About Women

  

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

ABOUT WOMEN

1 Cor 14:33-40

As in all the congregations of the saints, 34 women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. 35 If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. 36 Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? 37 If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command. 38 If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored.  39 Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

NIV

This idea about the woman remaining silent in the church was a Jewish law, which meant they were not permitted to ask questions or question the authority of the preacher, or teacher. Certainly, this was a custom that the gospel had to have an influence on change, as the Spirit was poured out on both men and women. It is interesting that Paul already address the fact that women did prophecy in the church, but it would only be a disgrace if they did so without a head covering. Nevertheless, what we find is this command was cultural as in Paul’s letter to Timothy about setting up the church policies in Ephesus where he tells Timothy that women should not teach or have authority over men. Throughout the ages, these types of rules have gone through evolution as has the whole idea of roles of men and women. In our culture today, at least in our country, there is equality in every aspect of our society, or at least there is an endeavor to that end. There may still be some areas that have not yet achieved this perfect equality of the sexes, but for the most part, we think our society and thus the church have reached for equality. There are denominations that have women pastors, elders or hold other prominent positions of leadership. We would have to think that before Christ died for all, that is both men and women, and that the Spirit has been poured on all peoples, and because all are equal in the eyes of God, that he does not show favoritism that both man and woman are equal. However, there is a set of governance in regard to marriage where the man is the head of the household because he is held responsible to God for his family. However, as with the church, we cannot and should not apply this cultural rule for the Corinthian church to the church today. However, there still should be order in all aspects of worship.