Should Women Teach or stay silent in Church? -TRUTH UNFOLD
First, let us look at the prophecies given and word of God. On the day of Pentecost, there were both men and women in the upper room who met as usual to pray; 120 in count, (Act 1:14). While in prayer ALL the (men AND women) were filled with great power and prophesied and did great works by the Holy Ghost. But why is there so many records of the men and what they did and said, but there is not one record in the bible concerned the words and deeds of the women who were filled in the upper-room also? Good question.
God said in Joel 2:28, “and it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,...vs.29 and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit.”
It clearly says that the WOMEN WILL prophesy, 1 Corinthians 11:5, “but every WOMAN that pray or prophesy; but let us look deeper at 1Corinthians 14:4, “but the one who prophesies builds up the church.”
Note that is clearly says that those who prophesy builds up the church. How can the women prophesy to build up the church if they are silence in the Church? Silence means no verbal expression at all.
But let us look even further in Titus 2:3; it says, “the aged WOMEN likewise……not given to much wine, teachers of good things; Vs.4, “that THEY MAY TEACH the young women.”
How can the elderly women teach the younger women (the sisters in the church) when they should keep silence? The scripture is talking about the younger women in the church, which is not the building but the body of people, nevertheless, let us look into another scripture.
1Corinthians 12:28, clearly says, “and God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles...”Ephesians 4:11 “He gave some…and Teachers.” In 1 Corinthians 12:11, it says, “God divided gifts to every person (man and women) severally as He will.” In relationship to that, the same Paul said in Galatians 3:28, “there is neither male nor female for you are all one in Christ Jesus”. Also in Romans 2:11, “For God does not show partiality. (ISV). After all, that Paul taught us about God's gift for men and women and his none preferential working through both genders.
With all these faithful sayings of Paul, he began exhorting in a way that sounds contrary to what he believed when he said, “for it is a shame for women to speak in the church (1Corinthians 14:35) or teach or preach; forgetting the there is no gender in God’s sight when it pertains to the things of God. The statement sounds like a degrading statement to women, and places women in a position of inferiority, where they have no voice of opinion, or verbal right in the church to at least voice their thoughts.
So the intriguing question is, is Paul contradicting himself? Or were these words added by the bible translators or is there a misunderstanding in the motive of Paul? Some scholars have said it was added because this verse is not found in the original text of the bible. Again, on the day of Pentecost, there were men and women in the upper room, 120 in count, (Act 1:14). ALL, both (men and women) were filled with power and prophesied and did great works by the Holy Ghost; yet there no record in the bible concerned the works of the women who were filled in the upper-room. So what happened?
Neither Jesus or apostle and prophet ever place such yoke of bondage or a mark of inferiority upon women, restricting them from the verbally manifested ministries in the church; or right to give the slightest verbal assistance or opinion. This confirms Romans 2:11, “for there is no respect of persons with God.“ It would then be bias to say that God gave women all the gifts mentioned in the New Testament except the gifts that are verbally manifested just because Adam was first and the woman fell first, (1Ti 2:13).
Biblical Explanation
First of all, the women were causing confusion in the Church in 1 Co 14. Paul had to put restriction order in the Church. Look carefully where Paul said, “Let YOUR women (that is the Corinthian women, not all women on earth) keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto THEM (the Corinthian women) to speak.” Because of educational privilege, when the church met the women would shout across the room and ask their husbands the meaning of whatever was being preached. This disturbed the service. Paul was therefore instructing that during the service, "Women should keep quiet in the church and if they have anything to ask their husbands, wait until they get home.
In these passages Paul was also expressing his own personal opinion, not as a law but as a guideline to put order in the churches. He said, I (not God, I) do not allow a woman to teach;” his person preference as an Apostle, (1Ti 2:12). The Corinthian Church was lacking order as recorded in 1Co 11:34 “the rest will I set in order,” 1Co 14:40, “Let all things be done decently and in order.”
Also, women were not counted as valuable as men in those days and were always looked down on in the biblical times, therefore they were not allowed the privilege as men, and this is evident in Israel’s history. Nevertheless, there are many references in the bible where women ruled and dominated in ministry.
Women have served and taught men in the New Testament
Philip’s four daughters were prophetesses (21:8–9). A prophet speaks God’s word. Is it reasonable to believe that Philip’s daughters were given the gift of prophecy and then forbidden to speak? That would not make sense.
Pheobe (Romans 16:1-2): she was a deaconess of the church in Cenchrea, who was loved by Paul and many other Christians for the help she gave. With such influence, it would be a difficult to say that this woman fulfilled her important position of leadership without ever speaking in the church!
Priscilla (Acts 18:26): Priscilla is sometimes listed ahead of Aquila when their names come up. This has led some to think that of the two, she was the primary teacher. At any rate, we see here a woman in a very prominent position of teaching.(Other references to Priscilla and Aquila are Acts 18:2, 18; Romans 16:3, and I Corinthians 16:19).
Euodia and Syntyche (Philippians 4:2-3): They were very influential in the church at Philippi and had a valuable ministry with Paul,
Junia (Romans 16:7): Paul sends greetings to Andronicus and Junia, his "fellow-prisoners" who were highly recognized among the apostles. Junia is a woman's name.
Lydia, in Acts 16, was the first convert in Europe and hosted the church at Philipp
Dorcas was called a disciple, a helper of widows and the poor
Also Phoebe, Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa and many others served in the ministry.
Conclusion
Women took as large a role in the early Church leadership (Acts 1:12-14, 18:24-26, 21:7-9, Romans 16:1-16); so women today should be able to serve the Church in whatever positions they are qualified for.
First, let us look at the prophecies given and word of God. On the day of Pentecost, there were both men and women in the upper room who met as usual to pray; 120 in count, (Act 1:14). While in prayer ALL the (men AND women) were filled with great power and prophesied and did great works by the Holy Ghost. But why is there so many records of the men and what they did and said, but there is not one record in the bible concerned the words and deeds of the women who were filled in the upper-room also? Good question.
God said in Joel 2:28, “and it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,...vs.29 and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit.”
It clearly says that the WOMEN WILL prophesy, 1 Corinthians 11:5, “but every WOMAN that pray or prophesy; but let us look deeper at 1Corinthians 14:4, “but the one who prophesies builds up the church.”
Note that is clearly says that those who prophesy builds up the church. How can the women prophesy to build up the church if they are silence in the Church? Silence means no verbal expression at all.
But let us look even further in Titus 2:3; it says, “the aged WOMEN likewise……not given to much wine, teachers of good things; Vs.4, “that THEY MAY TEACH the young women.”
How can the elderly women teach the younger women (the sisters in the church) when they should keep silence? The scripture is talking about the younger women in the church, which is not the building but the body of people, nevertheless, let us look into another scripture.
1Corinthians 12:28, clearly says, “and God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles...”Ephesians 4:11 “He gave some…and Teachers.” In 1 Corinthians 12:11, it says, “God divided gifts to every person (man and women) severally as He will.” In relationship to that, the same Paul said in Galatians 3:28, “there is neither male nor female for you are all one in Christ Jesus”. Also in Romans 2:11, “For God does not show partiality. (ISV). After all, that Paul taught us about God's gift for men and women and his none preferential working through both genders.
With all these faithful sayings of Paul, he began exhorting in a way that sounds contrary to what he believed when he said, “for it is a shame for women to speak in the church (1Corinthians 14:35) or teach or preach; forgetting the there is no gender in God’s sight when it pertains to the things of God. The statement sounds like a degrading statement to women, and places women in a position of inferiority, where they have no voice of opinion, or verbal right in the church to at least voice their thoughts.
So the intriguing question is, is Paul contradicting himself? Or were these words added by the bible translators or is there a misunderstanding in the motive of Paul? Some scholars have said it was added because this verse is not found in the original text of the bible. Again, on the day of Pentecost, there were men and women in the upper room, 120 in count, (Act 1:14). ALL, both (men and women) were filled with power and prophesied and did great works by the Holy Ghost; yet there no record in the bible concerned the works of the women who were filled in the upper-room. So what happened?
Neither Jesus or apostle and prophet ever place such yoke of bondage or a mark of inferiority upon women, restricting them from the verbally manifested ministries in the church; or right to give the slightest verbal assistance or opinion. This confirms Romans 2:11, “for there is no respect of persons with God.“ It would then be bias to say that God gave women all the gifts mentioned in the New Testament except the gifts that are verbally manifested just because Adam was first and the woman fell first, (1Ti 2:13).
Biblical Explanation
First of all, the women were causing confusion in the Church in 1 Co 14. Paul had to put restriction order in the Church. Look carefully where Paul said, “Let YOUR women (that is the Corinthian women, not all women on earth) keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto THEM (the Corinthian women) to speak.” Because of educational privilege, when the church met the women would shout across the room and ask their husbands the meaning of whatever was being preached. This disturbed the service. Paul was therefore instructing that during the service, "Women should keep quiet in the church and if they have anything to ask their husbands, wait until they get home.
In these passages Paul was also expressing his own personal opinion, not as a law but as a guideline to put order in the churches. He said, I (not God, I) do not allow a woman to teach;” his person preference as an Apostle, (1Ti 2:12). The Corinthian Church was lacking order as recorded in 1Co 11:34 “the rest will I set in order,” 1Co 14:40, “Let all things be done decently and in order.”
Also, women were not counted as valuable as men in those days and were always looked down on in the biblical times, therefore they were not allowed the privilege as men, and this is evident in Israel’s history. Nevertheless, there are many references in the bible where women ruled and dominated in ministry.
Women have served and taught men in the New Testament
Philip’s four daughters were prophetesses (21:8–9). A prophet speaks God’s word. Is it reasonable to believe that Philip’s daughters were given the gift of prophecy and then forbidden to speak? That would not make sense.
Pheobe (Romans 16:1-2): she was a deaconess of the church in Cenchrea, who was loved by Paul and many other Christians for the help she gave. With such influence, it would be a difficult to say that this woman fulfilled her important position of leadership without ever speaking in the church!
Priscilla (Acts 18:26): Priscilla is sometimes listed ahead of Aquila when their names come up. This has led some to think that of the two, she was the primary teacher. At any rate, we see here a woman in a very prominent position of teaching.(Other references to Priscilla and Aquila are Acts 18:2, 18; Romans 16:3, and I Corinthians 16:19).
Euodia and Syntyche (Philippians 4:2-3): They were very influential in the church at Philippi and had a valuable ministry with Paul,
Junia (Romans 16:7): Paul sends greetings to Andronicus and Junia, his "fellow-prisoners" who were highly recognized among the apostles. Junia is a woman's name.
Lydia, in Acts 16, was the first convert in Europe and hosted the church at Philipp
Dorcas was called a disciple, a helper of widows and the poor
Also Phoebe, Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa and many others served in the ministry.
Conclusion
Women took as large a role in the early Church leadership (Acts 1:12-14, 18:24-26, 21:7-9, Romans 16:1-16); so women today should be able to serve the Church in whatever positions they are qualified for.