Why is it that christians dont follow the rule that says women are not allowed to speak in the church?

Question

It says in the bible that women are not allowed to speak in the church. Why dont christians follow this rule?

1 Corinthians 14:33-35 states, "...As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church."

Answer 1

paul wrote to the people in corinth to guide them on certain issues, but they were known for taking teachings very literally.

there are a few references to women in 1 corinthians that don't make any sense outside of the context of historical corinth. paul wrote to the christians in corinth in an attempt to direct them in ways so as not to appear like the pagan worshippers that also lived there. the women were supposed to cover their heads to keep from appearing like one of the pagan prostitutes at the temple of aphrodite, or a member of one of many cults (oriental cults, the cult of dyonysos, or the isis cult--who had a major center in corinth).

paul also stated that he never let a woman speak in church (the scripture you quoted). I actually wrote a paper on it when I was in college, so I'll just copy and paste it here and leave you my references.

"The commands for women to be silent in public worship found in 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 have been widely questioned by scholars as to whether or not they were actually written by Paul or by one of his followers. A similar command is found in 1 Timothy 2:11-13 and is believed to have been written by one of Paul’s followers (Clifford 135). Some argue that it appears Paul is insistent on women remaining silent in the church. However, one is then led to ask how a woman can practice her right to pray and prophesy if she is not allowed to speak in church. This would lead to issues of trying to understand how women deacons and workers in the church were able to fulfill their duties if they were supposed to be silent in the church (Newsom 327-328). Some scholars argue that this verse only applied to married women, since in 1 Corinthians 7 Paul states that an unmarried woman and a virgin have only God to focus on, whereas a married woman’s attention is divided between God and her family (Fiorenza 231). Praying and prophesying were led by the spirit and therefore really could not be questioned or controlled by humans (Newsom 327). Paul seems to have no real solid ground to base his reasons for insisting that women be silent in the church. This indicates he is treating it as if it were merely “common sense” (Levine 171). He probably based his argument on “Greco-Roman exhortations for the subordination of wives as part of the ‘law’ as adopted from the Jewish-Hellenistic missionary tradition” (Fiorenza 231). Again Paul was trying to protect the Corinthian Church from appearing like an Oriental cult—who was often known for undermining “public order and decency” (Fiorenza 232).

The contrary, archaic belief is that passages like 1 Corinthians should be taken as a literal command from God for all women to obey. Some argue that in reference to Galatians 3:28, being one in Christ does not mean the same as being equal (Baird 126-127). Such people believe that there is “an order of rank at which the divine economy—God, Christ, man, woman” (126). Women are considered inferior to men in the church. Women were created from man, so she is merely the reflection of God’s glory, but man was made in the image of God. Scholars who take this route believe “woman was a secondary creation; she was created to serve the needs of man” which is symbolized by the wearing of a veil and natural veil of long hair (126). It is believed that women’s glory is meager compared to men’s, since women’s glory is her hair, but God’s glory is man (128). It is believed that in the end, all things depend on the divine order because “all things are from God” (127). These types of believers think God should be worshipped through “the beauty of holiness,” and in Corinth it was done through the culture—which said that women must cover their heads and be subordinate in order to bring glory to God.

However, Jesus broke the social norms of Jewish society (Clifford 77). He “gathered followers, not only men but also women, from all parts of society, to form a community with a mission. In the manner in which Jesus accomplished this, he modeled that patriarchal behavior was not of God” (134). Jesus used women for His work. Women held leadership positions in the early church (135). He had women disciples—Mary Magdalene, Martha, and Mary. Lydia offered her home as a “house church” in Philippi, Phoebe was called a “minister” in the church, Prisca and her husband were co-workers with Paul, and Mary was known for her hard work in the church (134-135). Jesus overturned society’s views towards women, but it has somehow gotten lost in translation over the last two thousand years. As a result, women have continued to be pushed into positions and social norms based on misinterpretations of Biblical texts."

so yeah, I hope that helps with your question. women initially had a bigger role in the early church than most are lead to believe. it wasn't until the romans took over and the influence of their patriarical society was brought down into christianity was the submission of women really pushed again (that's after the initial submission that came with judaism was past).

Answer 2

The church in Corinth had the women in one corner and the men in another (cultural thing). However from the Women's vantage point they didn't always hear what was said by the preacher, and would call out to their husband across the church.

This was for a time and culture.

God has used many women to speak
Esther, saved the Jewish people because she was bold enough to enter the King's presence without an audience and intelligently found a way to inform the King of her people's plight.

Deborah a judgess heard from God and spoke God's words to the people.

Proverbs 31 has what God requies of a Godly woman.

Women can be in leadership and speak in church just not out of turn or disrupting the service.

However they must have a spiritual covering. (which is a whole other topic)

Ps I am so glad I got to answer your question

May God richly bless you as you continue your search

Answer 3

W.C. Fields was one day found reading the Bible. When asked what he was doing he replied "Looking for loopholes, young man, looking for loopholes."
Unfortunately many people like to interpret the bible to benefit themselves. Not only should women remain silent in church, they are not allowed to preach, or hold a high office in the church.
Preachers should resign if they divorce and remarry. And they should never drink alcohol. Men should not have long hair and women should not have short hair. Christians should dress modestly. All sorts of things are acceptable now that is rejected in the Bible. No wonder we are accused of being hypocrites.

Answer 4

You need to research your cultures. That was only in the Corinthian culture. read chapter 11:5 and chap 12-14 women prayed and prophesied in public they also have spiritual gifts ,even back when this was written. In Corinthian culture women were not allowed to confront men in public. Apparently some of the women who had become christian thought this allowed them to confront their men in public worship, this was causing a cultural divide and a division of the church. in that day women did not receive the educational training that men did ans most questions being raised were questions that could be answered at home. to not disrupt the service. Paul was asking women not to flaunt their new freedom during the worship service. The purpose of Paul's words was to promote unity, not to teach about a womans role in the church.

Answer 5

You know, I almost wish I got a dollar every time this verse was mentioned on this board. And by saying that, I don't mean to sound ascerbic, for I really do feel it is worthy of discussion.

I think it is important to remember that the Bible was written by people. They may have been inspired by God, but they were still people with opinions, etc. Also, they were writing within the context and mentality of their day.

Answer 6

Actually I know a LOT of churches that take that scripture to heart. You see women like Joyce Meyer on TV, but you don't know how many Christians condemn her. A lot of the people who follow her are liberal Christians.
Apparently you haven't been to that many churches. For every woman minister, there are probably half a dozen churches that preach against her. It's still a very common teaching.

Answer 7

I believe this could be interpreted as meaning to not allow women to preside over men. It could be one test of how faithful to the scriptures a church may be.

Answer 8

Much as they don't like to admit it, Christians who claim to "take the Bible literally," really don't. If they did, they wouldn't wear jewelry or braids in church either, would take up serpents (ok, some do) wear a cloth of mixed fibers...blah blah blah. The fact is ALL Christians filter and interpret the Bible.

Answer 9

Money. The tithe checks would stop flowing in if discussion of roles were taught. Sin is another nearly taboo subject. Can't tell sinners they're sinners. Much safer to ask, "What has God done for you today?"

Answer 10

Calvary Chapel follows it...

Answer 11

Because they love the world and despise the Word.