First Corinthians 14:34-35
Women Must Be In Subjection In Church Assemblies
Brian R. Kenyon

The role of women in the church has been a subject of controversy over the past few decades. Although it can be a very emotional issue, we must accept what God's word says concerning this and every other subject (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Contrary to popular belief, the Bible (Paul included) is not anti-women (cf. Gen. 1:26-27; Mt. 1:3, 5; Heb. 11:11, 31, 35; Jas. 2:25). In fact, some of what the Bible says about women can stand as proof of inspiration. For example, there is no way that Paul, from his own culture, would write that the husband's body belongs to the wife (1 Cor. 7:4)! Only the inspiration of God can account for that! Also, consider the countries where the Bible has been allowed to be taught freely. Are not women treated with more respect in these places than places like the Middle East where the Bible has been suppressed?

In First Corinthians 14, Paul gives regulations concerning the use of miraculous spiritual gifts in the church assemblies of Corinth. Part of that instruction involves the conduct of women in those assemblies. Let us study what Paul says about this to the Corinthians and then make some applications for today.

Women Are To "Keep Silence"

Paul writes, "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" (1 Cor. 14:34). Two key points are revealed by Paul. First, women are to keep silent in the assembly. "Keep silence" is from a Greek word that means to keep silent, or keep quiet. It is the same word found earlier in the chapter (1 Cor. 14:28, 30). Obviously, this cannot refer to total silence in everything. Both men and women are required by God to sing in church assemblies, and singing involves "speaking to yourselves" (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16 cf. 1 Cor. 14:15). The instruction to keep silent seems to especially refer to keeping silent in the use of tongues and prophesying (cf. 1 Cor. 14:28). There were women prophets in the early church (cf. 1 Cor. 11:5; Acts 21:8-9), but they were to prophesy only in certain situations (cf. Tit. 2:3-5).

Second, Paul says that women are to be in subjection. In showing their subjection, women were "not permitted...to speak" in the assemblies (1 Cor. 14:34b cf. 1 Tim. 2:12). How much a woman is permitted to speak in a church assembly is governed first and foremost by God's word, the Bible, but culture also has a role in determining appropriateness (cf. 1 Cor. 11:13; 14:35). Generally speaking, first century Greek culture was not tolerant of women speaking at all. "Indeed, among the Greeks women were discouraged from saying anything in public."1 The Greek historian Plutarch (ca. AD 45-125) said that the virtuous woman "ought to be modest and guarded about saying anything in the hearing of outsiders," and that "a woman ought to do her talking either to her husband or through her husband."2

Women are commanded to be in subjection. The term "to be under obedience [to be submissive, NKJ]" (1 Cor. 14:34c) means to be subordinate; to be under the authority of (1 Cor. 14:32; 15:27-28; Eph. 5:21-24). Women can teach men (cf. Acts 18:26), but it must be done from a subordinate role. Different cultures express this subordinate role differently. In present American culture, women can teach men subordinately, for example, by asking them questions. The Old Testament also confirms that women were to be in subjection (Gen. 1:26-27; 2:18-25; 3:16 [cf. 1 Cor. 11:8-9; 1 Tim. 2:13]).

Women Are To "Ask . . . At Home"

Keeping in mind the first century setting in Corinth, Paul writes, "And if they [women] will [want to, NKJ] learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home" (1 Cor. 14:35a). "Let them ask their husbands at home" is literally "let them ask their own men at home." The word translated "husbands" can mean male as opposed to female (Mt. 14:21; 1 Tim. 2:8; 1 Cor. 11:3-4, 7-9, 11-12, 14). In some contexts it refers to a "husband," the man of a wife (Mt. 1:16, 19; 1 Cor. 7:2-4, 10-11, 13-14, 16, 34, 39). Thus, if a woman was single or widowed, she was to ask her own man at home (father, uncle, brother, etc.). Though it is difficult for Americans to fathom, there are still cultures in this world (i.e., rural Ghana, West Africa) where a woman is never without a male guardian with whom she is expected to confer in all important matters. Her father serves in this capacity until she is married. If her father dies before then, the responsibility falls on an uncle or adult brother.

The reason why a woman was to ask her man at home in Corinth is because it was inappropriate for her to speak in the assembly-"for it is a shame [improper, NAS] for women to speak in the church" (1 Cor. 14:35b). Again, remember that first century culture did not permit women to speak publically at all. Thus, her speaking out in the church assembly would really be distained. The cultural significance of the word "shame" is illustrated well by Paul's statement concerning hair: "Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?" (1 Cor. 11:14). Although the Greek word for "shame" is different, this shows that culture does have a voice in dictating appropriateness. How long is too long for hair? No exact measurement is given. However, in any culture, it is shameful for men to appear as women! Thus, for a woman to speak out in a church assembly would discredit Christianity in the eyes of first century Corinthians.

Conclusion

Women's subjection to men is not a matter of inferiority, but is a part of God's plan for humanity. As the Father and Son are inherently equal (Jn. 1:1-3), but have different instrumental roles in the plan of salvation (1 Pet. 1:2), which places the Son in subjection to the Father (1 Cor. 11:3), so men and women are inherently equal (Gen. 1:26-27), yet have different instrumental roles, which places the woman in subjection to the man in spiritual matters (1 Tim. 2:8-15). This subjection in church assemblies is an unchangeable part of God's plan. However, the way that subjection is demonstrated varies with culture. While recognizing that women in the church today are very valuable to God's kingdom, let us respect God's plan for our assemblies.

End Notes

1 Leon Morris (quotes Barth), The First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1985) 197.

2 Quoted from Plutarch's Advice to Bride and Groom (pages 31-32) by Morris 197.