What does Paul say about women?
1Corinthians 14: Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. 31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
This is rarely true in Christianity today. The church meeting should be a training ground for believers to learn how to speak the word.
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 churches of the saints.
I compare this to the strings on a guitar. They have to be tight between these two immovable anchors. On the one hand everyone can speak and on the other God is not the author of confusion but of peace.
34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. 35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
There is a context to this word which is applicable today. At the time the congregation would be segregated with women on one side and men on the other. As a general rule women were less educated than men. It was an agricultural society but some men did have higher education, but women didn't. As a result if something was being taught and a woman didn't understand she might call out to her husband on the other side of the room to explain and that was very disruptive. It would be like a teacher saying that you have to raise your hand and wait to be called on before you can speak in class. Now the word translated "church" here means "gathering" or "congregation". Today the "church" refers to the building in which all the meetings take place including children's meeting, etc. Since women are generally involved in the children's work and all kinds of service in the meeting hall it is absurd to say that it is a shame for women to speak in the meeting hall. Instead, what Paul is saying is it is a shame for people to be calling out in the middle of a church service, being disruptive. However, Paul has said that women can pray and prophesy in the meeting hall if their head is covered. He has also said that the older women should teach the younger women. Therefore this is specifically referring to a meeting with men. Some people complain this verse is sexist. But the reality is that two thirds of the church congregation is usually women. They dominate the two most important ministries in any church: children's work and women's ministry. If you let women take over this meeting too, then you will go from two thirds women to 90% women in your congregation as you drive all the men out of the church.
1Corinthians 14: Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. 31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
This is rarely true in Christianity today. The church meeting should be a training ground for believers to learn how to speak the word.
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 churches of the saints.
I compare this to the strings on a guitar. They have to be tight between these two immovable anchors. On the one hand everyone can speak and on the other God is not the author of confusion but of peace.
34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. 35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
There is a context to this word which is applicable today. At the time the congregation would be segregated with women on one side and men on the other. As a general rule women were less educated than men. It was an agricultural society but some men did have higher education, but women didn't. As a result if something was being taught and a woman didn't understand she might call out to her husband on the other side of the room to explain and that was very disruptive. It would be like a teacher saying that you have to raise your hand and wait to be called on before you can speak in class. Now the word translated "church" here means "gathering" or "congregation". Today the "church" refers to the building in which all the meetings take place including children's meeting, etc. Since women are generally involved in the children's work and all kinds of service in the meeting hall it is absurd to say that it is a shame for women to speak in the meeting hall. Instead, what Paul is saying is it is a shame for people to be calling out in the middle of a church service, being disruptive. However, Paul has said that women can pray and prophesy in the meeting hall if their head is covered. He has also said that the older women should teach the younger women. Therefore this is specifically referring to a meeting with men. Some people complain this verse is sexist. But the reality is that two thirds of the church congregation is usually women. They dominate the two most important ministries in any church: children's work and women's ministry. If you let women take over this meeting too, then you will go from two thirds women to 90% women in your congregation as you drive all the men out of the church.
