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Introduction Talk about a touchy subject! But why should we, as God's people, get excited about a subject like this, especially if we really care about doing the will of God? Surely we should want to do God's will if we are truly His children and the sheep of His pasture. "I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart." [Psalm 40:8] Some of the primary scriptures we need to analyze include 1 Corinthians 14 and 1 Timothy 2:
To be under obedience <5293>... OBEDIENCE: 5293 hupotasso {hoop-ot-as'-so} from 5259 and 5021; TDNT - 8:39,1156; v
A Greek military term meaning "to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader". In non-military use, it was "a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden". As also saith the law <3551>... LAW: 3551 nomos {nom'-os} from a primary nemo (to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals); TDNT - 4:1022,646; n m
"In Genesis 3:16, "thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee". By this the apostle would signify, that the reason why women are not to speak in the church, or to preach and teach publicly, or be concerned in the ministerial function, is, because this is an act of power, and authority; of rule and government, and so contrary to that subjection which God in his law requires of women unto men. The extraordinary instances of Deborah, Huldah, and Anna, must not be drawn into a rule or example in such cases." [quoted from John Gill's Commentary] Ask <1905> their husbands... ASK: 1905 eperotao {ep-er-o-tah'-o} from 1909 and 2065; TDNT - 2:687,262; v
Is there something to be said for women asking their husbands questions about the Bible at home? Isn't this policy of the women asking their husbands at home a wonderful opportunity for them to engage in a godly, edifying, spiritual conversation in the home? Doesn't it encourage husbands and wives to get into the habit of discipling eachother in the home? ====================================================================
What is meant by "silence"? First we need to determine what "silence" means. Does it mean completely silent, or just quiet? Well, there are some Bible interpreters that feel that the word "silence" does not really mean "do not say anything at all". But that may be the case if the word being used is "hesuchia". However, in 1 Cor 14:34, the word used for silence is "sigao" which indeed means completely silent... 1 Corinthians 14:34 Let <4601> your women keep silence <4601> 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. SILENCE: 4601 sigao {see-gah'-o} from 4602;; v
SILENCE: 2271 hesuchia {hay-soo-khee'-ah} from 2272;; n f
SPEAK: 2980 laleo {lal-eh'-o} a prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; TDNT - 4:69,505; v
OCCURANCES OF 4601 - SILENCE (sigao): Luke 9:36 And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close <4601>, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen. Luke 20:26 And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace <4601>. Acts 12:17 But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace <4601>, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place. Acts 15:12 Then all the multitude kept silence <4601>, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. Acts 15:13 And after they had held <4601> their peace <4601>, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Romans 16:25 ¶ Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret <4601> since the world began, 1 Corinthians 14:28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence <4601> in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. 1 Corinthians 14:30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let <4601> the first hold his peace <4601>. OCCURRENCES OF 2271 - SILENCE (hesuchia): Acts 22:2 (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence <2271>: and he saith,) 2 Thessalonians 3:12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness <2271> they work, and eat their own bread. 1 Timothy 2:11 Let the woman learn in silence <2271> with all subjection. 1 Timothy 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence <2271>. LEARN: 3129 manthano {man-than'-o}prolongation from a primary verb, another form of which, matheo is used as an alternate in certain tenses; TDNT - 4:390,552; v
TEACH: 1321 didasko {did-as'-ko} a prolonged (causative) form of a primary verb dao (to learn); TDNT - 2:135,161; v
Does the Bible have any references to women speaking during the church meeting (congregational meetings)? 1Cor 11:3 "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. 6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. 7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. 8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. 9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. 12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. 13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?" Is the above passage referring to a church meeting? It is the general point of Paul's letter to set certain things straight in the Corinthian church and many of those things have to do with conduct of believers during church meetings. But what about this passage? Issues & Questions: 1. Does God want there to be a visible pattern in the home for submission, a pattern of the submission that all believers should have towards Christ? 2. Does God want there to be incentive for women to be discussing spiritual matters with their husbands and incentive for husbands to be in the Word and discipling their wives and children? 3. Are women whose husbands who pay attention to their needs and who are good listeners and who spend time answering their wives questions likely to be more content than women whose husbands who don't take their needs and concerns seriously and who do not do a proper job of providing spiritual leadership in the home? 4. Are wives more apt to be content in not speaking during a congregational meeting { Bible study } knowing that their husbands will take the time to discuss questions and issues with them in the home in an atmosphere that will not embarrass the husband or the wife in front of the whole congregation? 5. In conventional churches how much involvement - including speaking spontaneously - is there of the men and women compared with in New Testament patterned home churches? 6. Is there any biblical reason why women have to speak during congregational meetings? 7. Name some ways that women can be involved in home church meetings even if they are not allowed to speak during the teaching time? Ray Kane For more articles related to the
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