Does the Bible Really Command That Women be Silent in Church?

Reading 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. 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.”

The principle set forth in the New Testament that women keep silence in church is based on what was already taught in the Old Testament. For example, the Lord appointed that only men serve as ministers of the Tabernacle. That reflects a timeless principle.

But should women be totally silent in church? If not, where is the boundary that should not be crossed?

The Greek word “sigao” (see-gah’-o) which is translated as “silence” in 1 Corinthians 14:34 is also used a few times in the preceding verses of 1 Corinthians chapter 14 in a way that pertains to men as well as in certain situations.

1 Corinthians 14:27-33: “If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence (sigao) in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace (that is sigao again in the Greek). For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”

It is noteworthy that Pentecostals, Charismatics, Word of Faith people, and New Apostolic Reformation people typically believe it is okay for women to lead in church and to preach in church. It is no wonder that they’d be out of line with the commandments of the Lord when it comes to improper speaking for women in church when they are out of line with the commandments of the Lord when it comes to the use of tongues and basic order in church. Tongues in the Bible are actual languages used for communication rather than nonsense babbling. Nonsense babbling in private is at best pointless. Nonsense babbling in public makes one look insane. Nonsense babbling at a public meeting certainly violates basic principles of order and common decency. More than one person speaking out loud at once in a meeting also violates basic principles of order and common decency.

1 Timothy 2:11-14 says: “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve.And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.”

The word which is translated as “silence” in both 1 Timothy 2:11 and 1 Timothy 2:12 is “hēsychia” (hay-soo-khee’-ah) in the Greek text. Though this does not mean the exact same thing as “sigao”, the two words are related. While “sigao” refers to refraining from talking, “hēsychia” refers to not being unruly or not meddlesome or tranquil.

It is also seen in 1 Timothy chapter 2 that the Apostle Paul appealed to principles of creation which were operating from the very beginning to demonstrate why he would not suffer a woman to teach nor to usurp authority over the man. The Bible shouldn’t be interpreted through the lens of modern culture. Many cultures now are highly corrupted by Feminism. Feminism is evil.

A faithful church doesn’t enable women to teach before the church or to boss men around at all. The Apostles’ instructions in this matter, as well as in several other matters, actually were against the norm of the culture at the time. It is common knowledge that the Paganism which prevailed in the Roman world was often very friendly towards female religious authority in Pagan Temples.

The Bible obviously teaches that both leading and teaching the church congregation are designated for men. It does not teach that a woman’s voice should never be heard at all during the church meeting under every circumstance. There is no warrant to conclude that females should not be allowed to sing along with the congregation.

Women should be silent in church to whatever extent necessary in order to not teach any man nor exercise authority over any man. They should also not violate the basic principles of order and common decency which everyone should honor.

Women are usurping authority in church when they are openly called pastors, giving sermons before the congregation and/or teaching Sunday school classes with men in them. This is opposing God’s appointed order. Such opposition also happens when women are leading the congregation in prayer, making announcements, giving the congregation instructions in opening the meeting, giving directions during the meeting, and by dismissing the congregation. It also happens when women lead the singing- especially when they give mini-messages between the songs. It happens as well when women try to teach, rebuke, and/or lecture men in their church before a church meeting, after a church meeting, or at any other time. This is just as wrong as someone in the military doing such things to someone who is of a higher rank than they are.

There are ways to inform others of things, and to make requests of others, that don’t involve commanding them and/or lecturing them. Many, through their own self-appointment, command and lecture others as if they are higher ranking than them in aspects of life in which they are really not. This is sin. Many Christian women sin in this manner in their dealings with Christian men. Many Christian men sin by enabling females who are supposed to be under their authority in this behavior rather than putting their foot down and stopping it.

If a woman has good reason to believe that a man in her church really needs to be rebuked, then the matter should be taken to the church’s leadership so they can deal with it. If the leadership justifies anyone’s evident wickedness and/or doesn’t take the necessary action to deal with evident wickedness pertaining to their congregation, then that in itself is reason to leave the church- as it is when women are teaching the congregation and/or acting authoritative over it.