This Week's Bible Reading
July 16, 2025
1 Corinthians 14:33-35
King James Version"33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church."
Context:
• God's Nature: Paul explicitly states in 1 Corinthians 14:33, "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." This is a foundational theological statement. God Himself is characterized by order, harmony, and peace. Therefore, anything that reflects God's character should also be orderly and peaceful.
• The Problem in Corinth: The Corinthian church, despite being gifted with many spiritual manifestations, was experiencing significant disorder during their gatherings. It seems people were speaking in tongues simultaneously without interpretation, multiple individuals were prophesying at once, and there might have been general noisy interruptions. This created a chaotic environment that was counterproductive to worship and witness.
• Practical Implications: Paul's instructions throughout the chapter are aimed at curbing this chaos. He provides specific rules:
- Only two or three tongue-speakers per service, one at a time, and only with an interpreter (vv. 27-28).
- Only two or three prophets per service, one at a time, with others weighing what is said (vv. 29-32).
- The "silence" command for women (vv. 34-35) is also interpreted by many as a specific instance of maintaining order and preventing disruptive behavior, rather than an absolute prohibition on all speech.
- The overall exhortation in verse 40: "Let all things be done decently and in order."
Verse 33: "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints."
• Paul asserts that God's character is one of order and peace, not confusion or chaos. This principle should govern all church gatherings. This sets the stage for the specific instructions on conduct that follow, including those concerning women.
Verse 34: "Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law."
• "Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak;" This is the direct command that causes much discussion. The Greek word for "silent" can mean complete silence, or to stop speaking. The exact nature of the "speaking" being prohibited is key to interpretation.
• "but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law." The reference to "obedience" and "the law" further emphasizes a hierarchical structure, often understood in relation to Genesis 3 (the fall and its consequences) or Jewish cultural norms of the time. This points to a concept of submission.
Verse 35: "And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church."
• "And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home:" This gives a specific reason for the silence – a concern for learning and appropriate inquiry. It suggests that women might have been interjecting with questions or comments during the service, potentially disrupting the flow of teaching or prophecy.
• "for it is a shame for women to speak in the church." The word "shame" implies something disgraceful or improper. This highlights the cultural context and how certain behaviors might have been perceived in that society, potentially bringing disrepute to the Christian community.Interpretations and Considerations:
There are several major interpretations of this passage, largely influenced by the context:
• Absolute Prohibition (Traditional/Literal View):
- This view understands "keep silence" as a universal and absolute prohibition against women speaking in any public teaching or authoritative capacity within the church assembly.
- It often emphasizes the "obedience" and "law" references as a divine mandate for women to be subordinate in church leadership roles.
- Those who hold this view may see it as consistent with other passages like 1 Timothy 2:11-14.
- Many argue that Paul is not prohibiting all speaking by women (e.g., singing, praying, prophesying as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 11), but specifically addressing a disorderly form of speaking.
- The chapter is about ordering spiritual gifts. Paul previously commanded tongue-speakers to be silent if there's no interpreter (v. 28) and prophets to be silent if another receives a revelation (v. 30). This suggests the silence for women is in a similar vein – related to the disruptive interjection of questions or noisy chatter during the teaching or prophetic ministry.
- The phrase "if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home" supports this. In that culture, women were often less educated than men and might have been asking questions out loud that disrupted the service.
- "Shame" could refer to the cultural impropriety of women speaking out in a public assembly, which might have been seen as forward or disrespectful.
• Cultural/Situational Specificity:
- This view emphasizes the specific cultural context of Corinth. Greek and Roman societies often had strict norms regarding women's public roles. For Christian women to speak out in ways that defied these norms could have caused scandal and hindered the spread of the gospel.
- Some believers even propose that Paul might be quoting a question or statement from the Corinthian church ("Let your women keep silence...") and then responding to it, though this is less widely accepted.
- A minority of believers suggest that verses 34-35 might be a later interpolation into Paul's letter, arguing that they seem to interrupt the flow of his argument about order in worship and appear to contradict Paul's allowance for women to pray and prophesy in 1 Corinthians 11. However, the vast majority of ancient manuscripts include these verses, making this a less common scholarly position.
Key Takeaways of 1 Corinthians 14:33-35:
• Context of Gifts: The verses are part of a larger discussion about the proper use and regulation of spiritual gifts in public worship.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Paul's instructions often take into account the cultural norms of the time to avoid bringing disrepute to the Christian message.
• Ongoing Debate: It's important to acknowledge that this passage continues to be interpreted in different ways within Christian traditions, with implications for discussions on women's roles in church leadership and public ministry.