Let Your Women Keep Silence
Michael E. Grooms

Women contribute in a very valuable way to our society, and in the work of the church. The value of the roles played by godly women cannot be overstated. The Bible speaks of certain women who were instrumental in the work of the church. Women such as Dorcas (Acts 9), Lydia (Acts 16), and Priscilla (Acts 18), as well as a number of others are recorded in the Bible for the good works they accomplished. Godly women respect the precious role God has given them and are due our honor and respect. The problem with respect to gender arises when the lines of distinction concerning roles are blurred or eradicated within the home, or even the church.

 God has defined these roles in the home and in the church. Sadly, many churches seek to capitulate to the standards of the world rather than seek to do God’s will concerning these things. It usually starts with women teaching adult men in classes, reading a Bible scripture in worship, or serving the Lord’s Supper. In a time when “testimonials” may be found in some church worship services, there is an opportunity to incorporate women into these emotional, sensational but unauthorized practices. It stands to reason that if a church is going to practice unauthorized worship, such as testimonials, it may as well use unauthorized people to do it! What does the Bible say?

 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. 
(1 Tim. 2:11 - 14 KJV)

 Notice two key words found within the first verse of the above passage: silence and subjection. Paul elaborates on these two terms in the next sentence. A woman is not to teach men in the church. This does not mean a woman may not teach an alien sinner (one outside the church) the gospel. This commandment applies to those things pertaining to “the house of God, which is the church of the living God” (1 Tim. 3:15). Within the church, the woman may not be in a position of teaching while in the presence of men. The phrase “nor to usurp authority over the man” goes beyond the idea of teaching and includes any act of leadership in worship or the holding of a position in which a woman may have authority over a man. It also includes the sin of rebelling against or speaking against the authority of those who lead in the church.

 Some will argue that this is a “cultural command” and does not apply to modern times. The fallacy of such an argument is multi-faceted but it will suffice to notice the reasoning given by the Holy Spirit by the hand of Paul for this command. Adam was first formed, then Eve. God placed woman in subjection to man in the process of his order of creation. A review of Genesis 2:18-25 will reveal that God made woman as a companion for man. Adam was made from the dust of the ground, but Eve was made from Adam. Adam pronounced the name of woman, as he had also done with all of God’s creatures. This very act signifies the role distinction that God has placed on man and woman from the beginning. Paul also refers to the fact that it was woman who was deceived by Satan as reasoning for the role of submission that women must carry out.

 Some churches boast of the fact that they have “liberated” women in the churches, placing them in roles of leadership and the leading of worship. Paul’s words to the church at Corinth apply here: “Your glorying is not good” (1 Cor. 5:6). According to the Bible, it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

 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. (1 Cor. 14:34 - 35 KJV)

 Of course some preacher or elder may argue that they have permitted the woman to speak in worship, thus she is authorized to do so. No preacher has the authority to authorize anything in the worship or the work of the church, unless he is also an elder. The preacher is to preach “with all authority” (Titus 2:15). His authority is in the preaching of the word and stops there. No elder has the authority to authorize what God has not permitted. His authority is limited to the carrying out of God’s will in matters of the church.

 Many will scratch their heads and wonder as they see these things incorporated into the church of their membership. They may even fuss a little when the preacher or elders aren’t around. After a while, most will become numb to the pricking of their conscience and blindly follow their shepherds who scatter the sheep. Our Lord said it best in Matt. 15:14 when He said, “If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”