This week in my Theology class, the topic of study is the role of women in the church. While writing my paper I came across a section that I have noticed has proven to be quite controversial between believers and non-believers alike. In 1 Corinthians 14:33-36 it states: For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. 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. Many have criticized the Bible accusing it of being discriminatory toward women especially through this section. They have criticized it of not allowing women to speak in formal gatherings, but in fact this is directly contradictory to chapter 11 verse 5 and 13 of 1 Corinthians as well, since we see here that the woman is quite capable of prayer. As a matter of fact, the reason Paul addresses this is because in the ancient times, women of Corinth would shout and cry incessantly and without meaning or order as a necessary part of pagan practices. Therefore, the Apostle addresses this in these 3 verses is to suppress these nonsensical utterances but allow for the proper prayer and prophecy women were permitted to do in the church. Above I mentioned that many have considered the Bible to be discriminatory toward the above mentioned as well as other areas. This could not be further from the truth for these reasons! 1.) The Old Testament times were socially patriarchal. 2.) Christ was exceptionally warming to women in His ministry on earth. 3.) Women were the ones who experienced as witnesses the birth, crucifixion, burial, and resurrection, of Jesus Christ as well as the appointed task of passing on the word of His resurrection to the male disciples. 4.) As the disciples were wary of a Samaritan woman at the well and avoided her due to cultural boundaries, Christ confronted her and inquired of her spiritually. Through the Scripture we see these humanistic social and cultural boundaries constantly being broken by Christ during His time on earth. In a time when women were not as treasured, Christ reached out and extended Himself to them. Although this was brief I hope it cleared some things up for any of you if you had reservations of this particular scripture.
Posted on: Sun, 27 Oct 2013 07:26:21 +0000