1 Corinthians 14:34-40

                                                 1 Corinthians 14:34-40

As in all the churches of the saints, 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.  If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.  Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached?  If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.  If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.  So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.  But all things should be done decently and in order.

Submission is an important part of living according to Word of God.  We are to always be submissive to the Word and will God.  We are also called to recognize the authorities that God establishes over us and be submissive to them.  In general, we are called to submit to one another in the sense of giving preference to one another and not insisting on our own preferences.  Paul calls both the men and the women of the church in Corinth to walk in submission.

 

SUBMISSION IN SILENCE OF WOMEN: Paul makes it clear that women should demonstrate submission in the context of the public meeting of the church by keeping silent.  The context here is about order in the public gatherings of the church.  The teaching in the church should be done by the male leader of the church.  The fact that Paul recognized that women should learn in the context of the church was radical in the context of his day.  Women were not given education in Paul’s day.  Due to this lack of education, the women in the church could be disruptive by speaking during the teaching sessions, asking for clarification, interrupting the flow of the speaker’s message, or asking questions of their husbands during the service.  This simultaneous speaking inhibited learning and caused disorder in the church.  Paul instructs the women to preserve order by keeping quiet during the service and asking their questions in private instead of during the middle of the service.

 

SUBMISSION IN SPEAKING OF MEN: The men who did the teaching were also called to be submissive to the authority that Paul had been given by God.  His teaching on the subject of spiritual gifts and order in the church were to be received and respected.  Those who did not submit to Paul’s authoritative teaching were to be rejected as teachers.  The men who speak and teach in the church must teach according to the principles established in God’s Word.  Men do not have the authority to speak whatever they want.  Submission to Scripture is a prerequisite for any teacher.  Paul summarizes his teaching by restating the priority of prophecy over tongues but also does not want to prohibit tongues all together.  However, all teaching and speaking must be done in an orderly fashion.

 

APPLICATION: Always walk in submission to the Word of God in every area of our lives no matter what the secular culture around us promotes or accepts.  Keep the public meetings of the church in an orderly fashion.  

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