Question:
MY FRIEND AND I HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THE TOPIC WOMEN PREACHING AND TEACHING. I HAVE READ YOUR VERSES ON THE MATTER. I MYSELF AM UNCERTAIN BECAUSE IN 1CORINTHIANS 11:5 PAUL STATES A WOMEN PRAYING OR PROPHESYING WITH HER HEAD UNCOVER. ISNT PROPHESY ALSO PREACHING? TO SPEAK FORTH THE WORD OF GOD? I REALLY NEED HELP WITH THIS. ALSO, ARE YOU SAYING IT IS WRONG FOR WOMEN TO SING OR TESTIFY? I HAVE BEEN RAISED PENTECOSTAL/TONGUES MOVEMENT. I HAVE FOUND SOME THINGS THEY PREACH I DONT AGREE WITH. BUT I NEED BIBLICAL VERSES. THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS.
Answer:
When the Bible is very clear on a subject, you do not take an unclear passage and build a doctrine upon it. The Bible is very clear that it is not the woman’s place to publicly speak in a church service or a religious setting, as long as men are present. Notice the following Scriptures.
The Bible says in I Corinthians 14:34-37, “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. What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.”
Many try to say that this passage only applies to speaking in tongues, and that women can speak in the church, as long as they do not speak in tongues. But the very context proves that interpretation wrong. Number one, because it commands women to be silent in the church based upon the Old Testament practice “but they are commanded to be under obedience, AS ALSO SAITH THE LAW.” This had nothing to do with speaking in tongues, but in being silent before men in a religious setting. Secondly, the context even forbids them to ask any questions in church. “And if they will learn any thing, LET THEM ASK THEIR HUSBANDS AT HOME.”
Another passage deals with the same matter. I Timothy 2:11-13 says, “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.”
It is all right for a woman to teach other women. Titus 2:3-5 says, “The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”
The word “prophesy” is a compound word meaning “before” and “to speak.” It does not necessarily mean to speak or preach in front of a congregation, but could be one on one in simple witnessing, telling a person that she should get saved, because there is a judgment coming to all who do not.
You asked, “ARE YOU SAYING IT IS WRONG FOR WOMEN TO SING OR TESTIFY?”
That was answered in a smiliar set of questions.
PREVIOUS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
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Question: If it is wrong for women to speak in Church, then is it wrong for them to sing? to teach Sunday School? to say a prayer request during prayer meeting? to have fellowship? to ask the Pastor a question? to tell the Church a praise report? etc…
Answer:
First Question:If it is wrong for women to speak in Church, then is it wrong for them to sing?
Nehemiah 7:65-67 says, “And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim. The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore, Beside their manservants and their maidservants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and they had two hundred forty and five SINGING MEN AND SINGING WOMEN.” Ezra 2:63-65 says the same thing. The Bible does not say that women are forbidden to sing in church or in a religious setting.
Second Question:…wrong for women…to teach Sunday School?
I Timothy 2:11,12 says, “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.” If they are teaching a class with men present, then it is wrong.
Third Question:…wrong for women…to say a prayer request during prayer meeting?
We try to encourage the ladies to write down their prayer requests, and have them read by a man. See the next question to see why.
Fourth Question:…wrong for women…to tell the Church a praise report…to ask the pastor a question?
I Corinthians 14:34,35 says, “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.”
I have heard many testimonies by ladies that end up “teaching” (and sometimes downright “preaching” to) the whole congregation what they learned by some experience in their lives. They bring up Scripture verses, and with men present in the congregation, that is wrong. I have listened to testimonies by ladies that included something that their husbands did (something usually foolish or unbiblical), and thus is made their husbands look bad. That is not what the virtuous woman is to do at all in public. I Peter 3:3,4 says, “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” Proverbs 31:10-12 says, “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. SHE WILL DO HIM GOOD and not evil all the days of her life.”
A woman is not to ask the pastor a question about the Bible, but to go home and ask her own husband. I Corinthians 14:35 says, “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.”