We won’t find 1 Corinthians 14:34-35, written in the law given through Moses. “34 the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but are to submit themselves, as the law also says. 35 If they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home, since it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.”

It’s not there.

Historian Beth Alison Barr, in her book The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth, quotes Cato’s speech opposing the repealing of the Oppian Law’s restrictions on women’s wealth and influence. The women were out in protest wanting to have this law overturned. The wording of the Cato’s response speech was given approximately 30 BC to AD 17, and is very similar in wording to verses 34 & 35. “As the law also says” would be the cultural laws towards women at that time.

“At home our freedom is conquered by female fury, here in the Forum it is bruised and trampled upon, and because we have not contained the individuals, we fear the lot. . . . Indeed, I blushed when, a short while ago, I walked through the midst of a band of women. . . . I should have said, “What kind of behavior is this? Running around in public, blocking streets, and speaking to other women’s husbands! Could you not have asked your own husbands the same thing at home? Are you more charming in public with others’ husbands than at home with your own? And yet, it is not fitting even at home . . . for you to concern yourselves with what laws are passed or repealed here.” Our ancestors did not want women to conduct any—not even private—business without a guardian; they wanted them to be under the authority of parents, brothers, or husbands; we (the gods help us!) even now let them snatch at the government and meddle in the Forum and our assemblies. What are they doing now on the streets and crossroads, if they are not persuading the tribunes to vote for repeal? . . . If they are victorious now, what will they not attempt? As soon as they begin to be your equals, they will have become your superiors.”

In the 1 Corinthians 14 passage, Paul is perhaps answering a question about women’s voices in the church, and refuting the Roman cultural mindset regarding how women’s voices should be received in the church. Paul invites women and men to use their voices to edify, build up, and teach the whole church. As verse 38 says, “If anyone ignores this, he will be ignored.” We can read Paul as if he is correcting Cato’s influence. In verse 37 Paul says this is not his command, but a command from the Lord. Verse 37 “If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that what I write to you is the Lord’s command.”

Reading between the lines of this text, the gathering seems more spontaneous, as the Spirit leads. Unlike today’s planned and scripted church services, they may not have known who is going to speak until it happened. Paul is setting some boundaries or limits. Two or three at the most, men or women should speak. Verse 40 “But everything is to be done decently and in order.”

This text is from the Christian Standard Bible. I’m going to add some artificial headings to guide us into a redemptive historical reading of this text.

1 Corinthians 14:26-40

Paul’s Instructions to the Church

26 What then, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, another tongue, or an interpretation. Everything is to be done for building up. 27 If anyone speaks in another tongue, there are to be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, that person is to keep silent in the church and speak to himself and God. 29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate. 30 But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged. 32 And the prophets’ spirits are subject to the prophets, 33 since God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints.

Roman Culture Influencing the Church

34 the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but are to submit themselves, as the law also says. 35 If they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home, since it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.

Paul’s Response to Roman Culture

36 Or did the word of God originate from you, or did it come to you only? 37 If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that what I write to you is the Lord’s command. 38 If anyone ignores this, he will be ignored.

Paul’s Instructions to the Church

39 So then, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in other tongues. 40 But everything is to be done decently and in order.

When our conscience is bound to misunderstood scripture it can cause a lot of harm. Verse 26 What then, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, another tongue, or an interpretation. Everything is to be done for building up. We have permission to understand that verses 34 & 35 should not be used as a weapon to silence women who are invited in verse 26 to share a hymn, teach, give a revelation, or an interpretation to build up. A misreading of verses 34-35 that then turns around and takes that invitation away from her, does not build up. 37 If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that what I write to you is the Lord’s command. 38 If anyone ignores this, he will be ignored.

I suggest that our view of men and women, and gender roles of male authority and female submission has quenched the work of the Holy Spirit in both women and men. My prayer is that our conscience will be unbound, and new creation in Christ will be fully realized here on earth, as it is in heaven.

Related:

1 Timothy 2 & 3

Women and Submission