Remaining silent

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1 Corinthians 14. 34 says, "Women should remain silent in the churches.  They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says." (NIV)

I have been asked my opinion about this instruction from Paul.  It has stunned me to silence.  I dare not speak.  May God clarify its application in our lives today.


Comments

John said…
Thankfully DA Carson comes to the rescue with some pretty solid reasoning.

Link to the full lecture here:
http://thegospelcoalition.org/resources/a/order_and_authority

Basically the context seems to suggest that the silence is in regard to the "weighing" of the prophesy being delivered, mentioned in verse 29. This fits well with the imperfect nature of the prophecy(NT style prophecy) alluded to in verses 36-38 and elsewhere in scripture. Verse 39 then would actually encourage women to prophesy as it does in chapter 11, but the weighing of what is said is not to be done by women, so as to maintain order in the church service and follow the Law of the creation account of the differing roles of man and woman.
March 3, 2010 at 7:09 AM
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