Christ commanded men to submit to their wives as they protect them, the men are servants, and the wives were to submit to their husbands as they submit to the Lord as a helpmate.
Ephesians 5:21-6:4 "21 and subject yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ. 22 Wives, subject yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.
Ephesians 5:25-30 "25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church [c]in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are parts of His body."
There are two commands in this passage in 1 Corinthians: the woman was to be covered when she prayed and prophesied in the gathering of believers, and the men were to be uncovered. This is about both submitting to Christ.
This was not about which culture you live in, it is entirely applicable to any culture that obeys Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:3-5 "…3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for it is just as if her head were shaved."
The command for the woman was to be covered when she prays and prophesies in the gathering of believers; in other words, she is participating in speech but not as the leader.
If the woman were to be completely silent, as other verses might suggest, then this passage about the woman praying and prophesying in the gathering would be a contradiction.
1 Corinthians 14:34-35 "Women should remain silent in the churches. For 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."
In this passage, the women were disruptive and asked questions because they were new believers and did not yet know anything. This was not a command never to speak, but to never speak in a disruptive way, usurping authority, arguing with those who were speaking.
Notice the women were learning here; they had no knowledge of the Bible and were not yet led by the Holy Spirit.
1 Timothy 2:11 "A woman must learn in quietness and full submissiveness. 12I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; she is to remain quiet."
We know this was not a command to never speak because of 1 Corinthians 14, in which God tells a woman to be covered when she prays and prophesies. Many churches have taken this speaking to one extreme or another, either to never speak at all, or allowing a woman to speak in authority over men.
The truth is that neither is correct. Women are not allowed to disrupt and argue because they need to learn at home first before they have anything to share in the gathering. The men are to lead, and according to 1 Corinthians 14, the women share in praying and prophesying as led by the Holy Spirit not as leaders but as participants.
The example of Priscilla and Aquilla shows us that women participate in teaching as a couple.
Acts 18:24-26 "24 Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was proficient in the Scriptures. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and being fervent in spirit, he was accurately speaking and teaching things about Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; 26 and he began speaking boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the way of God more accurately to him."
This couple were friends of Paul and were very active in presenting the gospel and teaching new believers.
Let's be clear that women were not to lead, but they were active in sharing through prayer and prophesying as long as they were covered. Let's also remember that the prophesying was not fortelling the future, but forthtelling the Word of God, and all was led by the Holy Spirit.
Pheobe was a deacon active in the church. She was entrusted to carry a letter for Paul a long, dangerous distance.
Romans 16:1-2 "Greetings and Love Expressed
16 I recommend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea, 2 that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well."
The only job of the church women were not given was that of a leader over men; they were instrumental in every other calling, even teaching one-on-one those who were new believers. They prayed and prophesied within the gathering as led by the Holy Spirit. And, were messengers and helpers to others in ministry.
May we examine all of our modern cultural teachings according to the Bible and within context. When context is ignored to create teachings that are not biblical, many believers are harmed and discouraged from doing what God has called them to do. Let us rightly divide the word in all matters.
There are two commands in this passage in 1 Corinthians: the woman was to be covered when she prayed and prophesied in the gathering of believers, and the men were to be uncovered. This is about both submitting to Christ.
This was not about which culture you live in, it is entirely applicable to any culture that obeys Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:3-5 "…3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for it is just as if her head were shaved."
The command for the woman was to be covered when she prays and prophesies in the gathering of believers; in other words, she is participating in speech but not as the leader.
If the woman were to be completely silent, as other verses might suggest, then this passage about the woman praying and prophesying in the gathering would be a contradiction.
1 Corinthians 14:34-35 "Women should remain silent in the churches. For 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."
In this passage, the women were disruptive and asked questions because they were new believers and did not yet know anything. This was not a command never to speak, but to never speak in a disruptive way, usurping authority, arguing with those who were speaking.
Notice the women were learning here; they had no knowledge of the Bible and were not yet led by the Holy Spirit.
1 Timothy 2:11 "A woman must learn in quietness and full submissiveness. 12I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; she is to remain quiet."
We know this was not a command to never speak because of 1 Corinthians 14, in which God tells a woman to be covered when she prays and prophesies. Many churches have taken this speaking to one extreme or another, either to never speak at all, or allowing a woman to speak in authority over men.
The truth is that neither is correct. Women are not allowed to disrupt and argue because they need to learn at home first before they have anything to share in the gathering. The men are to lead, and according to 1 Corinthians 14, the women share in praying and prophesying as led by the Holy Spirit not as leaders but as participants.
The example of Priscilla and Aquilla shows us that women participate in teaching as a couple.
Acts 18:24-26 "24 Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was proficient in the Scriptures. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and being fervent in spirit, he was accurately speaking and teaching things about Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; 26 and he began speaking boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the way of God more accurately to him."
This couple were friends of Paul and were very active in presenting the gospel and teaching new believers.
Let's be clear that women were not to lead, but they were active in sharing through prayer and prophesying as long as they were covered. Let's also remember that the prophesying was not fortelling the future, but forthtelling the Word of God, and all was led by the Holy Spirit.
Pheobe was a deacon active in the church. She was entrusted to carry a letter for Paul a long, dangerous distance.
Romans 16:1-2 "Greetings and Love Expressed
16 I recommend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea, 2 that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well."
The only job of the church women were not given was that of a leader over men; they were instrumental in every other calling, even teaching one-on-one those who were new believers. They prayed and prophesied within the gathering as led by the Holy Spirit. And, were messengers and helpers to others in ministry.
May we examine all of our modern cultural teachings according to the Bible and within context. When context is ignored to create teachings that are not biblical, many believers are harmed and discouraged from doing what God has called them to do. Let us rightly divide the word in all matters.
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