1 Corinthians 14:34-35 

³⁴Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. ³⁵If 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.

Fiction

If you were to travel somewhere, where do you like to visit? Have you ever visited a crocodile farm before? Many travelers want to visit a crocodile farm.

There was a story about tourists taking pictures and videos at a manmade lake filled with crocodiles. They threw chicken bones into the lake, and crocodiles jumped out of the lake and grabbed their food before it dropped into the water.

Suddenly, the crocodile farm owner shouted on megaphone, “Attention everyone: If anyone swims from this lakeshore to the other side alive, I will give that brave person a reward of $50,000.00.” Everyone was saying, “That’s scary!”

Suddenly, someone jumped into the water and swam as fast as he can and reached the other side alive. Everyone applauded, and he was rewarded. The news become viral, and reporters went to interview the man. “What can you say?You’re so brave to swim in the midst of crocodiles,”reporters asked him.

“Actually someone pushed me, and I fall into the water. So, I swam so hard to escape the crocodiles,” the man confessed. Then he asked his wife, “Did you see who pushed me? You were behind me!” His wife smiled sheepishly.

Right! The wife pushed him so they enjoyed the $50,000 reward together. You may have heard it said:“Behind a successful man is a woman!”Someone argued, “So, if a woman is behind a successful man, proper recognition should be given to the woman for the success of the man, right?” What’s your opinion?

Another argued, “The husband is the head of the family, but the wife is the neck that controls the head!” Truly, the head is readily observed at first glance, and seldom would anyone look at someone’s neck first unless it has necklace.

In a paternal society, men have dominant share of authority over women.

Seriously, how do you interpret what it declares in Ephesians 5:22-24?

²²Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. ²³For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. ²⁴Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

When wives submit to their husbands, it practically illustrates submission of the church to Christ the Lamb. The church is the bride of the Lamb. Christian wives submit to their husbands because they obey the Lord. By faith in Christ as Lord, Christian wives can willingly submit to their husband without hesitation.

Do you believe that all humans are equally created? Personally, do you know of two persons who are identically equal in height, weight, appearance, intellect, achievements or dreams? So, where did they get the idea that God created human beings equally? Do they mean rights or privileges before God?

We can approach God freely by faith, but does God deal with us equally as in the true sense of equality?Individually, each person is uniquely created.

We are created very differently from others. God shows no favoritism. He shows no partiality.How do you interpret and explain what it declares in Romans 9:15?

¹⁵For God says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

We may wish to have equal privilege as children of God, but he deals with us not because of favoritism or partiality, but according to his mission purposes for each individual believer or potential believers too. The Lord chooses whoever he deems as appropriate instrument for his plans and purposes of his glory.

How strong do you believe that the Scripture is inspired by God for us to follow as manual for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training orderly behavior?

Together, let’s reflect on 1 Corinthians 14:33, ³³For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.

God gave us instructions and decrees on how we may behave peacefully as his children in a righteous Christian lifestyle. How strong do you believe that?

We also need inspiration of his Holy Spirit to interpret correctly and apply practically into our lives what we read from the Scripture that is inspired by God. So, how should we explain this? Women should remain silent in the churches!

1.  Silent

³⁴Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. 

Why should women remain silent in the churches? Various scholars have suggested that Apostle Paul addressed the women in Corinth particularly and not necessarily commanded all women in the churches around the world. There are also theologians who asserted that it is biblical command applied to each woman in the churches because the law was mentioned to emphasize its necessity.

The law declares in Genesis 3:16,¹⁶The Lord God said to the woman, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”

The Lord God commanded that Adam will rule over Eve. If this is the law that Apostle Paul used to emphasize his instruction to the Corinthian women who should remain silent in the churches, the term “women” may pertain to wives who have husbands and should not particularly include any single lady or widow.

Remarkably, Apostle Paul declared in 1 Corinthians 14:31, ³¹For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 

All can prophesy in turn means all Christians, man or woman, can speak.

Surely, women can be messengers of God also. Since Apostle Paul said that all can prophesy in turn, why did he forbid women to remain silent then?

Since the context is church peace and order, this particular command for women to remain silent can be interpreted as guide for specific situation in Corinth.

Bible students suggest that since his letter was personal, Apostle Paul did not write a dissertation, thesis or essay; he didn’t follow a specific literary theme. Apostle Paul may have just inserted solutions to problems that came to his mind, and the Corinthians understood the particularity of what he told them to do. Let’s look at 1 Corinthians 11:5, ⁵Every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved.

Apostle Paul did not prevent women who pray and prophesy with propriety. Interpreters suggest that chapter 11 is a rule for smaller group of Christians while chapter 14 is a rule for the entire church. Obviously, that is not specified. But still, proponents of the rule for women should remain silent in the churches point out and connect the dots to what Apostle Paul instructed also in 1 Timothy 2:11-12.

¹¹A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. ¹²I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. 

Timothy was a disciple of Paul, and became pastor of an Ephesian church. Accordingly, women led in worshipping the Ephesian goddess Artemis. So, when Apostle Paul restricted women from teaching in the Ephesian church, he may have reacted particularly against Ephesian idolaters who were led by women; and in the Ephesian church, Christian women needed to behave appropriately.

Reflect on it. Should women remain silent in the church like the women in the church of Corinth and Ephesus? Does the Scripture emphasize that such rules for women should be followed all around the world in all generations?

God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people. So, peace and order should be emphasized and prioritized.

Organized Rally

Anywhere around the world, where there are organized rallies, protesters may also attend to disturb peace and order. The worst is when bad elements may try to hurt attendees in those rallies. Why do protesters disrupt a peaceful rally? Do they want a change and install leaders who adhere to their agenda?

Sadly, similar confusion had actually happened in the churches. Instead of peace and order, commotion and conflict happen because of selfish agenda. Disgruntled people urge innocent attendees to join their cause. And confused attendees have no idea that they were recruited to disrupt a peaceful gathering.

When influential people try to disturb peace in the church, praise the Lord. Why? Persecution is a biblical mark of true disciples of Christ. It happened in the first century Christianity; it can happen in our time, anywhere or in any church.

Reflect on Acts 13:50-52,⁵⁰The Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.

⁵¹So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium.⁵² And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Interestingly, God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city were misled. They didn’t know that they persecuted messengers of God. Whatever we do, the enemy of Christ tries to persecute us. Despite persecution, we can still sense joy when we are filled with the Holy Spirit. Confusion happens when interpretation of the Scripture is not guided by the Holy Spirit.

The church in Corinth was confused. There was no peace and order during church activities. Every attendee wanted to speak and prophesy. Apostle Paul had instructed that in the churches, women should remain silent and not speak.

2.  Speak

³⁵If 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.

Women were advised that they should ask their own husband at home; for it’s disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. The term “woman” pertains to a wife who has a husband. Are single ladies or widows included or not? The term “speak” can be translated as preach, chatter, talk, utter, formal or informal.

Women have option if they needed clarification; they should ask their own husbands at home, instead of voicing out their opinion during church gathering. Why was such instruction given to the Corinthians? It promotes peace and order in the church. It’s not to degrade or reduce women as lesser being in the church.

Accordingly, public speaking in the first century Christianity was essential for communication, education and teaching religious traditions and practices to younger generation. Public speeches were valued with importance. Words said publicly should convey and communicate truth that builds deeper fellowship.

In simple language, congregational assembly of Christians should be utilized productively for serious instruction and formal edification. Informal talks or friendly chatters should be done on a non-formal gathering or free-for-all forum.

Maybe, we can learn together from what Acts 18:24-26 says,²⁴Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. ²⁵He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. ²⁶ He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

Priscilla and her husband Aquila invited Apollos into their home. Observe that the name of Priscilla who was the wife of Aquila was mention first. If Aquila was the husband, why was his name written after Priscilla his wife and not first?

In Hebrew literary, the person mentioned first is given more importance.

Meaning, Priscilla must have been recognized as more educated or better communicator than her husband Aquila. They heard it when Apollos preached, but they did not try to argue with him publicly. Most probably, Priscilla explained to Apollos the way of God more adequately when they invited him to their home.

Here is a biblical example on how educated wives may show respect to their husbands. See? Priscilla did not teach Apollos in public. Apollos and her husband Aquila might be humiliated, and she discreetly avoided that to happen. So, Christian behavior in public is much better than to assert right opinion.

Certainly, many women are gifted and great communicators. But biblically for peace and order in the church, married women should publicly exhibit respect for their husbands if they remain silent during church gathering. Why? If women are more talkative during church gatherings, it is misunderstood or misinterpreted that they dominate or control their husband, which is very sad situation.

Together, let’s seriously reflect on 1 Timothy 2:9-15,⁹I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,¹⁰but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

¹¹A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. ¹²I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. ¹³For Adam was formed first, then Eve. ¹⁴And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. ¹⁵But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

Reflect on this: God could have created a woman first. But God formed Adam first, and then Eve, why?It’s not because he favored Adam over Eve. It’s a mysterious design of God for mankind that practically displays divine sovereignty.

Humans cannot totally agree with his divine design. Our human intellect is limited; it is not equipped to understand everything that originated from God. But with the help of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, we may agree that God’s design is always favorable to believers. Learn from Psalm 119:33-35.

³³Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end. ³⁴Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart. ³⁵ Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.

We cannot readily follow a command from God. We need inspiration and empowerment of the Holy Spirit to diligently obey him. God knows the best; his decrees are the best. By faith, we can sincerely accept that for peace and order in the churches, God decreed that wives should remain silent in the churches.

And, it is also a practice of faith in Christ to trust that his godly instructions will lead us to the path of delightful experience of life in its fullness he promised.

May God’s grace and peace prevail in us to diligently obey him honestly.

><((‘> .. ><((‘> … ><(((“> tmec\2025 <“)))>< … <‘))>< .. <‘))><