1 Corinthians 14:34-35 :: Contemporary English Version (CEV)
34 The women must not be allowed to speak. They must keep quiet and listen, as the Law of Moses teaches.
35 If there is something they want to know, they can ask their husbands when they get home. It is disgraceful for women to speak in church.
1 Corinthians 14:34-35 :: Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)
34 Your women in the assemblies let them be silent, for it hath not been permitted to them to speak, but to be subject, as also the law saith;
35 and if they wish to learn anything, at home their own husbands let them question, for it is a shame to women to speak in an assembly.
Does this mean that women should not speak in church services today? It is clear from 11:5 that women prayed and prophesied in public worship.
1 Corinthians 11:5 :: King James Version (KJV)
5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
It is also clear in Chapters 12-14 that women are given spiritual gifts and are encouraged to exercise them in the body of Christ. Women have much to contribute and can participate in worship services.
Further study reveals, in the Corinthian culture, women were not allowed to confront men in public. Apparently some of the women who had become Christians thought their Christian freedom gave them the right to question the men in public worship. This was causing division in the church. In addition, women of that day did not receive formal religious education, as did the men. Women may have been raising questions in the worship services that could have been answered at home without disrupting the services. I feel Apostle Paul was merely asking the women not to flaunt their Christian freedom during worship. The purpose of Apostle Paul’s words was to promote unity, NOT to teach about women’s roles in the church.
Christianity enhanced the role of women. Faith in Christ transcends these differences and makes all believers one in Christ. This is confirmed in Paul’s letter to the Church at Galatia in the following Chapter and verse:
