisting or insistence that you must see things this way\n 1. Rather, I desire that each of you make an informed decision based on what\nthe Bible says.\n 2. What concerns me is not that some have chosen individually to be silent,\nbut that there is condemnation of those who have not made the same\nchoice – Romans 14:1-4\nII. There are two passages which are key to the discussion – I Corinthians 14:34-37 and I\nTimothy 2:11-15\n
A. The two passages cover two different situations.<\/p>\n
1. I Corinthians 14 is dealing with activities in church worship<\/p>\n a. It begins with a discussion of edifying the church and how the use\nof tongues affects that edification – I Corinthians 14:4-5, 12\n b. The importance of understanding in public prayer – I Corinthians\n14:15-17\n c. Tongues are useful, but in the church understanding by all is more\nimportant – I Corinthians 14:18-20\n d. Rules for when the whole church gathers in one place – I\nCorinthians 14:23-25\n
e. Using the gathering for edification – I Corinthians 14:26<\/p>\n
f. If no interpreter, must be silent in the church – I Corinthians 14:27-28<\/p>\n g. Take turns without interruption when speaking God’s word – I\nCorinthians 14:29-23\n h. God doesn’t promote confusion in the churches – I Corinthians\n14:33\n
i. Women are to be silent in the churches – I Corinthians 14:34-35<\/p>\n 2. Notice in I Corinthians 14 how often the terms of gathering together and in\nthe church is used.\n
3. I Timothy 2 is dealing with general Christian living<\/p>\n
a. Prayers are to be made for all men – I Timothy 2:1-4<\/p>\n
(1) The reason is that the community impacts Christians<\/p>\n
(2) And Christians should desire to change those around them.<\/p>\n b. Prayers are to offered everywhere, i.e. not just in church services – I\nTimothy 2:8\n c. Similarly, women need to show proper decorum in their dress – I\nTimothy 2:9-10\n d. Women are to show submission by not exerting leadership, such as\nin teaching – I Timothy 2:11-12\n e. It is not forbidding all teaching because a woman’s salvation is\nimpacted by how she raises her children – I Timothy 2:15\n 4. Notice that issues are raised in I Timothy 2 that encompasses worship, but\nare not exclusive to worship, such as modest dress and the raising of\nchildren.\n
B. What is meant by silent<\/p>\n 1. It is unfortunate that the word “silent” is used in both passages because\nthere are distinct Greek words being used.\n a. In I Corinthians 14:28, 30, 34 forms of the Greek word sigao<\/i> are\nbeing used.\n (1) It means to be silent, keep still, say nothing, stop speaking,\nor hold one’s peace.\n (2) It is defined for us by Paul in I Corinthians 14:34 when he\nsaid women are not permitted to speak.\n (a) The word “speak” is from the Greek word laleo<\/i>,\nwhich means to speak, proclaim, say or utter\nsounds.\n (b) It is used heavily in I Corinthians 14 in speaking a\ntongue, speaking a prayer, or speaking God’s word.\nIt is often used in the sense of addressing other\npeople.\n
(3) It is not a complete prohibition of all sound<\/p>\n (a) The tongue speaker and the prophet were to keep\nsilent in certain situations. There were times they\ncould speak and times they could not.\n (b) And these men would still need to participate in\nsinging – Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16\n (4) Thus, the use of the word should not be used to conclude\nthat the silence was for the entire service, but in regards to\ncertain activities.\n b. In I Timothy 2:11-12, “silence” translates the Greek word\nhesuchia<\/i>, which means quietness, rest, or peace\n (1) Acts 22:2 – The Jewish audience quieted down to hear\nPaul’s speech\n (2) II Thessalonians 3:11-12 – Gossips are told to stop and lead\na quiet and productive life.\n (3) It doesn’t refer to an absolute silence, but a non-intrusive\napproach to life.\n (4) Again, Paul defines what he means by stating that a woman\nis not to teach or exercise authority over a man. It is\nforbidding being domineering.\n
(5) Notice the parallel contrasts between verse 11 and 12<\/p>\n
(a) learn \/ submission<\/p>\n
(b) teach \/ exercise authority over<\/p>\n
(6) Neither learn nor submission implies absolute silence<\/p>\n
(a) People learned from Jesus – Matthew 11:29<\/p>\n (b) But they talked to him and asked questions, as well\nas listened to instruction\n (c) A wife can be in submission to her husband and still\nspeak to him\n (d) It is the role assumed and not whether words are\nuttered that are under consideration\n 2. Paul’s instruction in I Corinthians 14:34ff comes on the heel of telling the\nprophets to take turns in teaching.\n a. It appears that women in Corinth were questioning the teachings\nbeing given during the church service.\n (1) The word behind “ask” is the Greek word eperotao<\/i>, which\nmeans “to question, or interrogate; usually a more in-depth\nprobing in order to get under the surface …” [The Discover\nBible]\n (2) “to accost one with an inquiry, put a question to, inquire of,\nask, interrogate …” [Thayer]\n (3) Thus, women are forbidden to interrogate by asking\nquestions.\n (4) Note I Corinthians 14:29, others judge, but a woman is\nforbidden to ask questions.\n b. God’s command was that they be silent in the church and if they\nhave questions to wait until they get home to ask their husbands.\n (1) I’ve seen commentators twist this to claim only married\nwomen are not permitted to interrupt services to ask\nquestions. Unmarried women, they claim, are not restricted.\n (2) Others state that this is only talking to wives of the\nprophets, forbidding them from publicly questioning their\nhusbands.\n (3) But Paul’s point is that women cannot ask questions\nbecause<\/i> women are not permitted to speak in church.\n
c. Paul gives women an alternative place to ask questions – at home<\/p>\n (1) “At home” is in contrast to “in church.” It is not their\nphysical house, but to say outside of the assembly. (Like the\nLord’s supper in church versus meals at home in I\nCorinthians 11.)\n (2) Because they could ask at home, we see that the asking of\nquestions is not what was improper.\n (3) They could ask these questions at home and still be in\nsubjection.\n (4) Implied is that doing this type of questioning in a public\narena places the woman in authority instead of in subjection.\n d. Unlike the command to the tongue speakers or to prophets to be\nsilent until their turn, women are not permitted to speak in services\n (1) Using the examples of speaking given in this chapter, it\nmeans they cannot conduct a prayer, read a Scripture, or\ngive a lesson in church\n
(2) But this doesn’t apply to outside of church<\/p>\n (3) I Corinthians 11:1-16 contains a rule that women are to\nhave their heads covered while praying and prophesying.\n (a) Such prayers and prophecy could not be done in\nchurch\n (b) Thus, there are other times that it can be done so\nlong as proper decorum is maintained\n 3. I Timothy 2 also prohibits a woman from giving a lesson to an audience\nwhich includes men or participating in other situations where she would be\nleading men.\n a. It does not prohibit a woman from participating in a learning\nsituation, so long as she does not dominate or take the lead.\n b. In learning, a woman could answer when called upon, or read a\npassage, but she would be going beyond the limitation if she began\ninstructing others even as she sat among the students.\n c. Some are over sensitive about the issue and forbid a woman from\neven expressing an opinion\n
(1) A woman does need to be careful not to appear dominating.<\/p>\n (2) To respond with “That can’t be right!” is placing her\nopinion over others\n (3) To ask, “How does that fit with the passage over in …?”\ncould accomplish the same end without placing the woman\nin a dominate position.\n d. What about when someone is teaching wrong? Priscilla shows us\nthat she did this with her husband in private – Acts 18:24-26\n
C. What about saying “amen”?<\/p>\n 1. Notice in I Corinthians 14:34 that Paul states that the law also teaches\nwhat he is saying.\n
a. I’m not certain what verse Paul had in mind<\/p>\n
2. But I was curious about the saying of “amen” under the old law<\/p>\n a. When Moses read the curses of the Law in Deuteronomy 27, all the\npeople, including the women, were to say “amen” to indicate their\nacceptance of the terms\n b. When the ark was brought into Jerusalem, men an women gathered\nto worship – I Chronicles 16:3\n (1) After David’s praise of God, all the people said “amen” – I\nChronicles 16:36\n
(2) A similar joint amen is found in Nehemiah 5:13<\/p>\n c. As the law are read, all the people said amen and worshiped –\nNehemiah 8:6\n 3. Thus, while Paul states that the Old Law also had women keep silent\nduring worship, it appears that this did not include the saying of amen\nwhen it was appropriate both in and out of worship assemblies.\n
III. Is a woman forbidden to speak in mixed company?<\/p>\n A. Again the example of Priscilla shows that a woman can participate in teaching in a\nprivate setting – Acts 18:24-26\n
B. Sapphira, in front of a gathering, answered Peter’s questions – Acts 5:8<\/p>\n C. Rhoda interrupt a gathering of Christians, who had gathered to pray at Mary’s\nhouse – Acts 12:12-15\n D. Therefore we conclude that speaking in mixed company is not forbidden. I\nTimothy 2 only limits the type of speaking done in mixed company, while I\nCorinthians 14 forbids women from addressing the assembly when in church.\n E. Nor is this a forbidding of all teaching. Older women are to teach younger women\n– Titus 2:3-5\n F. Often overlooked is that Paul specifically speaks of women teaching children – I\nTimothy 2:15\n 1. A woman’s salvation is made more sure when she has children, if her\nchildren remain steadfast in godly living.\n
2. The implication is that she is involved in their rearing and teaching.<\/p>\n
3. The same existed in the Old Testament – Proverbs 1:8; 6:20<\/p>\n 4. Timothy was taught by his mother and grandmother – II Timothy 1:15;\n3:14-15\n
G. When does a boy become a man?<\/p>\n 1. Some select the time when a boy chooses to become a Christian because\nthey have developed enough to distinguish between good and evil\n 2. We generally count a person an adult when they have matured physically\nand mentally.\n
3. Luke 2:52 – Children mature mentally, physically, spiritually, and socially<\/p>\n 4. However, they don’t reach maturity in all areas at the same time. Most boys\nare physically mature by the age of 18, but recent studies show that mental\nmaturation continues up to the age of 24 or 25 in males. Until the early\ntwenties, the portion of the brain that governs judgment and restraint is not\nfully developed. But just because a boy, say of thirteen, is impulsive, it does\nnot imply that he doesn’t understand the difference between good and evil\n(i.e. spiritually mature)\n 5. The teenage years are the time for transitioning from childhood to\nadulthood. The transition should be gradual. The teenager gradually\nassumes more responsibility while the parents slowly release the limitations\non his actions.\n 6. Even though a fourteen-year-old boy is not an adult by any stretch of the\nimagination, he is close to the age where he needs to be treated as an adult\nin limited areas. I would recommend that he start studying under adult\nmales, not because the women can’t do the job, but because he is entering\nthe phase of life when he must learn his role in life. He needs males that he\ncan use as role models to help guide him though the time of transition.\n 7. Does this mean his mother is to stop teaching him? Absolutely not! She has\nsome of the most challenging lessons to give in the upcoming years. But in\nthe public arena of the church, perhaps it is time to begin transitioning him\nover.\n
IV. When are we in church?<\/p>\n A. Most of what we have examined is fairly straight forward and most understand, but\none area that generates controversy is what constitutes “in church?”\n 1. Everyone agrees that when the church is assembled for worship that this is\n“in church”\n
2. But what about gatherings for the purpose of studying God’s word?<\/p>\n B. In I Corinthians 14, the emphasis is on a gathering of the whole church – I\nCorinthians 14:23, 26\n 1. This gathering is properly referred to as the church since the Greek word\nekklesia<\/i> that it translates means an assembly\n 2. In this gathering, acts of worship are done, including teaching I Corinthians\n14:26\n 3. Other passages also show the whole church worshiping together – I\nCorinthians 10:16-17; 11:17-34\n 4. Rhoda could speak during the gathering at Mary’s house because, while\nmany Christians were gathered to pray, it was not an assembly of the whole\nchurch.\n
C. Time was set aside to gather as a church – I Corinthians 11:18<\/p>\n 1. This implies there are times when Christians can gather without\nautomatically constituting a church.\n
2. The church must gather for that purpose<\/p>\n
D. Gatherings for other reasons<\/p>\n
1. The church gathered to hear Paul and Barnabas’s report – Acts 15:4<\/p>\n a. In this gathering they determined to send representatives to other\nchurches – Acts 15:22\n b. The church acted as a unit, but it wasn’t gathered for the purpose of\nworship. The group acted as a church, but the group was not in\nchurch.\n 2. Thus we read that the whole church, men and women together, were\npleased to select deacons – Acts 6:5\n
3. And to send a letter with men to deliver it – Acts 15:22<\/p>\n 4. The implication is that Christians, men and women combined, gave their\nassent in some fashion. It was possible because the church wasn’t gathered\nat the time for the purpose of being in church\n
E. Is a time set aside for Bible study “in church?”<\/p>\n 1. It can be. A church can set aside a part of their worship assembly for\ninstructional purposes\n a. Interactive teaching can be just as much a part of worship as\npreaching – I Corinthians 14:26\n b. It is an opportunity for all to learn and be encouraged – I Corinthians\n14:31\n c. During that time men could ask questions and make comments on\nthe lesson\n
d. But it would be a time the women would have to remain silent<\/p>\n 2. But it is also proper to have Bible studies where the entire church is not\npresent \n
a. Again, the example of Aquila and Priscilla – Acts 18:24-26<\/p>\n b. Since it is not an assembly of the entire congregation for the purpose\nof being in church, the silence of I Corinthians 14 doesn’t apply,\nthough the rules for quietness in I Timothy 2 still remain.\n 3. If we could divide into classes scattered across the city, could we not also\ndivide into classes at a common location?\n a. These classes cannot be a part of the worship of the church because\nthe congregation as a whole is not gathered together.\n (1) Just as it would be wrong for the congregation to claim to\nhold worship services, but divide up into a children’s church,\na young adult church, a men’s church and a ladies church\n b. Even though all the members of a congregation are studying in\ndifferent rooms, and in those rooms acts of worship, such as\npraying, singing, and instruction, are taking place, it remains that the\nchurch hasn’t called a gathering for the purpose of the entire church\nto worship\n c. Coming to one location for multiple Bible classes would not\nconstitute being in church.\nV. This was a detailed lesson, but as we are required to teach the whole law of Christ, it is a\nnecessary one.\n A. It may not settle all the issues or even answer all your questions, but it is my hope\nthat it gives you information for your studies so that you might make an informed\ndecision.\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Text: I Corinthians 14:34-37 I. Interest has risen in the subject of women speaking during Bible classes and in the assembly. A. I would like for us to delve into this topic in detail, but first I would like to commend the women here. 1. Recently, some of the women here became aware there are members here…<\/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":[32],"tags":[82],"class_list":["post-7889","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon","tag-womens-roles"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":31616,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/women-participating-in-bible-classes\/","url_meta":{"origin":7889,"position":0},"title":"Women Participating in Bible Classes","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 4, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Matthew W. Bassford Recently, I've been engaged in an email discussion with a brother on the subject of women participating in our Bible classes. He sees inconsistency in many congregations between Bible classes, in which women may read Scriptures, make comments, etc., and worship services, in which they are\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":93630,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-role-of-women-in-the-church\/","url_meta":{"origin":7889,"position":1},"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":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":7889,"position":2},"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":7479,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/could-you-clarify-when-women-may-speak-in-church\/","url_meta":{"origin":7889,"position":3},"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":22023,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-kinds-of-speaking-out-in-assemblies-would-a-woman-not-be-permitted-to-do\/","url_meta":{"origin":7889,"position":4},"title":"What kinds of speaking out in assemblies would a woman not be permitted to do?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 16, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I appreciate you\u00a0posting the Questions and Answers to Facebook. I think it is an excellent resource for evangelism and a great way to draw attention to it. I was reviewing the answer \"My congregation is becoming more unscriptural. Should I find another one?\" you posted on Facebook to this\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":23116,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-can-be-done-about-women-who-speak-out-of-turn-in-bible-class\/","url_meta":{"origin":7889,"position":5},"title":"What can be done about women who speak out of turn in Bible class?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 28, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: My wife and I have been to the congregation there in La Vista.\u00a0 We really enjoyed it and found it to be a true church.\u00a0 We have been having a problem locally with the verse in I Timothy 2 about the women being silent.\u00a0 I read your article on\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":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7889","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=7889"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7889\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7889"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7889"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7889"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}