1 Corinthians 14:34-35 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.
In the context of verse 34, when the Bible says, “let your women keep silence in the churches,” it is in regards to speaking in tongues. It has nothing to do with women keeping silent at a business meeting. A woman, like everyone else, is allowed to testify in church.[1] A woman is allowed to sing in church.[2] There are women in the New Testament that prophesy, though not in the assembly.[3] Although, 1 Corinthians 11:5 implies that a woman might prophesy in church, “every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoreth her head”.
When it comes to learning anything from the tongues or prophesying that goes on in the church, the woman is to be under the teaching authority of her husband. Of course, there are exceptions: What about if she’s married to an unsaved man? What if she is single? What if her husband doesn’t know his Bible or is less spiritual? That is why a pastor, a man, is over the congregation. But all things being what they should be, the rule is the woman is to be in subjection to the man, the man in subjection to Christ, and Christ in subjection to the Father.[4] The woman is never to usurp the teaching and pastoral position over the man in church.[5] She is to learn in silence with all subjection.[6]
[1] Psalm 107:2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
[2] Psalm 150:6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
[3] Acts 21:9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
[4] 1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
[5] 1 Timothy 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
[6] 1 Timothy 2:11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
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