May Women Speak In Church?
(1 Corinthians 14:35)
by Douglas Hoff
Occasionally, a Christian will
express his or her belief that it is wrong for a woman to speak in Bible
class. This usually includes all types
of speaking whether it is commenting on a scripture, offering an observation,
reading a passage from the Bible, answering a question the teacher posed to the
class or even asking a question about the material being studied. Those who believe this know it is wrong for
women to exercise leadership over men in the church. This comes primarily from two passages: 1 Corinthians
(1 Corinthians 14:26-35; NKJV) 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.
(1 Timothy 2:8-13; NKJV) I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; (9) in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, (10) but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. (11) Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. (12) And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. (13) For Adam was formed first, then Eve.
In I Corinthians 14 Paul was dealing with a gathering of the church
where men and women were present. The
men were teaching in various ways and in this setting the women were told to
“...keep silent in the churches, for
they are not permitted to speak…for it is shameful for women to speak in church.” The Greek word translated as “silent” in
verse 34 is sigao
which means absolute silence. This Greek
word is also used in Luke
Interestingly, sigao is also applied to the men of the Corinthian assembly. If the Holy Spirit gave a man the ability to speak in a foreign language (“tongues”) but no interpreter was present, then that man was told to “keep silent in church” (v. 28). Similarly, if the Holy Spirit revealed a prophecy to two or more men, only one was permitted to speak at any given time. The others were commanded to “keep silent” (v. 30).
In 1 Timothy 2 Paul was dealing with the different roles men and women have as Christians. These roles are to respected at all times — not just when the saints gather for worship. In this passage Paul points out that men are to be the leaders. They are to lead in prayer (v.8). The sisters are not allowed to exercise authority over a man (v.12). By its very nature teaching requires the exercise of authority over the students. Thus, it would be wrong for a sister to teach a Bible class where men are present. If the class consists only of women, then it is proper for a woman teach (Titus 2:3-5).
It is critical to our understanding
to realize that a different Greek word is used in 1 Timothy
Do these two passages teach that women cannot speak at all “in (the) church?” No. Asking a question does not put a sister in a position of authority over the teacher. Rather, it shows the sister submission to the teacher just as it
would if a man asked a question. Reading a scripture the teacher requested also does not violate scriptural principles. The teacher is still in charge of the class. Answering a question, making a comment on a scripture offering an observation does not necessarily mean the student has taken the lead. As long as those remarks are made in a spirit of “quietness,” then the sister is not exercising authority over the teacher.
In other congregations this teacher
has seen a few sisters who tried to dominate the class. They were not in submission to the teacher and
tried to exercise authority over the class. This behavior is condemned by both 1 Corinthians
What if a sister feels it is wrong
to speak during Bible class? Should she
violate her conscience? No, for that
would be sinful for her (Romans
Suggested references:
Roy Deaver, “Woman And Prayer,” Spiritual Sword”, July 1975, 13-15.
Tim Ayers, ‘Were Euodias And Syntyche Authorized To Preach To And Teach Mixed (Adult
Male/Female) Assemblies (Thus Authorizing Women To Do So Today)?,” in Studies In
Philippians And Colossians, ed. Dub McClish (
Tom Wacaster, “Answering False Doctrines Relating To Galatians: There Should Be No Role Distinction Between Men And Women In The Church,” in Studies in Galatians, ed. Dub McClish (Denton, TX: Valid Publications, Inc., 1986), 368-9.
Douglas Hoff, preacher
(734) 782 -2886 [office]
Flat