To suggest that women remain silent in the Church is yet another deceptive teaching of man. All who faithfully follow Messiah the Savior are to preach His Word and edify one another (2 Tim 4:2-5, Mark 16:15, Eph 4:16).
1 Cor 14:34 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.
There are few points to clarify in this verse:
- The words, they are commanded to be under obedience, is simply in reference to one submitting to another.
- The Law referred to in this verse is the Old Testament law.
- When Paul said, let your women remain silent in the Church, he was referring to the law enforced by the Scribes and Pharisee’s. They would not allow women to speak in the synagogue. There is no New Testament Law that would suggest women remain silent in the Church today.
- The ones who submitted were wives, not women (1 Cor 14:35).
- The custom at the time was for women to remain silent, as the men were apparently the learned ones in matters of the law.
1 Cor 14:35 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.
Under the law of our Messiah, all are equal and submit to each other.
Should women remain silent in the Church today
Do men only speak the praises of the Yahweh, and does the Word of Yahweh only come to them?
For as many of you as have been baptized unto Messiah, have put on Messiah. There is neither Judean or Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Messiah who is also our Savior. And if ye be Messiah’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise (Gal 3:27-29).
Wherever two or more are gathered in Messiah, He is there in the midst of them; this is the description of the Church. To suggest that women remain silent in the Church is a nonsensical statement. Women need to shake loose the shackles that ungodly deceived men have placed on them.
Romans 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Messiah, and every one members one of another.
Did our Messiah ever suggest that women should remain silent in His Church?
Spirit-filled women have a real relationship with Yahweh, and many carnal men could learn of true unselfish love through them! For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body (1 Cor 12:13).
Do Women Not Also Praise Yahweh ?
The word silence is used about 12 times in the New Testament, and only once in connection to women or wives. The word your, used in 1 Cor 14:34, is used in reference to an immediate audience. This verse does not refer to women who are not under the New Covenant Law.
Interestingly enough all who prophesy in the church are also to remain silent if there is no interpreter (1 Cor 14:28).
John 15:26-27 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeded from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
Our teacher ultimately is the Holy Spirit that must reside within us (John 14:17).
Once we have the infilling of Yahweh’s Spirit we can know the truth and share it with others. Would Yahweh have Spirit-filled women remain silent in the Church? Is it not His Spirit that instructs them also?
Here are a few more verses to consider.
Acts 18:26 And he began to speak boldly in Yahweh more perfectly.
Acts 21:8-9 And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
Paul himself, speaks of Phebe a sister in Messiah.
Romans 16:1 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
Phil 4:3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow labourers, whose names are in the book of life.
These Old Testament passages do not suggest that women remain silent in the Church.
Let the redeemed of the Yahweh say so
Praise ye Yahweh
Make a joyful noise unto Yahweh
Declare His doings among the people
Let everything that hath breath praise Yahweh