If they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church. Sermons I. WOMEN HAVE A PLACE IN THE CHURCH. Christianity exalts woman. It found her degraded; it ennobles her. In Christ there is neither male nor female (Galatians 3:28). II. WOMEN HAVE MANY MINISTRIES CONNECTED WITH THE CHURCH. If excluded from some positions, how many are still open to woman! In not a few of these she is unrivalled by the other sex. If woman may not do some work, man cannot do other. Christianity has opened to woman a most wide sphere of usefulness. It is quite an open question whether the Church has received more help from men or women; not a few would say from women. The Church owes a vast debt to the holy women who have been enrolled amongst her adherents. III. WOMEN ARE DEBARRED BY THE APOSTLE FROM SPEAKING IN CHURCH ASSEMBLIES, On the ground of propriety. Does not accord with woman's true position. This position indicated in the Law (Genesis 3:16), and laid down in the eleventh chapter of this Epistle. It had been foretold, "Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy" (Joel 2:28), and in Acts 21:9 we read of four daughters of Philip who prophesied; but in neither case is anything said of prophesying in public and mixed assemblies. The apostle does not prohibit women from prophesying, but only from prophesying in public. This, according to his view, would conflict with modesty and with woman's rightful position, and would lead to many evils. It is an evasion to discriminate between women speaking in Church meetings and women addressing general congregations. The apostle's objection was to the public character of the act, and when he is speaking of "meetings of the Church" in this very chapter, he is referring to gatherings to which unbelievers had access (ver. 24). IV. WOMEN'S INSTRUCTION ENCOURAGED. To supplement instruction of the sanctuary, women may ask questions at home of their husbands. It may be said - What are those to do who have no husbands? Emphasis seems to rest upon "their own" (Revised Version) rather than upon "husbands." It would be acting in the spirit of the apostle's injunction for the unmarried to ask their relatives or personal friends. There seems no possible reason why an unmarried woman should be allowed to speak in public mixed assemblies whilst a married woman is debarred, but rather the reverse. 1. We have here incidentally indicated a special and most important sphere of woman - the home. A beautiful temple for the exercise of woman's ministry. Oratorical females are frequently poor housewives. 2. A suggestion that husbands should be well furnished with religious knowledge. The head of the house should not be an empty head. If he glories in a superior position, he should realize its responsibilities. But many people like their office more than its duties. 3. Evidence that women are not in the religious sphere to be mere automata. They are not to be the dupes of priests. They are to think, ask questions, understand. They are not to be kept in ignorance. Intelligent service is expected from them. Highest culture is as open to them as to men. There is nothing unwomanly in being well informed. - H.
Let your women keep silence in the churches. I. HER SPHERE.1. Not in public, but at home. 2. Not (except in extraordinary cases, 1 Corinthians 11:5) to teach, but to learn. 3. Not to command, but obey. II. HER OBLIGATION TO KEEP WITHIN IT. 1. Arises out of her natural position. 2. Is confirmed by the command of God. 3. Should be dictated by modesty. (J. Lyth, D. D.) I. WOMEN HAVE A PLACE IN THE CHURCH. Christianity found woman degraded: it exalts her. In Christ there is neither male nor female.II. WOMEN HAVE MANY MINISTRIES CONNECTED WITH THE CHURCH. If excluded from some positions how many are still open to women! In not a few of these she is unrivalled by man, who cannot do what she does. The Church owes a vast debt to its holy women. III. WOMEN ARE DEBARRED BY THE APOSTLE FROM SPEAKING IN CHURCH ASSEMBLIES. On the ground of propriety. Does not accord with woman's true position (Genesis 3:16; 1 Corinthians 11:1.). It had been foretold that "your sons and daughters shall prophesy," and we read that Philip's daughters prophesied; but in neither case is anything said about prophesying in public and mixed assemblies, which is what Paul forbids, inasmuch as it would conflict with modesty and woman's rightful position, and would lead to many evils IV. WOMAN'S INSTRUCTIOIN ENCOURAGED. To supplement instruction of the sanctuary, women may ask questions at home of their husbands or relatives (R.V.). We have here incidentally indicated — 1. A special and most important sphere of woman — the home. A beautiful temple for her ministry. Oratorical females are frequently poor housewives. 2. A suggestion that husbands should be well furnished with religious knowledge. The head of the household should not be an empty head. 3. Evidence that women in the religious sphere are not to be mere automata. They are not to be dupes of priests. They are to ask questions, and not to be kept in ignorance. Intelligent service is expected from them. (E. Hurndall, M. A.) I. THERE ARE THREE VIEWS OF THIS MATTER.1. That this utterance is official and conclusive. Women are not to speak, however gifted they are. 2. That the authority of the apostle cannot settle the question. Paul forbad women to speak, but he had no business to. 3. That while the Scriptures are of binding authority in matters of faith and morals, this and other injunctions are local, national, and therefore transient.This latter is the position now to be proved. I. IT WAS NOT THE DESIGN OF CHRISTIANITY TO DETERMINE MANNERS, CUSTOMS, FORMS OF GOVERNMENT AND ECCLESIASTICAL INSTITUTIONS. Its aim was to build a new man in Christ Jesus, and to this inspired manhood was left the utmost liberty in respect to externals. This view is corroborated by the whole testimony of history. The modern Church is totally different from the assemblies of the first Christians. The civil state has been revolutionised since the time of Christ. The family has changed, and no one organisation resembles the organisations of two thousand years ago. The presumption is that when Christ was leaving everything else to the wisdom and experience of after times it did not step in with this single exception and fix the position of women. Such a course would have been contrary to its genius in every other direction. II. SUCH A UNIVERSAL, LIMITATION COULD NOT HAVE TAKEN PLACE WITHOUT VIOLENCE TO JEWISH IDEAS. Woman was far more nearly equal to man among the Hebrews than among other Oriental nations. She was a public instructor. Note the cases of Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Huldah, Anna, and the prediction of Joel, "Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy," with Peter's comment in Acts 2. So when the Spirit of God rests upon them, and they have a message to give, if you undertake to set up the letter of Paul round about them, I will set up the message which says, "On My handmaidens will I pour out My Spirit, and they shall prophesy." True, in the synagogue it was forbidden women to teach, but the service was not extemporary, but liturgical and expository; and women had not the technical education for it. But outside the synagogue it was eminently in accordance with the Hebrew sentiment that women should speak out — and speak in meeting too. III. ONLY TO GREEK CHURCHES WERE THERE SUCH LIMITATIONS TO WOMAN'S RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES. The text and 1 Timothy 2:11, 12 were addressed not to Jewish, but to Greek assemblies. Why this distinction? Look at the condition of Greek women. The highest thought of womanhood that the Greeks had was that a woman should remain at home, that she should serve her husband and his household, and that she should not be known beyond her own family. She was not permitted to go into the street unless veiled, otherwise her reputation for virtue was destroyed. For a woman to do what is done by women in modern civilised nations — to develop that which the poorest man toils to give his daughters — to learn music, poetry, art, and philosophy, was to stamp her as a courtesan. Such being the popular feeling and custom, what would have been the effect if a Greek had looked in on a Christian meeting and seen a woman rise uncovered and pour out her heart? He would have said, "That is Christianity, is it? Why, then the Church is but a house of orgies. I understand your new religion. It teaches our wives that they must forsake their virtue, and go out into public exposure and do as courtesans do." Therefore it was that Paul said, "You shall not violate the customs of your country. You shall not bring into discredit the religion of Christ by doing that which can be interpreted but in one direction by every man who sees it. I forbid your women to teach in Greek communities." IV. WHAT, THEN, MAY BE CONSIDERED A FAIR INTERPRETATION OF THIS? 1. Is it right to say that this is the last word which the genius of Christianity had for women? Are you to take a command which had a peculiar interpretation in one province of the globe and in no other, and make it the criterion for judging of woman's position and instruction everywhere? Shall this be done where Christianity has raised and inspired woman, and shall a manacle, which belonged to the degradation of the Greek period, be put upon the limbs of enfranchised womanhood? You might as well say that the command of the physician to the leper is the prescription that you should take care of your children by. 2. Scripture commands are binding only where they apply: e.g., we are commanded to "honour the king," but what about countries where there is no king? And you cannot give a rigid interpretation to the text without running against the whole fruit of civilisation for the last 1,800 years. Are you going to put back the shadow on the dial? Christianity has made woman a prophetess, and no false interpretation of the text can ever close her mouth. 3. It is fair to apply to this subject the argument of Peter in Acts 11:17. If in the providence of God women are called to preach, if their discourse is accompanied with power from on high, and blessed to the salvation of souls, then the Spirit itself bears witness to the right of woman to speak, and who are we that we should resist God? 4. Paul's doctrine in Galatians 3:27, 28, is the Christian doctrine for the future. "In Christ there is neither male nor female." Faith, hope, love, learning, eloquence, etc., have no sex. Whoever can bring the kingdom of God nearer to men has the right to do so. We have trumpets enough; let us have some flutes. Women can sing and speak in the secular sphere often to mightier effect than men; why not, then, in the Divine? (H. W. Beecher.) People Corinthians, PaulPlaces CorinthTopics Anything, Assembly, Chatter, Church, Desire, Disgraceful, Home, Husbands, Improper, Inquire, Learn, Married, Privately, Puts, Question, Questions, Shame, Shameful, Speak, Talking, Wish, WomenOutline 1. Prophecy is commended,2. and preferred before speaking in tongues, 6. by a comparison drawn from musical instruments. 12. Both must be referred to edification, 22. as to their true and proper end. 26. The true use of each is taught, 27. and the abuse rebuked. 34. Women in the churches. Dictionary of Bible Themes 1 Corinthians 14:33-35Library 1 Corinthians xiv, 20Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit, in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. It would be going a great deal too far to say, that they who fulfilled the latter part of this command, were sure also to fulfil the former; that they who were men in understanding, were, therefore, likely to be children in malice. But the converse holds good, with remarkable certainty, that they who are children in understanding, are proportionally apt to be men in malice: that is, in proportion … Thomas Arnold—The Christian Life Gunsaulus -- the Bible Vs. Infidelity Here is the Sum of My Examination Before Justice Keelin, Justice Chester, Justice Blundale, Justice Beecher, Justice Snagg, Etc. The Substance of Some Discourse had Between the Clerk of the Peace and Myself; when He came to Admonish Me, According to the Tenor of that Law, by which I was in Prison. Things to be Meditated on as Thou Goest to the Church. The Miracle of Tongues. The Second Wall. Luther's First Preface. Women are not Permitted to Speak at the Time of the Divine Liturgy... Eighteenth Day for Peace Rules to be Observed in Singing of Psalms. Of Deeper Matters, and God's Hidden Judgments which are not to be Inquired Into From his Entrance on the Ministry in 1815, to his Commission to Reside in Germany in 1820 The Preacher as a Christian. Fifteenth Day. The Holy Spirit. Ten Reasons Demonstrating the Commandment of the Sabbath to be Moral. Spiritual Gifts. Meditations to Stir us up to Morning Prayer. That the Unskilful Venture not to Approach an Office of Authority. The Holy Spirit Guiding the Believer into a Life as a Son. Peace The Necessity of Regeneration, Argued from the Immutable Constitution of God. The Christian Prayer Links 1 Corinthians 14:35 NIV1 Corinthians 14:35 NLT 1 Corinthians 14:35 ESV 1 Corinthians 14:35 NASB 1 Corinthians 14:35 KJV 1 Corinthians 14:35 Bible Apps 1 Corinthians 14:35 Parallel 1 Corinthians 14:35 Biblia Paralela 1 Corinthians 14:35 Chinese Bible 1 Corinthians 14:35 French Bible 1 Corinthians 14:35 German Bible 1 Corinthians 14:35 Commentaries Bible Hub |