The Role of Women in the Church

Session 14 Preparation Questions - Women and Silence during the Assembly. (Part 1)

Read I Corinthians 14:34, 35. Read I Corinthians 14 entirely to provide a context for this Session. Consider the following questions.

1. Many have commented that I Corinthians 14:34, 35 seems out of place in the context of the remainder of the chapter. What do you think?
2. In I Corinthians 14:26 is Paul speaking of how things should be or how things actually are in the Corinthians church?
3. How would you describe the problem, as Paul describes it in I Corinthians 14, which leads up to Paul’s injunction regarding women in 14:34, 35?
4. The Greek words aner and gyne are once again used in this passage. Is Paul speaking of men and women or husbands and wives?
5. Is the concept of silence initially discussed in I Corinthians 14 in relation to women?
6. How do you reconcile Paul’s injunction against women speaking with I Corinthians 11:5?
7. Would a prophecy spoken by a woman during a worship service or other public assembly during New Testament times have been considered usurping authority from men? If so, why? If not, why not?
8. To what “Law” is Paul referring in 14:34?
9. If Christ is the end of the Law (Romans 10:4), how do you interpret Paul’s referral to the Law?
10. The Greek work laleo, which is translated “speak” in 14:34, is also used in 14:28. Does this influence your interpretation of 14:34, 35?
11. What do you think Paul means when he instructs the women to “keep silent”? Does he mean not to open their mouths at all in the churches?
12. Do you believe that Paul is addressing a specific heresy in this passage (as he may be addressing in I Timothy 2:8 – 15?