There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:28
Would YHWH impose silence on half of the world’s population solely because of their gender? What purpose would that serve? Who ultimately benefits from women remaining silent? It certainly would not benefit those who, according to scripture, face judgment because they failed to believe the Gospel.
Where did the idea originate that women must not teach men within “the Church”? Only two passages in all of scripture appear to restrict women’s roles in ministry, and—perhaps not coincidentally—both come from Paul’s letters. Even Peter warned that Paul’s writings can be difficult to understand and easy to misinterpret.
2 Peter 3:15-16 And think of the long-suffering of our Lord as salvation, as also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you, according to the wisdom given to him; as also in all his epistles, speaking in them concerning these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the unlearned and unsettled pervert, as also they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.
Paul was a Pharisee and highly educated in the Hebrew Scriptures; many believe he had the Law and the Prophets committed to memory. Those who lacked this grounding often misunderstood his writings, twisting his words and presenting distorted teachings to their own detriment. If Paul’s letters were challenging for readers in the first century—people far closer to his world and context—how much more challenging are they for us today? The only reliable way to grasp his message is to become well‑versed in the Law and the Prophets ourselves, so we can approach his letters with the knowledge and discernment they require.
Do Not Add To The Law
Deuteronomy 4:2 You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of YHWH your God that I command you.
Deuteronomy 12:32 Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it.
Proverbs 30:6 Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and you be found a liar.
Paul did not possess the authority to add to YHWH’s Law—because no one does. The Law has been in place since Adam and Eve left the Garden. How do we know this? Because the Law is the Word of God, the Word of God is God, and God does not change.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Malachi 3:6 “For I YHWH do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.
Numbers 23:19 God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
The ‘New Testament’ is not new. When it comes to doctrine, the NT authors were only repeating what was said in the ‘Old Testament’. They were not giving new doctrines for the ‘Christian Church’.
Warning Against False Prophets
Deuteronomy 13:1-5 If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams rises among you, and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder which he foretold to you occurs, saying, Let us go after other gods which you have not known and let us serve them, you shall not listen to the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams. For YHWH your God is testing you, to know if you love YHWH your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after YHWH your God, and you shall fear Him. And you shall keep His commandments, and you shall hear His voice, and you shall serve Him, and you shall cleave to Him.
This passage presents two opposing behaviors. On one side is the pursuit of other gods. On the other is the call to love YHWH, walk in His ways, fear Him, keep His commandments, listen to His voice, and serve Him. By this contrast, a false prophet is someone who urges people not to obey YHWH’s Torah and not to heed His prophets.
Deuteronomy 13 teaches that anyone who promotes doctrine not rooted in the Law and the Prophets is a false prophet and should not be followed. Therefore, if Scripture contains even a single example of women preaching, teaching, prophesying, or exercising authority in any capacity over men, then we are faced with a choice: either Paul must be considered a false prophet, or we are misunderstanding his letters. The only responsible approach is to examine the evidence carefully.
Let’s research.
Women Prophets, Judges, and Leaders
Exodus 15:20 And the sister of Aaron, Miriam the prophetess,…
Aaron was the High Priest, Moses was a judge and prophet, and Miriam was a prophet.
2 Kings 22:14-20 And Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum, the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, the keeper of the wardrobe—and she lived in Jerusalem, in the second quarter—and they spoke with her. And she said to them, So says YHWH, the God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me, So says YHWH, Behold, I will bring evil on this place, and on the inhabitants of it, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read; because they have forsaken Me, and have burned incense to other gods…
Here we have a married woman from Jerusalem who is in a position of authority over men, giving them the instructions from YHWH.
Nehemiah 6:14 My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat according to these works of theirs, and also to the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets who are my alarmers.
Isaiah 8:3 And I drew near the prophetess. And she conceived, and bore a son…
Joel 2:28-29 And it shall be afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; your old men shall dream dreams; your young men shall see visions. And also I will pour out My Spirit on the slaves and on the slave-girls in those days.
Nehemiah, Isaiah, and Joel each testify to three more women prophets.
Luke 2:23-38 And there was Anna, a prophetess, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher—she was advanced in many days, having lived seven years with a husband from her virginity; and she was a widow eighty-four years—who did not depart from the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. And coming on at the very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke concerning Him to all those in Jerusalem, eagerly expecting redemption.
Anna worked in the temple of YHWH and preached to all those in Jerusalem, including the men.
Acts 2:17-18 And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on My male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out My Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
Luke is quoting this passage from the Book of Joel, where we are told that in the times leading up to Yeshua’s return YHWH will use women as prophets and teachers to spread the Word.
Acts 18:24-26 But a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus, being powerful in the Scriptures. This one was taught by mouth in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things about the Lord, having understood only the baptism of John. And this one began to speak boldly in the synagogue. And hearing him Priscilla and Aquila took him and more accurately expounded the way of God to him.
Priscilla, the wife of Aquila, was an important teacher and leader in the Apostolic Church. She is mentioned here by Luke and also by Paul in his epistles: Romans, 1 Corinthians, and 2 Timothy.
Acts 21:8-9 …And going into the house of Philip the evangelist, he being of the Seven, we stayed with him. And there were four virgin daughters to this one, who prophesied.
Romans 16:1 But I commend to you our sister Phoebe, being a servant of the church in Cenchrea; that you may receive her in the Lord, as is worthy of the saints, and may assist her in whatever she may need of you. For she also became a helper of many, and of myself.
The Hebrew word translated “servant” is Strong’s g1249 diakonos: an attendant, a waiter; specially, a Christian teacher and pastor (technically, a deacon or deaconess): –deacon, minister, servant.
Phoebe was a teacher/pastor/deacon, which is a roll considered in some modern churches to be a position of authority that is off-limits to women. We see here that this is in contradiction with the Apostolic Church. Not only was Phoebe a deacon, Paul was telling everyone to do what she tells them to do!
Romans 16:7 Greet Andronicus and Junias my kinsmen and fellow-prisoners, noted among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
Most scholars agree that Junias was a woman, and she was an apostle!
1 Corinthians 11:5 And every woman praying or prophesying with her head uncovered shames her head; for it is the same as being shaved.
So, Paul says that women were prophesying and praying aloud in the church.
Judges 4:4-5 And Deborah the wife of Lapidoth, a woman prophetess, was judging Israel at that time. And she lived under the palm tree of Deborah, between Ramah and Bethel, in the hills of Ephraim. And the sons of Israel went up to her for judgement.
Some commentators attempt to explain Deborah’s leadership by claiming that YHWH appointed her only because no qualified man was available. Yet there is no scriptural basis for this idea. Everyone whom YHWH calls is equipped by Him to fulfill their calling. If He had intended a man to serve as judge, He would have appointed one and given him the necessary abilities. There were thousands of men available at the time—including Deborah’s own husband. Instead, YHWH chose Deborah, demonstrating that He does not distinguish between male and female when it comes to preaching, teaching, prophesying, or judging.
Deborah is really the ultimate nail in the coffin of this false doctrine of women not teaching men in “the church”. She was a prophetess, a judge, and a married woman. Prophets delivered the Word of YHWH to the people, just as those in ministry do today. Judges in Israel were not merely civil authorities; they also spoke YHWH’s Word and guided the people spiritually. With YHWH, there is no separation between “church” and “state.” As a married woman serving in these roles, Deborah exercised authority not only over the men of Israel but also, by extension, over her own husband. Her example directly contradicts the claim that women cannot hold positions of spiritual authority.
Paul: False Prophet or Misunderstood
Let’s examine the two passages where Paul appears to be contradicting ALL of scripture—including himself—and decide if he is a false prophet, insane, or just misunderstood. The first passage is from the second chapter of his first letter to Timothy.
1 Timothy 2:11-15 Let a woman learn in silence, in all subjection. But I do not allow a woman to teach, nor to exercise authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived has come to be in transgression; but she will be delivered through the bearing of children if they remain in faith and love and holiness, with sensibleness.
If we are to accept all of scripture as inspired, we must reconcile what Paul says to the rest of scripture. In this passage, Paul says, “I do no allow…”, however, Paul does not have authority to make new laws or change existing Laws.
Deuteronomy 12:32 All the things that I command you, take heed to do them, and you shall not add to it nor take away from it.
Let’s see if we can find other places where Paul has said something similar to determine his intention.
1 Corinthians 7:10a To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord):…
1Corinthians 7:12a To the rest I say (I, not the Lord)…
It is clear from context that when Paul writes, “not I, but the Lord,” he is repeating a teaching already given by Yeshua, the Torah, or the Prophets. Conversely, when he says, “I, not the Lord,” or “I do not allow,” he is offering guidance to a specific community for a specific reason—guidance that becomes clearer when we examine the historical and cultural circumstances behind his words.
Epistles are letters, and they must be read as such. A single verse can only be understood within the context of the entire letter. From the outset, we see Paul’s deep concern for the situation in Ephesus.
Timothy was in Ephesus when Paul wrote to him. So what was happening there during the Apostolic Age that might explain why Paul temporarily limited the role of women in that particular congregation?
1 Timothy 1:3-7 Even as I begged you to remain in Ephesus—I going to Macedonia—that you might charge some not to teach other doctrines, nor to give heed to fables and to endless genealogies—which provide doubts rather than a stewardship of God in faith—but the end of the commandment is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith not pretended; from which having missed the mark some turned aside to empty talking, wishing to be teachers of Law, neither understanding what they say, nor about that which they strongly affirm.
In the Book of Revelation, we find the same concern for Ephesus.
Revelation 2:2 These things says the One holding the seven stars in His right hand, He walking in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: I know your works and your labor and your patience and that you cannot bear evil ones; and you tried those pretending to be apostles, and are not, and found them to be liars.
As well as some of the writings of the first and second century church leaders:
The Epistle of Ignatius to Ephesus, (88-107 AD)Chapter VII, says —”Beware of false teachers. For some are in the habit of carrying about the name [of Jesus Christ] in wicked guile, while yet they practice things unworthy of God, whom ye must flee as ye would wild beasts. For they are ravening dogs, who bite secretly, against whom ye must be on your guard, inasmuch as they are men who can scarcely be cured. But some most worthless persons are in the habit of carrying about the name [of Jesus Christ] in wicked guile, while yet they practice things unworthy of God.”
Ephesus was struggling with people spreading false doctrine on the nature of YHWH Elohim and Yeshua, and these false prophets were targeting the uneducated wealthy widows of the church. Within the first century cultures, it was common that women were not allowed to be educated. This cultural limitation is why Paul tells them to remain silent. This means that the same instruction applies today to people who are not knowledgeable in the Law and the Prophets, regardless of their gender!
Since chapter two of 1 Timothy is where the problematic passage is located, let’s examine that chapter to determine the context and intent.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
So, the context of the chapter is how to lead a peaceful, quiet, godly, and dignified life, which will lead one to the knowledge of the truth and be saved. There is so much packed into this statement, we urge you to explore the rest of our studies to learn what all that means.
1 Timothy 2:5-7 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
Paul clarifies the nature of God, to counter the false prophets of Ephesus. There is only one God, and there is only one who can reconcile us to God, and that is Yeshua Messiah (Jesus Christ).
1 Timothy 2:8-10 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; 9 likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, 10 but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.
Modesty does not have the same connotation today as the Greek word from which it was translated. Today, the word means not dressing in a promiscuous manner, but that is not the meaning of the Greek word kosmios.
Strong’s g2887 κόσμιος kos’-mee-os: from G2889 (in its primary sense); orderly, i.e. decorous:—of good behaviour, modest.
Strong’s g2889 κόσμος kos’-mos: orderly arrangement, i.e. decoration; by implication, the world (in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively (morally)):—adorning, world.
The word translated modest means to not wear a lot of adornment to show off wealth and social status.
The next verses in the chapter are the ones in question, where Paul tells the women of Ephesus to be silent and not teach men or exercise authority over men in the church. Later, in chapters four and five, he refers to old-womanish tales as profanity and mentions the wealthy widows gossiping.
1 Timothy 4:7 But refuse the profane and old-womanish tales.
1 Timothy 5:11-16 But refuse younger widows; for whenever they grow lustful against Christ, they desire to marry, having guilt because they set aside the first faith; and with it all, they also learn to be idle, going around the houses, and not only idle but also gossips and busy-bodies, speaking the things not proper. Therefore, I desire the young women to marry, to bare children, to rule the house giving no occasion to the adversary on account of reproach. For some already have turned aside behind Satan. If any believing man or believing woman has widows, let them relieve them; and do not burden the church, that it may relieve those being really widows.
We are starting to see a picture emerging of what is happening within the church body in Ephesus. Women who were wealthy widows in the community had been deceived by false prophets, as Eve was deceived by Satan—hence his reference to the deception of Eve in Eden. These wealthy widows were spreading false doctrine on the nature of Yeshua Messiah and people were listening to them because of the position of prestige that they held in the community. Paul was silencing the false doctrines they were spreading by giving some strict direction specifically to these women in Ephesus, not all women, everywhere, for all of eternity.
The second problematic passage of Paul’s is from his letter to the Corinthians. We will use the same method as we did for the first to determine Paul’s meaning.
1 Corinthians 14:34-35 Let your women be silent in the churches, for it is not allowed to them to speak, but to be in subjection, as also the Law says. But if they desire to learn anything let them question their husbands at home; for it is a shame for a woman to speak in a church.
The main purpose of the letter is to promote unity in the body of believers in Corinth by explaining that there are different roles and responsibilities to be filled by members as their knowledge level and abilities allow.
Remember as we read that the term “brothers” means men and women. In recent times, we have begun using the pronoun “their” as the gender neutral singular, however, this was not always the case. In these passages where the word “he” is used, it actually doesn’t exist in the original Greek. There is just the verb, which is in the singular form and masculine is the default of the singular when it is gender neutral.
The Greek word translated “brothers” is Strong’s g80 ἀδελφός, adelphos: comes from the root alpha, which is of Hebrew origin. From Thayer’s Greek Lexicon: a brother, ‘the brethren of Jesus,’ also sisters; having the same national ancestor, belonging to the same people, countrymen; a fellow-believer, united to another by the bond of affection, so most frequently of Christians, constituting as it were but a single family; apostles; Christians, as those who are destined to be exalted to the same heavenly.
Therefore, when “New Testament” authors write, “brothers,” they mean both men and women in the faith.
1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I exhort you, brothers (men and women), through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you all say the same thing, and there not be divisions among you but you be united in the same mind and in the same judgment. For, my brothers, concerning you it was shown to me by those of Chloe that there are strifes among you.
In this passage, Paul urges the believers in Corinth to avoid divisions within the body, and he notes that he learned of their quarrels through “those of Chloe.” This reference provides yet another example of a woman serving in a position of leadership and influence within the Apostolic Church. For the later passages in the same letter to mean what some claim they mean, Paul would have to contradict himself abruptly—almost as if he shifted personalities mid‑letter. Such an interpretation simply does not align with the overall context or with Paul’s consistent message.
Another early church writer that we can look to is Clement of Rome. In his letter to the Corinthians he expresses the same concerns over divisions in the church.
Clement of Rome (88-99 AD) First Epistle to the Corinthians, Chapter III.—The sad state of the Corinthian church after sedition arose in it from envy and emulation. Every kind of honour and happiness was bestowed upon you, and then was fulfilled that which is written, “My beloved did eat and drink, and was enlarged and became fat, and kicked.” Hence flowed emulation and envy, strife and sedition, persecution and disorder, war and captivity. So the worthless rose up against the honoured, those of no reputation against such as were renowned, the foolish against the wise, the young against those advanced in years. For this reason righteousness and peace are now far departed from you, inasmuch as every one abandons the fear of God, and is become blind in His faith, neither walks in the ordinances of His appointment, nor acts a part becoming a Christian, but walks after his own wicked lusts, resuming the practice of an unrighteous and ungodly envy, by which death itself entered into the world.
Chapter VI. To these men who spent their lives in the practice of holiness, there is to be added a great multitude of the elect, who, having through envy endured many indignities and tortures, furnished us with a most excellent example. Through envy, those women, the Danaids and Dircæ, being persecuted, after they had suffered terrible and unspeakable torments, finished the course of their faith with stedfastness, and though weak in body, received a noble reward. Envy has alienated wives from their husbands, and changed that saying of our father Adam, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh.” Envy and strife have overthrown great cities and rooted up mighty nations.”
Further, Paul writes to the Corinthians:
1 Corinthians 12:4-11 But there are differences of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are differences of ministries, yet the same Lord. And there are differences of workings, but the same God is working all things in all. But to each one is given the showing forth of the Spirit to our profit. For through that Spirit is given to one a word of wisdom; and to another, a word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; and to another, faith by the same Spirit; and to another, gifts of healing by the same Spirit; and to another workings of powers; and to another, prophecy; and to another, discernings of spirits; and to another, interpretations of languages. But the one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing separately to each as He wills.
1 Corinthians 12:22-26 But much rather the members of the body seeming to be weaker are necessary. And those of the body we think to be less honorable, to these we put more abundant honor around them. And our unpresentable members have more abundant propriety. But our presentable members have no need. But God tempered the body together, giving more abundant honor to the member having need, that there not be divisions in the body, that the members might have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. If one member is glorified, all the members rejoice with it.
It appears that another challenge facing the Corinthian believers was the tendency for some individuals to elevate themselves above others, creating an unhealthy sense of hierarchy and self‑importance. This issue mirrors what we saw in Ephesus with the wealthy widows who were exerting undue influence. Against this backdrop, Paul clarifies the true order of roles within the body—an order established by God, not by human pride or social status.
1 Corinthians 12:27-31 And you are a body of Christ, and member in part. And God placed some in the church: firstly apostles; secondly, prophets; thirdly, teachers; then works of power; then gifts of healing, helps, governings, kinds of languages. Are all apostles? All prophets? All teachers: All workers of power: Do all have gifts of healing: Do all speak languages: Do all interpret? But zealously strive after the better gifts. And yet I show you a way according to excellence:
We have already seen that women served as apostles, prophets, and teachers among the Hebrew Israelites and throughout the Apostolic Age. Forbidding women from these roles would directly contradict the broader witness of Scripture. It is therefore clear that this is not what Paul intended in verses 34 and 35 of chapter 14; the preceding verses will help give us clarity on Paul’s intention.
1 Corinthians 14:20-25 Brothers (men and women), do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. 21 In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” 22 Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
Paul uses ‘the Law’ synonomously with ‘the prophets’, and the passage he is referring to is from the prophet Isaiah.
Isaiah 28:7-14 But they also have gone astray by wine, and have erred through fermented drink; priest and prophet have erred through fermented drink; they have been swallowed by wine; they strayed from fermented drink; they err in seeing; they stumble in judgment; for all tables are full of vomit and filthy, without a clean place. Whom shall He teach knowledge; and to whom shall He explain the message: Those weaned from milk, those moving from breasts? For precept must be on precept, precept on precept; line on line, line on line; here a little, there a little. For with stammering lip and another tongue, He will speak to this people; to whom He said, This is the rest; cause the weary to rest; Also, This is the repose. But they willed not to hear. Yet the word of YHWH was to them, precept on precept, precept on precept; line on line, line on line; here a little, there a little; that they might go, and stumble, and be broken, and snared, and taken. So hear the word of YHWH, scornful men, rulers of this people in Jerusalem.
The Hebrew word translated “stammering” is Strongs h3934 לעג, la’eg: a buffoon; also a foreigner;—mocker, stammering. From the Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon: speaking in a barbarous or foreign tongue; jester, buffoon, mocker. The primary root is Strong’s h3932 לעג, la’ag: to deride; by implication (as if imitating a foreigner) to speak unintelligibly:–have in derision, laugh (to scorn), mock (on), stammering.
Isaiah 28:23-29 Listen and hear My voice; pay attention and hear My word: Does the plowman plow all day to sow? Does he open and break the clods of his ground? When he has leveled its surface, does he not strew black cummin, and scatter cummin, and place wheat in rows, and barley in its place, and spelt in its border? And He instructs him for the right; his God teaches him. For black cummin is not threshed with the sledge; nor is a cartwheel turned on cummin. But black cummin is beaten out with the staff, and cummin with the rod. Bread is crushed, but not always does one thresh it with threshing; and he drives the wheel of his cart; and his horses do not beat it small. This also comes for YHWH of hosts, doing wonders in counsel, making sound wisdom great.
The meaning of this prophesy of Isaiah that Paul was quoting is: The priests and prophets had become unwise, filthy drunkards who were unfit to receive the knowledge from YHWH. The Word of YHWH was to them just rules on top of rules, and they mocked and derided the prophets who spoke them. YHWH commanded His people to rest and observe His Sabbaths, but they refused to listen. Therefore, YHWH’s Word will be their stumbling block (Recognize Yeshua here?). Hear the word of YHWH, scornful men, rulers of this people in Jerusalem. YHWH has planted the seeds of knowledge for them to grow, not for them to be wasted; therefore, be wise in YHWH by taking His counsel.
Side Note: It is worth noting that Paul warns the Ephesians about drunkenness in his epistle to them.
What does this passage in Isaiah have to do with the Corinthians? Why is Paul quoting it to them? What Paul is saying is: speaking in tongues is just nonsensical babbling that mocks the foreigners if there is no one around to translate, and the non-believers will see it as a mockery and not be convinced. The admonishment for women to be quiet and learn from their own husbands is because the unlearned women had taken over the church while the men were more concerned with drunken foolishness.
Continuing where we left off in chapter fourteen, Paul discusses orderly worship.
1 Corinthians 14:26-35 What then, brothers (men and women)? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. 27 If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28 But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. 30 If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. 33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, 34 the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. 35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.
Important note: nowhere in the Law and Prophets are women forbidden from speaking in YHWH’s assembly, in fact the opposite is true.
1 Corinthians 14:36-40 Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? 37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. 38 If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. 39 So, my brothers (men and women), earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But all things should be done decently and in order.
All of scripture, including Paul’s letters, instructs us that men and women are to speak in tongues, prophesy, interpret, pray, and teach, as YHWH leads them. In fact, in chapter eleven of this same letter Paul instructs women to prophesy in church with their heads covered. It would therefore be impossible for Paul to contradict himself and all of scripture by saying that women are forbidden from these aspects of ministry.
After exploring scripture from one end to the other, the only logical conclusion to come to regarding Paul’s confusing words is this:
Ephesus and Corinth were struggling with men being drunk and showing poor judgment. People were babbling incoherently, pretending to be speaking foreign languages and making themselves a mockery to non-believers. Wealthy widows, unlearned in the Law and the Prophets, were using their wealth (displayed in dress and jewelry) and their ancestry (endless genealogies) to obtain positions of authority in the church and then were teaching false doctrine and fables, leading people astray.
Paul was giving specific instructions to the members of the churches of Ephesus and Corinth at that time to have their uninstructed women remain silent in church regardless of their social status and wealth in order to avoid having the false teachings of Satan infiltrate the body of Christ. The same rule would apply today for anyone not knowledgeable in the Law and the Prophets, regardless of gender. The bottom line is this: Both men and women are to prophesy, pray, teach, and interpret YHWH’s Word to ALL people of ALL genders and ALL nations.
May you be blessed by this study. Shalom.