Feedback on 1 Corinthians 14:34–35 (Part 1)
(Female written)
Paul acknowledges women deacons and women apostles (Romans 16), so obviously he thought women could teach and preach. In 1 Corinthians 11.5, Paul makes it clear that women do, can, and should speak in churches (Praying and Prophesying).
We know that women were leaders in the ancient synagogue, and there’s no reason to think that Paul would have forbidden such a practice. Pharisees were the liberals, even revolutionaries, when it came to egalitarian practices (as the newest book on Pharisees, which I co-edited with Joseph Sievers, makes clear).
On women leaders in the synagogue, see Bernadette Brooten’s classic study.
Next, 1 Corinthians 14.33b-36, concerns wives (not all women — hence the admonition to ask husbands their questions) and the context suggests speaking in tongues, which Paul does not find particularly helpful. Indeed, the verses may be an interpolation (see notes in the Jewish Annotated New Testament, 2d edition, 2017).
(Male written)
If we keep in mind the context we see in 1 Corinthians 14, Paul’s instructions are centered around 2 things — order and edification. His aim is for order to be maintained for outsiders coming in and the edification of believers worshipping together. Three times he says “be silent.” First to tongue speakers (v 28), second to prophets (v 30) and third to women (v 34).
Must then the prophet or tongue speaker never ever speak after that or sing a song or pray or even say shalom or halleluYah? Keeping in mind “order and edification” and discerning truth with reason and spiritual guidance we know that is not Paul’s intention. As the law states, women are to be submissive and not have authority over men. With this in mind Paul is pointing out that “silence” does not mean to be completely and forever totally hushed. Women can pray (speaking to Yah) and prophesy (Yah speaking through her) as we see in 1 Cor. 11:5 where teaching or instructing or usurping authority are not involved. To me the restriction on asking questions may involve disorder and the authority of the other men (other than her husband). Many questions might be innocent but others could lead to questioning her husband’s authority or the other men. Of course, this may lead to disorder as well.
I firmly believe women singing, reading scripture, praying and prophesying do not involve disorder, teaching or usurping authority.
Context is always so important as well as discerning the writer’s objective.
(Male written)
Written by Apostle Pandao Alex, In Yah’s Ministry: Zambia
(Note: The italicized bracket-parentheses [()] were added for clarification of words and names inserted by S. Smith.)
I am baruk [(blessed)] to be among the many you considered to seek counsel on the Matter of Women as Ministers in the congregation. I would like to say thank you. I also wonder how the same Shaul [(Paul)] by Ruah ha’Qodesh [(the Holy Spirit)] says,” We are to rightly divide, handle the word of truth” but could not handle the matter of women rightly but disallowed them from taking leadership in the congregation. I have to understand him why he did so is because he had no wife as a second in leadership to him. Below is what can I give as my opinion and self-belief:
What Does the Scriptures Say About Women in Ministry?
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Scriptures say about women ministers as pastors or Emissaries and any other spiritual work or ministry of singing?
What role should women play in the as believers in the congregation?
Are women not allowed to speak or proclaim the good news in the congregation?
The question of women ministers as pastors, or Emissaries, etc., is controversial within believers in the second agreement commonly known as New Testament (I call and know to be second agreement or covenant). Many of the body of believers do ordain women into ministry and some do not. There are a number that opposes ordination of women. In the first covenant commonly known as Old Testament; for example women were mostly in a subservient role, but a number of women are mentioned as leaders and prophets of Israel, including Miryam [(Miriam)] (Exodus 15:20), Deborah (Judges 4:4–5), Hadassah commonly known as Esther (Esther 2:7; 4:15–17), Huldah (2 Kings 22:14–20) and Athalyahu [(Athaliah)] (2 Chronicles 22:10–12).
The New Testament
Example YaHushua ha’Mashiah [(Jesus Christ)] chose men as His twelve apostles (Mark 3:13–19), and that is sometimes cited as a reason that only men should be appointed to leadership roles in the congregation. It is a fact that YaHushua [(Jesus)] sent His apostles out to spread the gospel to the world, seeking food and shelter where they could find it, facing great danger and ultimately martyrdom. This was not considered an appropriate role for a woman in New Testament times, just as it could not be considered appropriate today. However, YaHushua ha’Mashiah did have a number of women among His larger circle of followers (Matthew/ Mattithyahu 27:55–56, Mark 15:40–41, Luke 8:1–3, 23:49, John/ Yohanan 20:14–18).
The Early congregations had a number of women hold important positions among the believers (Acts 1:12–14, 18:24–26, 21:7–9, Romans 16:1–16).
Paul /Shaul’s Prohibitions
Much of the opposition to women in ministry is based on these two passages:
As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the assembly. They are not allowed to speak, [(who has not allowed the women to speak)] but must be in submission, as the Law says [(Which law says so and whose law says so man or Yahweh Elohim [(the LORD God)]?)]. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; [(whose mouth says so?)] for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the congregation. [(Who sees women a disgraceful to speak, in the congregation and why didn’t Yahushua consider it when sent the women to go and proclaim His resurrection to the men?)] (1 Corinthians 14:33–35).”
“A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent (1 Timothy 2:11–12).”
Related verses: 1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 5:22–23.
As with much of the Scriptures, some background information is helpful for interpreting these passages:
New testament-era society was very much male-dominated. The status of women was much like that of children today — totally subservient to the male head-of-household. It would have been considered scandalous for a woman to take a leadership role with authority over men.
Paul or Shaul-era women were not educated and were mostly confined to domestic duties. A woman would not have had the education needed to take a teaching role.
The believers’ communities in the Mediterranean area were already looked upon as hotbeds of dangerous heretics by the pagan majorities. Then Emissary Shaul or Paul and other leaders were very concerned about avoiding any appearance of scandal that would make a bad impression on the people they wanted to convert to as believers (Titus 2:3–8; 1 Corinthians 14:22–24), or worse, that could be used to justify persecution of believers of the Way.
Humility is an important theme throughout the New Testament. Virtue comes from obedience to YaH Elshaddai Elohim and sovereign of Yisra’el [(Israel)], not from rebelling against society’s norms (1 Peter 2:13–17). Thus, slaves should accept freedom if offered, but, if not, should be obedient to their masters in all things (1 Corinthians 7:20–24; Colossians 3:22–24; 1 Peter 2:18–21). Similarly, women should not rebel against their lot in life (1 Peter 3:1–6).
Shaul’s Proclamation of Equality
Although he accepted that people may have different roles in society, the apostle or Emissary Shaul proclaimed that all believers are equal in YaHweh’s sight he says so:
“You are all sons of YaHweh through belief in YaHushua ha’Mashiah, for all of you who were immersed into YaHushua have clothed yourselves with YaHushua ha’Mashiah. There is neither Yahudi [(Jew)], nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in YaHushua ha’Mashiah. If you belong to ha’Mashiah YaHushua, then you are AbRaham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:26–29).”
Conclusions
The false interpretation that Women Cannot Be Ministers is based on false words of the fact that Yahushua appointed only male apostles and not women, and the Second Testament passages cited above as an absolute prohibition of a ministerial role for women. It is the natural order, decreed by man and Elohim [(God)], that women should forever be subservient to men. Based on inerrancy of Scriptures these passages are taken at face value, that women must forever be barred from roles in ministry. But YaHushua sent the women to proclaim the good news of His resurrection.
Therefore my belief is “Yes” to the question that are women should be allowed to be YaHWeH’s [(God’s)] ministers: Women Can Be Ministers in the congregation of YaH [(poetic form)]
Many others view the New Testament prohibitions simply as practical advice to preserve the sanctity and tranquility of the congregation and to avoid scandal by women. Although the New Testament writers passively accepted slavery, few people would argue that we should return to the horrors of slavery. In the same way, although the New Testament writers passively accepted the oppression of women, it does not imply that a leadership role for a woman would be wrong in today’s very different society. Some of the great leaders and prophets of Israel were women, so YaHweh could not have intended to exclude women from spiritual and political leadership. Shaul’s proclamation of equality and YaHushua’s willingness to defy convention and accept women into his larger circle of believers should be the guiding principles rather than the customs of the Roman Empire in the first century. Women took as large a role in the early Congregation leadership as was allowed by the conventions of that society, so women today should be able to serve the Congregation in whatever positions they are qualified to fill by the Ruah ha’Qodesh who is the teacher: 1 Yohanan 2:20,27. It is through the women that leaders are made such as Rinqah [(Rebecca)], Bereshith 24:60, 17:16, Miryam [(Mary)] and Elisheba [(Elizabeth)] that Yahushua [(Jesus)] and Yohanan [(John)] were anointed even from their mother’s womb. Luke 1:1–79. I may say that was Shaul’s opinion to disallow women to lead. But it’s a woman who help Mosheh [(Moses)] when she circumcised the son and confirmed him to a husband of blood.
I pray that you take this to what the Ruah ha’Qodesh [(the Holy Spirit)] has taught you and have understanding that we do the desire of YaH and not men.
Esteemed be YaHRuah ha’Qodesh Elshaddai sovereign of Yisra’el, I am Yisra’el.
HalleluYaH.
(Female written)
I understand the scriptures that are being presented but the problem is the translators are not going back to the original source. The New Testament was not written in Greek but rather in Hebrew. If we want to understand the written word we have to go back to the beginning to understand the simple models and concepts of what THE WORD is REALLY SAYING. What happened to the FOUNDATION of the first 5 books of Torah. I find it interesting how the focus is on the back of the book rather than the beginning, for the front of the book is a witness of the back of the book.
There’s two accounts that come straight to my mind when thinking about this first we had Deborah in judges she was in an authoritative position where men and women alike came and sought after her wise counsel a.k.a. teachings regarding righteous right ruling in the land and not only this but men would not go to war without seeking her approval. I bet they’re not teaching that in this congregation now are they???
Also consider that Deborah wrote some psalms also and psalms means songs. We are COMMANDED to praise the most high. Abba personally has given me songs from him to sing to him and others in which I do.
Deborah’s name also reveals the book of debarim/Deuteronomy. The root word for Deborah is Debar. Dalet beyt resh. It means to create order or disorder with one’s words or instructions. Together these Pictographs give you the understanding of “the door of the house of one’s mind”. The words that come forth out of the doorway (mouth) of our house (beyt) either create order or disorder.
Secondly we have Queen Esther (Hadassah) Who taught and was put in an authoritative position while being next to her husband the king of Persia. It says she was WELL LEARNED!
Thirdly there’s a reason why wisdom is referred to as she because it is feminine. Let that sink in.
First and foremost no matter what man teaches we are to submit to our one true authority which is Yuhuah. He is supposed to be OUR #1 SOURCE of knowledge. When we want to know HIS WAY we ask and it shall be given unto us. So once we get our first witness from Abba then he will give us a second, third etc. witness in this physical realm.