Woman's Role in the Church
Part I: The Law of Silence
1. The Key in I Corinthians 14:33-40
- At first reading, it appears that the Apostle simply teaches that women are not allowed to speak in the church, that is, they are to have no role in leadership. They are to be subordinated to men (14:34); it is shameful to speak out (14:34). Here, it seems that Paul is at his anti-feminist best. Or we have misunderstood Paul and his writing?
- The key to interpret this passage is the surprising reference to the 'Law' in verse 34.
- From the first historical evidence, we know that there are problems in the Bible translation by scribes and scholars, especially in dealing with women's role.
- From the second historical evidence, women in Paul's ministry were highly praise by the Apostle himself, as we saw in Priscilla who "risked her neck for Paul (Romans 16:4)," who exercised her authority over a respectable preacher Apollos, who also contradicted I Timothy 2:13 which permits no woman to teach or to have authority over men.
- Without the knowledge in the Bible translation problem when it comes to women's role, and the highly praised women in Paul's ministry, the meaning behind I Corinthians 14:33-40 can be easily distorted. To unlock the mystery behind this passage, we need to take one more step further to understand the reference to the Law in verse 34 and Paul's attitude toward the Law.
2. Is there such a Law in the Old Testament Scripture?
- "Let your women keep silence in the churches; for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but to be under obedience, as also saith the Law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home; for it is a shame for women to speak in the church." Is there such a "Law" existed that women should keep silence in the Old Testament Scripture?
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