“Let your women keep silent in the churches … they are to be submissive …” Not a popular idea in today’s world! The first time many women read that verse, they are confused at the least and sometimes even angry. It seems to go against so much that our culture values. So, is God unfair? Does He favor men?
Also, as we start the book of Isaiah, we will begin looking at God’s warnings to the nation of Israel. He was fed up with their hypocritical religion and warned them of coming judgment. But He also provided a glimpse of the mercy and grace that would follow.
Today’s Readings:
Isaiah 1 & 2
Psalm 105.1-6
Proverbs 24.23-25
1 Corinthians 14.21-40
Let Your Women Keep Silent? … Excuse Me!
1 Corinthians 14.21-40:
Me … Keep Silent?
Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says (v.34).
As I said in the introduction, this is not a popular idea today! We can be confused by it, even angry. It seems to go against so much that our culture values. But rather than isolate one verse, let’s look at it in the larger context of the passage.
Verses 26-40:
26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
34 Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. 35 And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.
36 Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? 37 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. 38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. 40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
As you can see, Paul was addressing a number of problems in the Corinthian church. For starters, they were misusing their spiritual gifts. Warren Wiersbe says it had become more about exhibition and not edification. Verses 26 and 40 seem to bookend and summarize the problems.
But what does that particular phrase “let your women keep silent” mean? First, what it doesn’t mean.
Neither Male nor Female
Galatians 3.28 says:
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
The command in 1 Corinthians 14.34 does not have anything to do with the value of women or their standing with God. In fact, Peter told the recipients of his first epistle that if they didn’t treat their wives well, their prayers would be hindered since husbands and wives are “heirs together of the grace of life” (1 Pet. 3.7).
So let’s look at verse 34 again with that in mind, “Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says.” Notice that little word for. For or because they are to be submissive.
Paul addresses submission a number of times in his letters. But it’s a principle we see throughout the Bible.
Submission within the Trinity
In fact, while all three members of the Trinity are co-equal, there is submission within the God-Head. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all equally God, all eternal, all omniscient, all omnipotent, and more. But the Son willingly submitted to the Father:
I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me (Jn. 5.30).
And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, ‘Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done’ (Lk. 22.41-42).
And the Holy Spirit submits to and glorifies the Son. John 16.13-14:
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
Submission is a matter of function and order.
And when Paul refers to the law, it most likely harkens back to the Old Testament, Genesis 3.16 in particular. The Old Testament is frequently referred to as the law, especially the first five books or Pentateuch.
Does this mean, we don’t have spiritual gifts or that we should not use them in church? No, but God has called women to a role of submission in the church, as well as, in the home. That doesn’t mean that we can’t teach and use our gifts. But Scripture does forbid us from being in authority over men in the church. And it says we are not to be the primary arbiters of doctrine. In part, that means women should not be elders and pastors.
Servant-Leaders
Submission is something we are all, men and women, called to in various ways and in various circumstances.
Within the family, while the husband is to be the leader, he is not to be a harsh, self-serving one, but a servant-leader, submitting his rights and preferences to the good of his wife and children.
Within the church, pastors and elders are to be servant-leaders, as well, not trying to build themselves a kingdom, but submitting to Christ’s authority and building His kingdom.
Even in civil society, leaders are called by God and should submit to His authority. Romans 13:
1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
But because of the fall, those in authority often rule sinfully. Yet, unless they ask us to sin, we are to submit and trust that God will deal with it as He sees fit.
Speaking to Edify, Not Impress
Just a few thoughts about verses 22-33. The subject of spiritual gifts and tongues in particular is a much-debated issue. I didn’t attempt to discuss it in this post, choosing to focus on the women’s role. But I would like to leave you with a quote from one of my favorite commentators.
Matthew Henry in his Complete Commentary on the Bible says, “It should be the concern of such as pray in public to pray intelligibly, not in a foreign language, nor in a language that, if it be not foreign, is above the level of his audience. Language that is most obvious and easy to be understood is the most proper for public devotion and other religious exercises.”
But as Warren Wiesbe’s said, those in Corinth were more about exhibition rather than the edification of others. And Paul was writing to correct their unloving, unbiblical behavior.
For Further Study
If you have questions, study these things out. A good place to start might be The MacArthur Study Bible or any good study Bible. I like Warren Wiersbe’s commentaries and find them very readable. Also, Matthew Henry’s commentaries are a wonderful source of insight and information. They may be found free of charge at www.studylight.org. And another good online resource is blueletterbible.org.
Today’s Other Readings:
Isaiah 1 & 2:
Empty Ritualistic Religion & Salvation by Faith
The book of Isaiah is the first of the “Major Prophets,” so-called because of their size, not necessarily their importance, since “all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable …” (2 Tim. 3.16). He prophesied during the time when Israel was divided into the Northern and Southern kingdoms. He condemned the empty, ritualistic religious practices and the spiritual idolatry of the people and warned of God’s coming judgment. Come to think of it, he could just as easily be preaching today!
He also prophesied of God’s salvation by grace:
‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the LORD, ‘Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool’ (v. 1.18).
But salvation is not automatic. Just because it’s true that Jesus died so we could be forgiven of our sins, doesn’t mean everyone is!
It is only those who come to saving faith in Christ and Christ alone, not in our own goodness or in religion, but in the Gospel—that is repentance from sin, asking for God’s forgiveness, accepting His grace, and turning away from sin (Is. 1.19; 2 Cor. 7.10).
When we turn to God in faith and repentance, it changes everything. We become children of God, adopted into His family (Gal. 4.5). We enter into a relationship with Him. And by spending time with Him in prayer and reading the Bible, His Word to us, we grow to know Him better and better.
Psalm 105.1-6:
All That God Has Done
Remember His wonders which He has done, His marvels and the judgments uttered by His mouth (v. 5).
We are so prone to forget all that He has done for us. It’s so much easier to focus on what we think has been withheld, even though the Word says, “… no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Ps. 84.11). He knows, so much better than we do, what we need and what is good for us!
Proverbs 24.23-25:
Don’t Let Fear Keep You from Speaking the Truth in Love!
But those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them (v. 25).
There is a huge temptation in our world today, to refrain from rebuking the wicked, either out of an unbiblical understanding of “judging” or out of fear of appearing narrow-minded or of being called politically incorrect. We must remember our responsibility is to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4.15) and that includes rebuking and reproving when necessary.
Coming Up:
In the coming days, we will talk about tattoos, how we can pull sin and judgment down on ourselves, what the Bible says about mediums and wizards, reasons the world hates us, and how we justify not obeying God’s Word.
I hope you’ll sign up so you don’t miss any of them. You might also like to check out our YouTube channel.
If this post spoke to you, I would love it if you would share it on your favorite social media platform.
And if you don’t already have a copy, you might want to purchase a copy of my eBook, 10 Benefits of Keeping a Spiritual Journal. It’s available on Kindle or in paperback (the paperback has 31 days of blank journaling pages with prompts to help you get started).
Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
Leave a Reply
Your email is safe with us.