1 Corinthians 14:34-35 NKJV
“34Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. 35And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.”
This (above) is a
difficult passage to understand in light of the other teachings in the New
Testament on Spiritual gifts and ministries. So, I am going to share with you a
writing the Lord gave me on this subject in August of 2019 which shares the
same title as another writing in March of this year.
Women in Ministry
Jesus’ Treatment of
Women
As far as I know, from what I read in the New Testament,
Jesus always treated women with high honor and respect. He never talked down to
a woman or treated any woman as though she was less valuable than a man, with
maybe one exception.
As recorded in Matthew 15:21-28, it appears that Jesus’
seemingly harsh words to a Gentile woman were not meant in unkindness, but that
they were meant to test her faith, and to lead her to stand up for what she
believed, too. And then he honored her for her faith, which he said was “great
faith.”
And when other men took advantage of women, for evil
purposes, or when they mocked or criticized them, Jesus stood up for the women,
and he protected them. And he cared about their needs, and he ministered to
them, and he honored their faith. And, if he did rebuke them, he was loving and
gentle in his rebuke. He was always tender with them, compassionate and loving.
And he used women to share the gospel with men, too.
[John 8:1-11; Luke 7:36-50; Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 5:25-34;
Luke 10:38-42; John 2:1-11; John 4:1-42; John 20:11-18.]
In fact, In Luke 7 we read that a Pharisee invited Jesus to
eat with him at his house. When a woman who had a reputation heard he was
there, she came there and she anointed his feet with ointment, and wet them
with her tears, and wiped them with her hair, and caressed them with her
kisses.
When the Pharisee disapproved of the woman, Jesus rebuked
him. But what he said to the Pharisee was for the encouragement of the woman,
as well. For, what Jesus said to the Pharisee is that everything that he should
have done for Jesus, but did not do, the woman did do. For, he said, “she loved
much.” And, he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
And we read in Luke 8:1-3 that some women even traveled with
Jesus and the disciples, too, and that they helped provide for Jesus’ and the
disciples’ needs out of their own means.
I am assuming that the women made things which they sold for
money, and that out of their earnings that they helped provide for Jesus and
his disciples in the work of the ministry. So, they were co-laborers with Jesus
and with his twelve male disciples in the ministry.
Your Daughters Shall
Prophesy
And, when the Scriptures teach on the gifts of the Spirit,
they do not differentiate between men and women, i.e. that some gifts are not
for women. In fact, in Acts 2:17-18 we read:
“And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams;
even on my male servants and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.”
So, why is it then that we have these teachings in the New
Testament that sound as though women are to always remain silent, that they are
not to speak in the gatherings of the church, without exception? (1 Corinthians
14:34-35; 1 Timothy 2:11-12). Doesn’t that seem contradictory to how Jesus
treated women? And isn’t it contradictory to the passage in Acts 2, and to
other New Testament scriptures that speak of women prophesying?
And why is it that so many church congregations, at least
here in America, do not allow their women to prophecy (preach) in their
gatherings? And some pastors treat women as though they are dirt under their
feet for them to walk on? For, Jesus never treated a woman like that. He valued
women, and he used women in ministry, and he even sent women out to share the
gospel with men. And the Holy Spirit of God gifted women to prophesy. So, why
would God then turn around and put the smack down on women?
And, why, then would the Scriptures talk about how we are
all one body in Christ, and that we are all necessary, and that one part should
not say to another, “We have no need of you!”? And why would it teach that the
body grows and builds itself up in love and in the faith as “each part” does
its work? And then tell our women that their part, which God gave to them, and
for which he gifted them, is not permitted? Is the church then not suppressing
the gifts of women?
How can we resolve these seeming contradictions? Is it
possible that these passages on the silence of women in the church can have
another plausible explanation other than the complete and total suppression of
the gift of prophecy among the women in the church? And, if so, what might that
be?
For, women obviously prophesied in New Testament times (See:
Luke 2:36; Acts 2:17; Acts 21:9; 1 Corinthians 11:5). So, how are we to
understand this restriction of the silence of women in the church if God poured
out his Spirit on both men and women so that they could prophesy, and we have
recorded in the New Testament that there were indeed women who did prophesy?
What is the context? What is the purpose of the restriction?
The Context Reveals
Well, the context of 1 Corinthians 14 is that of teaching on
spiritual gifts, teaching on love, and instructions regarding the misuse of the
gifts and the right way in which the gifts are to be used, and regarding their
purpose, too. So, this is in the context of 1 Corinthians 12 and 13, also.
And it is in 1 Corinthians 12 where we are taught that each
body part is necessary, and that we are not to say to another part of the body
that we have no need of him or of her. And it is God who decides who gets what
part, too. And it is the Holy Spirit who assigns the gifts.
And, here in 1 Corinthians 14 we are told first off to
pursue love, and to earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that we
would prophesy. And the one who prophesies speaks to people for their
upbuilding, consolation and encouragement. The one who prophesies edifies other
believers, for the spiritual growth and advancement of them in the faith. He or
she inspires, cheers, urges, nurtures, promotes and fosters spiritual maturity
and holy walks in the Spirit of God, too, which is consistent with Ephesians
4:15-16.
So, if both women and men are gifted with the gift of
prophecy, and we women are to use the gifts of the Spirit given to us for the
upbuilding and the encouragement of the body of Christ, his church; and if not
one of us is to say to another “We have no need of you,” and if all the parts
are necessary, and women did prophesy in the New Testament, and the body of
Christ is built up in the faith as “each part” does its work, then we have to
conclude that these instructions on the silencing of women have a meaning other
than the absolute silence of women in the church.
Order and Submission
So, again, let’s look at the context. The context has to do
with how gifts are used, and it has to do with the order in which they are
used. And, then let’s look at the wording of the passage, too. For, it all
comes down to submission. It says that a woman, if she has questions regarding
something she wants to learn, that she should ask her husband at home. So,
apparently women were interrupting the order of service to ask questions. And
some of this is definitely cultural to that day and time.
It also appears, by the context, that these women were
usurping authority over the men, for it clearly instructs them that they are to
be in submission to their husbands, and to the leadership of the church, and it
indicates that they were stepping out of that order by speaking in the church
gatherings in a disruptive way. So, these women were out of order in what they
were doing.
And the passage in 1 Timothy 2 supports this, that women are
not to usurp authority over the men, and that they are not to instruct men in
an authoritative manner which would require men to obey them.
So, in conclusion, I believe God has gifted both men and
women in various ways, and that Scripturally both men and women are gifted with
the gift of prophecy (preaching), which is for the edification and
encouragement of the body of Christ and for their strengthening and nurturing
of them in the faith, that they may all reach maturity in Christ Jesus, their
Lord.
I believe Jesus values women highly, that he gifts them in
ministry, and that he calls them to prophesy (preach) the truths of Scriptures
so that the body of Christ might be drawn closer to their Lord in walks of
faith, and so that they may not wander off from the faith to go after what is
false. I also believe that our Lord uses women sometimes in areas usually
assigned to men, but that he does so when so many men are spiritually AWOL, and
they are neglecting their callings (See Luke 7:36-50 as illustrative of this).
Lastly, I believe it all comes down to submission to the
authorities within the church. If women are given permission to speak, and it
is done in proper order, and if it is done in the right way, for the upbuilding
of the body of Christ, then they should be allowed to speak. But they are not
to usurp authority over the men nor to cause a disturbance in the congregation,
and they are not to instruct men in the sense of being over men in authority. But
they are to remain in submission and in proper order, and then they can speak
as they are called upon to speak, as God gifts them to speak.
Have
Thine Own Way, Lord
Words
by Adelaide A. Pollard, 1907
Music
by George C. Stebbins, 1907
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine
own way!
Thou art the potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine
own way!
Search me and try me, Master, today!
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just
now,
As in Thy presence humbly I bow.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine
own way!
Wounded and weary, help me I pray!
Power, all power, surely is Thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine!
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine
own way!
Hold o'er my being absolute sway.
Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z11avpKNLsA
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Women in Ministry
An Original Work / August 4, 2019
Reposted on November
7, 2025 (with slight editing)
Reposted edited
version on June 15, 2026, w/additional introduction
