“Ordination of Women a Hot Issue Among

Southern Baptists” - 1985

“Judaism Body Says It’ll Accept Women

Rabbis” - 1985

“Women were allowed to teach mixed classes at the 1989 Nashville Jubilee.”

“1990, the elders of the Cahaba Valley Church of Christ in Birmingham, AL announced their decision to gradually include women in roles of leadership.

Female deacons have since been appointed & women lead prayers, serve

communion, & read scriptures.

“Bering Drive Church of Christ in Houston, in 1992, women are

leading prayers, reading scriptures, and waiting on the

Lord’s table in the regular worship of the church.”

“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.”

1 Cor. 14:34-35

I Cor. 14:34-35 - 2 Main Points of Context

1. (vv. 11-19) understanding,

2. And…(v. 22-40) order

I Cor. 14:34-35 - Directions are Given...

…to tongue speakers, vv. 23, 27-28

…to prophets, vv. 29-33

…to women, v. 34-36

I Cor. 14:34-35 - The Facts Were...

• these women had husbands,

Not speaking to single women

• who could answer their questions

Not speaking to wives of non-members or new Christians

Conclusion?

These were the wives of the prophets

Paul and the Holy Spirit were NOT speaking to ALL women in ALL times and in ALL churches

Aug ‘66 Searching the Scriptures - J.T. Smith

“It seems to me from the context that there are some SPECIFIC women under consideration, and not all women who are Christians…These were women who had husbands (1 Cor. 14:35). It would not, then, apply to women who did not have husbands.”

Sept ‘65 Searching the Scriptures - W. Hogland

“Uninspired women in apostolic times were the wives of inspired prophets. They were told to ‘ask their husbands at home’ rather than causing a disturbance in the assemblies. This cannot apply to all women for three reasons...

First, some women have no husbands. Second, some are married to men who are not even in the church. Third, some of the women in the church today know much more than their husbands! This rule was given to a special group of uninspired women in apostolic times. God’s universal law for women both in apostolic times and now is given in our first scripture, 1 Tim. 2.”

1954 - Zerr Bible Commentary -1 Cor. 14:34

“If the reader has carefully followed the teaching that has been offered from chapter 12:1 down to this verse he will see that it has nothing to do with the subject of ‘woman’s duties and privileges in the church,’ as that is considered today. The extremists on that question will ignore all of the context, and settle upon this one passage, because they think it justifies their unholy restrictions against a part of the body of Christ...

Such a use of the verse is as gross a perversion as any sectarian ever committed against Acts 2:38. Notice it says your women, which shows it was not said to women in general, but to the wives of the gifted men. The perversionists try to dodge this by saying the pronoun refers to the church as a whole. That will not do for the next verse shows these women had husbands, so the attempt at perversion fails again.”

Silence? Hardly!

Subjection Under the Law...

Then the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, … came near; and these are the names of

his daughters: Mahlah, Noah and Hoglah and Milcah and Tirzah.

2. They stood before Moses and before Eleazar the priest and before the leaders and all the

congregation, at the doorway of the tent of meeting, saying,

3. "Our father died in the wilderness…, 5. So Moses brought their case before the LORD.

6. Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,7. "The daughters of Zelophehad are right in their

statements.

Num. 27:1-7

Silence? Hardly!

D. of Zelophehad spoke in assembly

Subjection Under the Law...

Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that

time.5.  She used to sit under the palm

tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim;

and the sons of Israel came up to her for judgment.

Judges 4:4-5

Silence? Hardly!

D. of Zelophehad spoke in assembly

Deborah prophesied and judged

Subjection Under the Law...

And all the people gathered as one man at the square which was in front of the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the

scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the LORD had given to Israel.

2. Then Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding…

3. He read from it before the square which was in front of the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence

of men and women…

6. Then Ezra blessed the LORD the great God. And all the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands;

then they bowed low and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

Neh. 8:1-2, 3, 6

Silence? Hardly!

D. of Zelophehad spoke in assembly

Deborah prophesied and judged

The women “amen, amened” publicly

Subjection Under the Law...

And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe

of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her

husband seven years after her marriage,

37.  and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the

temple…

Luke 2:36

Silence? Hardly!

D. of Zelophehad spoke in assembly

Deborah prophesied and judged

The women “amened” publicly

Anna prophesied… in silence???

Subjection Under the Law...

was not silence it was orderly submission

to male leadership

1 Cor. 14:34-35 was intended to address a specific problem in the Corinthian church

That specific situation cannot be present today

1 Cor. 14:34-35 is as Applicable to Today as…

•1 Cor. 14:27-30- tongue speaking

• 11:1-16- wearing a veil

• 12:1- giving care to spiritual gifts

• 14:1- desire earnestly spiritual gifts

• John 14-16- receiving the Holy Spirit

The one who believes in his heart that 1 Cor. 14:34-35 forbids a woman to

speak in all churches in all ages must accept his own conclusions…

She cannot say “amen” to truth

She cannot read God’s word aloud

She cannot answer/ask a question

And she cannot confess her faith

Mac…“Before I forget, I wanted to ask you about the last statement you made, ‘This includes not asking a question, not saying “Amen,” and not confessing Christ with the mouth.’ Do you believe that if a woman came forward at the end of a service to be baptized, she could not confess Christ?

Pat Donahue…Not to the group. She should do this privately?”

…email discussion

“Some years ago there was a case near Danville, IN where a woman came forward to be baptized into Christ, and the conscientious but badly confused preacher took her outside the building, away from the assembled church, so that she could confess her faith.” - Robert F. Turner

“This is not in any way related to ‘Women’s Lib’, it is just a fact that traditional interpretations have almost become a creed to many, and they are bound to defend them at all costs. Churches have been divided and constantly disturbed by those who are bent upon making their understanding the law of God. Many repeat the statement ‘let the women keep silent in the church’ who never have taken the time to really delve into the context or the meaning of the words involved.”

- James P. Needham

1 Timothy 2:11-12

“Let a woman quietly receive instruction with entire

submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority

over a man, but to remain quiet.”

So then, what about today?

What about the womans’ role?

The role of men & women is only one part of “the faith”

- 1 Timothy 4:6

Is there another part that you should give heed to ???