Are women allowed to speak in church/assemblies?
Does Paul allowed women to speak for God?We turn to 1 Corinthians to prove and disprove the case. Who has missed something?
1 Corinthians 11
v5. But every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonoreth her head; for it is one and the same thing as if she were shaven.沒有耶和華﹐誰能做得對?
Paul tells us that every woman would pray, a speech making act.
Paul tells us that every woman who prophesy should have her head covered/veiled.
So prophesy could be uttered through women. There are prophetess.
And prophetesses speak up amongst the people. Speech is involved. For the Lord. For His people.
Paul found it natural that women would speak up for the Lord and for the church.
In this same letter/book that people use to show that Paul does not allow women to speak up at all in church, Paul clearly tells us that it is normal for women to speak up in and outside churches/assemblies.
Case settled?
Luke 11
v2. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Father, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come.Christ, our Lord taught us to pray with words and with speech.
We are to pray as speaking to the Father, ABBA.
No body speak to his father without speech all the time.
So, prayer requires the use of words, speech and mouth.
The person who prays speaks up.
Luke 18
v10. Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.In this parable, we know that these 2 men prayed in the temple with speech. They spoke up. They did not just pray in the spirit, and in quietness.
From this we know that praying involves the use of speech.
We should also pray out aloud. This is a witness, and can be edification.
Amos 3
v8. The lion hath roared; who will not fear? The Lord Jehovah hath spoken; who can but prophesy?God is sovereign. He has already told of the ordination of His creation.
What He proclaimed is the law. No need for explanation.
Men and His creation can only repeat what was said.
None else can take initiation, deciding how things will be.
Nobody can teach, if the Lord has not purposed anything to be taught.
It is just plainly given.
1 Corinthians 14
v3. But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men edification, and exhortation, and consolation.Prophesies ought to be from God. It is not the same as teaching. It is not about learning, but about receiving.
Prophesy is proclaimation, transmission.
1 Corinthians 14
v14. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.Here again, Paul lets us know that praying requires speech; speech of tongue.
1 Corinthians 14
v39. Wherefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.Prophesy is not something done away with. We are told to desire prophesy.
Do not forbid speaking in tongues in prayers.
What can you learn if no sound is ever made? What can you possibly hear?
1 Corinthians 14
v34. let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law.
v35. And if they would learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is shameful for a woman to speak in the church.No, back to this verse about forbiding women to speak.
Keeping silence is not the same as not speaking at all. It is about keeping order.
The fact that I do not shout, do not murmur, do not lie, do not chatter, does not mean I do not speak up when it is time for me to speak.
The phrases (the women) and (them) refers to a particular group of women. It is not the same as all women or every woman.
v35 continues with (they) this particular group.
Their speech is for learning, via discussion, via dialogue? Then they can ask their husbands at home. Not in church. Not to disturb others in the public.
Notice also that these women have husbands. Not all female Christians already have husbands. Again, this is a sign that the 2 verses refers to a particular group of women.
This speaking in the church has no mentioning of being in subjection to men, to leaders of the church. This carries an overtone of not subjecting oneself to leadership and authority and order set down by God.
Free speech is not ordained to be practiced by women, the same as uncovered heads be lawful to women.
Here is the lipmus test of subjection to the authority of God, and men - Do they veil their heads when speaking in church? What sign is used to show respect of the law and authority?
How can somebody follow all things if one thing is not followed?
Do things according to the life giving Word, and it will truly set you free. And you will be free indeed.
Titus 2
v3. that aged women likewise be reverent in demeanor, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good;Women can teach, according to Paul.
But let those with much experience help those who are lacking experience. Teach that which is good.
Slandering is something to do with speech. All are to abstain from such. Be Holy for God is Holy.
1 Timothy 2
v12. But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness.A translation mistake in the Chinese Ho-ho version here. The term is to teach教導 rather than to preach講道.
1Ti 2v11 女人要沉靜學道, 一味的順服.
1Ti 2v12 我不許女人講道, 也不許他轄管男人, 只要沉靜.
1Ti 2v13 因為先造的是亞當, 後造的是夏娃.Our aged, experienced sisters in Christ may preach the Word of God 講道, which is prophesy. (1 Cor 11v5)
講道Preaching is proclamation of the truth of God, relating the authority of the Most High. The preacher is the mouthpiece of God/The Spirit.
教導Teaching is feeding ideas and methods; directly exercising authority over the learners/students/disciples.This verse comes back to subjection順服. Not submission, as some modern verses put it. 順服Subjection is a term of military discipline. There is not room for choice. Submission is choice by free will, lowering voluntarily at a time.
There is no choice of position/hierarchy within position/hierarchy set by God. (1Ti 2v13)
沉靜Quietness is the opposite term to speaking up. The priority for women is not leadership with words in speech. Let the teaching be done by the brothers first.
Answering errancy allegation || Examining Jewish geneaology from Exodus Ch 1 ||
A Failed Prophesy on Tyre? || Another Failed Prophesy on Tyre? ||
Why 4 Gospels? || Hebrew Matthew and document Q || Census in Luke Ch 2 ( Anachronism? ) ||
Similarity warrants Recognition and Unity? || Freewill and pre-destination ||
Dynamic Equivalence and Propitiation ||Photography || Photo Gallery || Portrait Gallery || Architecture ||
Design Consultancy || Preacher || Herbalist || Cool Sites ||