But vs. 37 says that what he is writing "is the Lord's command":
34Women f 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.
36Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? 37If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command. 38But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.
I agree. Paul can't be saying women are to be quiet in regard to the very things he just said that are to be done in church, and which the rest of scripture affirms woman can do. That's why we have to know what it is exactly that women are to be silent in church about. And I think we know that by what Paul says in this passage about this very same issue of women being silent:
11A woman a should learn in quietness and full submission. 12I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; b 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. - Timothy 2:11-14
The thing women are to be silent about is not prophesying, singing, etc. It's being silent in the matter of teaching the word of God from an assumed position of authority. Between the two passages we can see exactly what the Lord's command in 1 Corinthians 14:34-38 is about concerning this matter of women being silent.
Women have simply not been ordained to teach the Word of God with authority. Does that mean women are stone cold stupid and you can't listen to anything they have to say? No, of course not. I've learned from many women over the years. But that happens in 'take it or leave it' kind of discussions that we Christians have.
Woman can share and we are free to receive it as truth or we can discard it as merely their opinion. What they can not do is impress it on the church in an authoritative teaching manner. The Lord's command is that they are to be silent in that regard. But then again, that's true for me, too. I don't have that calling either. I can only speak to the extent that women can speak. I can put things out there in informal discussion and you are free to take it or leave it. I personally have no more of an ordination to teach with authority than a woman has. It's not the end of the world, ladies.
34Women f 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.
36Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? 37If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command. 38But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.
I agree. Paul can't be saying women are to be quiet in regard to the very things he just said that are to be done in church, and which the rest of scripture affirms woman can do. That's why we have to know what it is exactly that women are to be silent in church about. And I think we know that by what Paul says in this passage about this very same issue of women being silent:
11A woman a should learn in quietness and full submission. 12I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; b 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. - Timothy 2:11-14
The thing women are to be silent about is not prophesying, singing, etc. It's being silent in the matter of teaching the word of God from an assumed position of authority. Between the two passages we can see exactly what the Lord's command in 1 Corinthians 14:34-38 is about concerning this matter of women being silent.
Women have simply not been ordained to teach the Word of God with authority. Does that mean women are stone cold stupid and you can't listen to anything they have to say? No, of course not. I've learned from many women over the years. But that happens in 'take it or leave it' kind of discussions that we Christians have.
Woman can share and we are free to receive it as truth or we can discard it as merely their opinion. What they can not do is impress it on the church in an authoritative teaching manner. The Lord's command is that they are to be silent in that regard. But then again, that's true for me, too. I don't have that calling either. I can only speak to the extent that women can speak. I can put things out there in informal discussion and you are free to take it or leave it. I personally have no more of an ordination to teach with authority than a woman has. It's not the end of the world, ladies.
Further, the word "usurp" involves taking a position without proper approval to do so. Well, that completely undermines most of the "women can't teach" argument, because almost nobody in the Church assumes a teaching position without having some kind of approval from a higher authority. If anyone (male or female) assumed the authority to teach, that person would be in the wrong. Any woman approved by a board or nominating committee would not be "usurping" anything!
I honestly believe that "usurp authority" is a bad and biased translation, and that every argument based on that choice of words is flawed at best. So, that leaves us not knowing how women are to be silent.
With regard to Paul's words being "the Lord's command", they make perfect sense if he is contradicting a quotation. If verses 34-35 are Paul's own words, then we are left with the uncertainty about women's silence, about the reference to the Law, and the apparent contradiction between that passage and chapter 11.