Paul has instructed those who speak in tongues to keep silent in the absence of an interpreter (1 Corinthians 14:28). He has also instructed the speaking prophet to be silent when a revelation is given to another prophet (1 Corinthians 14:30). Now he gives a third command for silence, this time to women. The phrase in the churches
shows that Paul still has in view the worship services of the church.
Earlier in his letter, Paul instructed women to keep their heads covered when praying or prophesying (1 Corinthians 11:5, 1 Corinthians 14:13). Why would he give that instruction if women are not allowed to speak at all? There are roughly three ways in which commentators have sought to resolve this difficulty:
In 1 Corinthians 11:1–34 Paul was not referring to worship services but to settings outside the worship service where women may pray and prophesy.
Paul does not command women to be absolutely silent. He only forbids the kind of speaking that puts the woman in a position of authority, thereby contradicting her role of
submission
(1 Corinthians 14:34b). In this context he is forbidding women to judge prophecy (1 Corinthians 14:29) or to ask questions of a prophet (1 Corinthians 14:35). Elsewhere he forbids them to teach, since teaching is also a way of exercising authority (1 Timothy 2:12).In 1 Corinthians 11:1–34 it was not Paul’s aim to instruct women about their role in the worship service. There his focus was on head coverings in worship. But now that he is finally addressing the use of spiritual gifts in the worship service, he shows that public prayer and prophecy do not befit women at all. Women are forbidden not only to ask questions or to teach, but
to speak
(1 Corinthians 14:34–35).
The third explanation has much to commend it. Previously, in discussing the matter of sacrificial meat, Paul also expounded his arguments in a gradual way. First, he reminded the Corinthians of their weaker brothers (1 Corinthians 8:1 – 9:27). Only then did he give an outright warning against idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:1–33). Clearly there were many problems and misconceptions in the Corinthian church, and Paul may have thought it wisest to deal with the issues one by one.
The word submission
has no negative connotation in the Greek. It says nothing of the inherent worth of a person, but rather refers to the role or task that has been assigned to him or her. When Paul writes that the Law
requires women to be in submission, he most probably has in mind Genesis 2:21–23, where it is said that the woman was made after the man, to be his helper. This part of Scripture has already featured twice in the letter (1 Corinthians 6:16; 1 Corinthians 11:8–9). It is used also in 1 Timothy 2:11–15, where we find a parallel instruction regarding women in the church.
34 the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says.