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NASB | 1 Corinthians 14:34 ¶ The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 14:34 ¶ the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not authorized to speak, but are to take a subordinate place, as the Law says. |
Bible Question: Do denominations that permit women to speak in church, or even to become pastors, follow the Bible? How shall we interpret this verse, if not literally? |
Bible Answer: The Law he is referring to is as noted above to have its reference in Gen 3:16. "To the woman He said, I will greatly multiply your grief and your suffering in pregnancy and the pangs of childbearing; with spasms of distress you will bring forth children. Yet your desire and craving will be for your husband and he will rule over you." Well, this says I will be ruled by my husband because my desire and craving will be for him. And its true. I have eaten in many a restaurant I don't like, because I invariably find myself letting him have his way. And I have shoes and outfits I don't like for the same reason. It is my desire (love) for him that makes me give in to him all the time on all kinds of issues. God said it, and I can testify that its true. But I submit because Jesus tells me to submit. And that's a two way street. No where though do I find in the Bible that says I should or that I have to submit to any man or every man. When I first read this verse and verse 35, I was devastated. I prayed on it for days! So in my Bible studies over the next few days, the Spirit started leading me around the Scriptures. First He took me to Jesus warning us to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. Then He took me to Acts where He pointed out to me that Paul was a Pharisee. Then He took me to 1Corinthians 7:12 and 25, where Paul says outright that he is speaking from his own opinions and not from any revelation of the Lord. I was feeling better. That night I prayed over it, then the next morning I was led to 2Corinthians 5:16,17. In verse 16, dear Paul says that we should estimate and regard no one from a purely human point of view, in terms of natural standards of value.--- So how does he justify his 1 Corinthians order for women to be quiet "just as the Law says"? By his OT, Pharisee traditions it is "disgraceful for a woman to talk in church, for her to usurp and exercise authority over men in church." Yet by his NT 2 Corinthians 5:17 teachings, "Therefore if any person is ingrafted in Christ the Messiah he is a new creation, a new creature altogether..." Does this mean, except for women? We're still to be bound by the Law? Dead in our sin? NOT! I was feeling ALOT better by this point. Then I read 2 Corinthians 6:3 "We put no obstruction in anybody's way, we give no offense in anything, so that no fault may be found and our ministry blamed and discredited." -- Wrong! I and no doubt many, many women found fault and were offended. Then God took me to Mary, the first person to see Jesus after He rose. He pointed out to me that Jesus actually stopped on His way to ascending to His Father to comfort this WOMAN. There ended up being a reason for His telling me to speak through my husband in our church (specifically our Wed night Bible studies with our newly ordained young Pastor), and of course, He was right and it was best that I do it. I would have obeied irregardless, but it was really great the way that He comforted me. Because God really does love women; and I think Paul came around to understanding that before he finished his run. Oh, and you might also read Acts 1:13-14. Jesus had told them all, the men and the women, to go back to Jerusalem and wait, and in Acts 1:13,14, there they are, the men and the women, praying and worshiping and waiting together as they had been commanded. Even though that was against their Jewish/Temple Law--the same one which was the basis for Paul's saying above. It was only when they disregarded that Law and were obedient to Jesus, that the Holy Spirit came to them. Jesus told them it would, because He knew they would obey Him. That act of Faith and obedience breaking down prejudice and traditonal walls invited the Holy Spirit to work as it would.---So you want to go back to the Law? |