Woman's Role in the Church

(I Corinthians 11:3-6 NAS)	(I Corinthians 14:34-40 NAS)
But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ. Every man who has something on his head while praying or prophesying, disgraces his head. But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying, disgrace her head . . . However, in the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as the woman originates from the man, so also the man has his birth through the woman; and all things originate from God. Judge for yourself; is it proper for a woman to pray to God with head uncovered? . . .	Let the women keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but let them subject themselves, just as the Law also says. And if they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church. Was it from you that the word of God first went forth? Or has it come to you only? If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment . . . . Therefore, my brethren, and do not forbid to speak in tongues.
In this passage, Paul allows woman to speak out in pray and in prophecy during worship.	Whereas in this passage, is Paul forbidding woman to speak during worship?

There are at least five different perspectives on these two passages.

1. Conservative or Calvinistic View
   • John Calvin found no contradiction between the two passages, I Corinthians 11:3-6 and 14:34-40.
   • In Calvin's opinion, Paul allows women to prophesy only when they cover their heads.
   • His logic is that woman originated from man. Therefore, she is inferior and she is under subjection of man.
   • He defined prayer and prophecy as public leadership and teaching, and the office of teaching is superior role in the church.
   • He claimed that the superior job in the church is for the superior sex. Whereas, the women are inferior and also under subjection of men, therefor, women are prohibited from authority to teach in public.
   • This should sum up as "Calvin was anti-feminist."
2. Liberal View
   • I Corinthians 14:34-36 was not originally written by Apostle Paul, but was interpolated later by Scribes.
3. Compromising View
   • Apostle Paul allows women to pray and to prophesy during worship, but they have to keep silent when they have questions. In order not to disrupt the worship, they have to reserve their questions and asked their husband at home.
   • This theory fails when a woman is not married or a widow who has no husband to ask question at home.
4. Isolated View
   • Apostle Paul was not addressing to all the women in the church, but to only a certain group of women, whom might have disturbing the Corinthians' worship by chattering or questioning in a disorderly manner, to "keep silent."
5. A New Revelation
   • What is the actual meaning behind Paul's writing in I Corinthians 14:34-40?
   • This course is attempting to reconstruct the true meaning behind Paul's writing in I Corinthians 14:34-40 from historical perspective. This study begins in the next topic of Paul and the Corinthians.

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