Paul Misunderstood: Women in the Church (Part 2)

In a culture like ours where EQUALITY is highly valued and talk of gender DISTINCTIONS is taboo, the teachings of the Apostle Paul, as they relate to women in the church, have been classified as ‘male chauvinistic’.  But is this label warranted? Have we correctly understood what Paul meant when he said things like, “Men are the image and glory of God but women are the glory of man” and “Women should remain silent in the churches?”

In the last blog, we began to make the case that these statements are often misunderstood because they are understood outside of the context in which they are made. So is Paul trying to suppress the voice and influence of women in the church by demanding, “Women should remain silent in churches?” Let’s find out…

THE CONTEXT

As we learned in the last blog, women were allowed to pray and prophecy in the church as long as they were wearing a head covering (for cultural reasons). Paul makes this clear in 1 Corinthians 11. And so we must ask ourselves, “Is Paul contradicting himself in 1 Corinthians 14 or did he change his mind later in the letter?” The answer: NO!

In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul is addressing the disorder that has presented itself while people in the church are together prophecying (that is, presenting a hymn, word of instruction, revelation, or a tongue and interpretation—1 Cor. 14:26). Apparently, everyone in the church is trying to prophecy at the same time (14:31) and this is presenting confusion and discouragement rather than instruction and encouragement. This disorder is also not allowing an adequate pause so that the individual prophecies can be weighed and evaluated (14:29-30).

So how does Paul’s statement that women should be silent in the church fit into this context?

WHO IS PAUL ADDRESSING?

Apparently, some of the women in the church are bringing disgrace to their husbands by speaking in the church (1 Corinthians 14:35). So then why does Paul instruct ALL women to be silent in the church and not just wives? Answer: HE DOESN’T! The Greek word gyne used here can refer to either “women” or “wives” depending on the context (There is not a separate Greek word for ‘wives’!).  And in this context where women are bringing disgrace to their husbands, the word gyne is clearly (in my opinion) referring to ‘wives.’ And so Paul is really saying, “WIVES should remain silent in the church.”

So is Paul communicating that WIVES can never speak in the church?

THE EXTENT OF PAUL’S INSTRUCTION

The context is clearly indicating that wives are bringing disgrace to their husbands. But how are they doing this? The context would indicate that the wives are ‘inquiring’ about their husbands’ prophecies and ‘asking’ them questions in the public forum rather than at home.

But what’s so bad about asking your husband a question in public? Well, the compound Greek verb for ‘ask’ (epe-rotatosan) in this passage (14:35) is used elsewhere to mean ‘interrogate’ (Mark 11:29; 14:60-61). And so the wives are not just innocently ‘asking’ (rotatosan) their husbands questions, they are ‘interrogating’ (epe-rotatosan) them in public during the time when prophecies are being weighed and evaluated. It isn’t difficult to imagine how a wife could bring shame to her husband by interrogating him after he gives a prophecy. As Ben Witherington puts it, “The speaking in question denotes activity of sifting or weighing the words of prophets, especially by asking probing questions about the prophet’s theology or even the prophet’s lifestyle in public.” This type of interrogation certainly would bring a sense of disrespect to just about every husband I know!

THE BOTTOM LINE

And so Paul is not making a blanket statement that wives must never speak in the church. He is instructing wives NOT to speak within the church in ways that bring shame and disgrace to their husbands. In fact, the word ‘silent’ (sigao) does not always communicate an unqualified ‘lack of speech.’ Depending on context, it can mean ‘to hold one’s tongue, hold one’s peace, or to refrain from using a particular kind of speech, or speech in a presupposed context.’ And so in this context, wives are being instructed to hold their speech in church contexts when their husbands are prophecying.

APPLICATION

And so the principle we can draw from this passage is NOT: “Wives (or women) are not ever allowed to speak in the church.” NO. The principle Paul is applying in this context is: “Wives should respect their husbands by NOT belittling them in public.” And I would submit that husbands should do likewise toward their wives! And so may God strengthen your relationships as you show honor and respect to others (including your spouse)!