A Womans Silence
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Transcript of A Womans Silence
A
WOMAN’S
SILENCE
A Woman’s Silence
“If there is anything they [women] desire to learn, let them
ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a
woman to speak in church” (1 Cor 14:35, ESV).
What does Paul mean here?
A Woman’s Silence
We must not forget how the term “speak” is used in this
context.
A Woman’s Silence
We must not forget how the term “speak” is used in this
context. “Speak” means to address the congregation with divine authority.
A Woman’s Silence
We must not forget how the term “speak” is used in this
context. “Speak” means to address the congregation with divine authority. “If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in
turn, and let someone interpret” (v 27, ESV).
A Woman’s Silence
We must not forget how the term “speak” is used in this
context. “Speak” means to address the congregation with divine authority. “If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in
turn, and let someone interpret” (v 27, ESV).
“Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said” (v
29, ESV).
A Woman’s Silence
We must not forget how the term “speak” is used in this
context. “Speak” means to address the congregation with divine authority. “If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in
turn, and let someone interpret” (v 27, ESV).
“Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said” (v
29, ESV).
“Speak” has nothing to do with uttering a sound—it has to do
with addressing the congregation with a word from God.
A Woman’s Silence
We must not forget how the term “speak” is used in this
context. “Speak” means to address the congregation with divine authority. “If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in
turn, and let someone interpret” (v 27, ESV).
“Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said” (v
29, ESV).
“Speak” has nothing to do with uttering a sound—it has to do
with addressing the congregation with a word from God.
Notice that the reason women are to ask their husband at home is
because it is shameful for a woman to speak for God in the
assembly.
A Woman’s Silence
We must not forget how the term “speak” is used in this
context.
We also cannot ignore the way the term word “learn” is
used in this context.
A Woman’s Silence
We must not forget how the term “speak” is used in this
context.
We also cannot ignore the way the term word “learn” is
used in this context. “Learn” means to gain an insight from a prophet.
A Woman’s Silence
We must not forget how the term “speak” is used in this
context.
We also cannot ignore the way the term word “learn” is
used in this context. “Learn” means to gain an insight from a prophet.
“You can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be
encouraged” (v 31, ESV).
A Woman’s Silence
Paul elevates women to a new position in Christianity.
A Woman’s Silence
Paul elevates women to a new position in Christianity. In Paul‟s day, women were considered too stupid to be taught.
A Woman’s Silence
Paul elevates women to a new position in Christianity. In Paul‟s day, women were considered too stupid to be taught.
A rabbi said, “Let the words of the Law be burned rather than
committed to a woman.”
A Woman’s Silence
Women are to ask “their husbands at home.”
A Woman’s Silence
Women are to ask “their husbands at home.” What if a woman desires to learn something but has no husband?
A Woman’s Silence
Women are to ask “their husbands at home.” What if a woman desires to learn something but has no husband?
The Greek may or may not mean “husband.”
A Woman’s Silence
Women are to ask “their husbands at home.” What if a woman desires to learn something but has no husband?
The Greek may or may not mean “husband.” Greek has no separate word for “husband” & “man.”
A Woman’s Silence
Women are to ask “their husbands at home.” What if a woman desires to learn something but has no husband?
The Greek may or may not mean “husband.” Greek has no separate word for “husband” & “man.”
Context has to determine the meaning.
A Woman’s Silence
Women are to ask “their husbands at home.” What if a woman desires to learn something but has no husband?
The Greek may or may not mean “husband.” Greek has no separate word for “husband” & “man.”
Context has to determine the meaning.
Here, the context isn‟t much help, because this is the only occurrence of
this term in the passage.
A Woman’s Silence
Women are to ask “their husbands at home.” What if a woman desires to learn something but has no husband?
The Greek may or may not mean “husband.” Greek has no separate word for “husband” & “man.”
Context has to determine the meaning.
Here, the context isn‟t much help, because this is the only occurrence of
this term in the passage.
The Greek simply means “their own men.”
A Woman’s Silence
Women are to ask “their husbands at home.” What if a woman desires to learn something but has no husband?
The Greek may or may not mean “husband.” Greek has no separate word for “husband” & “man.”
Context has to determine the meaning.
Here, the context isn‟t much help, because this is the only occurrence of
this term in the passage.
The Greek simply means “their own men.” This would then include fathers,
brothers, sons, sons-in-law, brothers-in-law, etc.
What does Paul mean that
the women are to ask their
own husbands at home?
A Woman’s Silence
The only other occurrence of “learn” in this passage has to
do with hearing from a prophet.
A Woman’s Silence
The only other occurrence of “learn” in this passage has to
do with hearing from a prophet.
The cultural context helps us know exactly what Paul
meant.
A Woman’s Silence
The only other occurrence of “learn” in this passage has to
do with hearing from a prophet.
The cultural context helps us know exactly what Paul
meant. Not far from Corinth was Delphi where the famous oracle—part
of the worship of Apollo—was located.
A Woman’s Silence
The only other occurrence of “learn” in this passage has to
do with hearing from a prophet.
The cultural context helps us know exactly what Paul
meant. Not far from Corinth was Delphi where the famous oracle—part
of the worship of Apollo—was located. Apollo was the main
deity in Corinth.
A Woman’s Silence
The only other occurrence of “learn” in this passage has to
do with hearing from a prophet.
The cultural context helps us know exactly what Paul
meant. Not far from Corinth was Delphi where the famous oracle—part
of the worship of Apollo—was located.
Delphi had a female priestess known as the Pythia.
A Woman’s Silence
The only other occurrence of “learn” in this passage has to
do with hearing from a prophet.
The cultural context helps us know exactly what Paul
meant. Not far from Corinth was Delphi where the famous oracle—part
of the worship of Apollo—was located.
Delphi had a female priestess known as the Pythia. People would ask the Pythia questions & she would answer in ecstatic
utterances that were then interpreted by her male servants.
A Woman’s Silence
The only other occurrence of “learn” in this passage has to
do with hearing from a prophet.
The cultural context helps us know exactly what Paul
meant. Not far from Corinth was Delphi where the famous oracle—part
of the worship of Apollo—was located.
Delphi had a female priestess known as the Pythia. People would ask the Pythia questions & she would answer in ecstatic
utterances that were then interpreted by her male servants.
The questions were often quite personal in nature.
A Woman’s Silence
The only other occurrence of “learn” in this passage has to
do with hearing from a prophet.
The cultural context helps us know exactly what Paul
meant. Not far from Corinth was Delphi where the famous oracle—part
of the worship of Apollo—was located.
Delphi had a female priestess known as the Pythia.
Because many of the Corinthian Christians were former
pagans, they would certainly have been quite familiar with
Delphi.
A Woman’s Silence
It seems quite probable, therefore, that many of the
Corinthians thought of tongue speaking & prophecy in the
assembly in terms of the Pythia & Delphi.
A Woman’s Silence
It seems quite probable, therefore, that many of the
Corinthians thought of tongue speaking & prophecy in the
assembly in terms of the Pythia & Delphi.
It is also quite likely—with the emphasis on everything
being done decently & in order—that the women who
were asking questions were causing quite a disturbance in
the assembly.
A Woman’s Silence
It is also quite possible that the prophets would regularly
question one another after a prophet was done speaking.
A Woman’s Silence
It is also quite possible that the prophets would regularly
question one another after a prophet was done speaking. “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is
said” (v 29, ESV).
A Woman’s Silence
It is also quite possible that the prophets would regularly
question one another after a prophet was done speaking. “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is
said” (v 29, ESV).
If that‟s the case, Paul is prohibiting this type of speaking.
A Woman’s Silence
It is also quite possible that the prophets would regularly
question one another after a prophet was done speaking. “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is
said” (v 29, ESV).
If that‟s the case, Paul is prohibiting this type of speaking.
The women under consideration would then be prophetesses who
were questioning the utterances of other prophets.
A Woman’s Silence
It is also quite possible that the prophets would regularly
question one another after a prophet was done speaking. “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is
said” (v 29, ESV).
If that‟s the case, Paul is prohibiting this type of speaking.
The women under consideration would then be prophetesses who
were questioning the utterances of other prophets.
The more I think about this passage, I am convinced that
this—as well as the Oracle of Delphi—best explains the
text.
The View of Others
A Woman’s Silence
The late Brother James Burton Coffman applies this entire
passage only to tongue-speaking. “Before dealing with this as it may be applied in all generations,
it should first be observed that the primary meaning has to be,
„Do not let the women speak in tongues under any
circumstances.‟ This command comes right in the middle of an
extensive treatise on tongue-speaking; and to blow this up to a
universal law that no woman might open her mouth in a church
service is simply contrary to all reason. As Glenn Wallace once
paraphrased this: „As for tongue-speaking, don't let the gals do it
at all!‟ This applied even if an interpreter was present.
A Woman’s Silence
About v 35, Brother Coffman wrote: “The women under consideration in this order were married,
nothing whatever being said of widows, spinsters or the
unmarried; and they were also ignorant, as indicated by „if they
would learn anything.‟ To make this a universal rule for all
women is to ignore the limitations evident in the passage. As
McGarvey said, „To understand the passage we should know the
ignorance, garrulity and degradation of Oriental women.‟ This
was addressed to abuses of the formal worship by women of a
certain class in an ancient culture. What about the woman whose
husband is an ignoramus, an unbeliever, or an open enemy of
God and all religion; should she comply with this rule? Until it is
affirmed that she should, it is a sin to make this rule universal.”
A Woman’s Silence
Adam Clarke: “The Jews would not suffer a woman to read in the synagogue;
though a servant or even a child, had this permission; but the
apostle refers to irregular conduct, such conduct as proved that
they were not under obedience.”
A Woman’s Silence
Ray Hawke at the 1987 Freed-Hardeman lectureship: “Since women prophetesses have been discussed in chapter eleven, and
since Paul has just given regulations to male prophets, verses 34,35
seem to be regulating these same women in the assemblies where the
whole church has come together (verse 23). There is a place where they
may pray and prophesy as long as they wear their sign of subjection (1
15). but they may not disturb, with their questions. the assemblies
where the whole church has come together. Also, the word translated
for husband (aner), is also rendered man or men (1 Cor. 13:ll). The
verse could be translated, "Let your women [prophetesses] keep silence
in the churches [assemblies]: for it is not permitted unto them to speak;
but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
And if they will learn anything, let them ask their men at home; for it is
a shame for women to speak in the church [assembly]."
A Woman’s Silence
Brother Hawke continues: “In this light, both married and single women could be
prophetesses. Although they could not speak by asking questions
in the assemblies where the whole church was come together.
they could exercise their gift in other assemblies (1 Cor. 1 1:5).
Because they were prophetesses, they did not have the right to
speak up in the assembly and disturb it with their questions. The
role of women has always been one of subjection to the man
(Gen. 3: 16). This being the case, they were to take such a role
when the whole church was come together and only men were to
speak.”
A Woman’s Silencea) either some women had miraculous gifts and were using
them publicly which, in that culture especially, was an indecent usurpation of male leadership in the public assemblies; the dignity of man and woman is preserved only if the place God has ordained for each is maintained (see our comments in I Cor. 1l:lff.).
b) or, some women, who did not have miraculous gifts, were prodding and agitating their husbands or others who did have gifts to use them contrary to the apostolic guidelines; this also was indecent behavior for women.
c) or, some women who did not have miraculous gifts were insisting they were going to teach in the public assemblies without gifts.
Paul T. Butler, independent Christian Church: