Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 27:106 (Apr 1870)
Article: The Silence Of Women In The Churches
Author: A. Hastings Ross

BSac 27:106 (April 1870) p. 336

The Silence Of Women In The Churches

Rev. A. Hastings Ross

The true sphere of women we hold to be indicated in the scriptures; and their place, both in the state and in the church, will ultimately be determined by the principles disclosed in those scriptures. For he who created man male and female, instituted the laws of their relationship, and indicated those laws in his revelation to us for our guidance. If, therefore, we can attain unto a just apprehension of these laws in some, or in all, of their bearings, we can determine so far forth the will of God respecting the relation of the sexes in those particulars.

We propose, therefore, to examine the scriptures — which we hold to be our only infallible rule of faith and practice in such matters — respecting the growing practice in the churches of our land of inviting women to take an active part in the public worship of God, and even of allowing them, in some instances, to become ministers of the gospel

BSac 27:106 (April 1870) p. 337

of Jesus Christ. We shall assume the inspiration and the textual correctness of the passages to which appeal will be made in this discussion, while we search, with all thoroughness and candor, after their exact teaching respecting the silence of women in the churches.

I. A positive limitation of some sort is put by the scriptures upon women.

In the curse pronounced upon Eve for the first transgression, it is said: “And thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.”1 The law of the whole animal kingdom — namely, that the males surpass the females in strength; the former being constituted thereby the natural protectors of the latter — is expressly affirmed of the human race. Sadly has the history of mankind, in all lands and centuries, proved the physical superiority of man to woman. For the woman has never been able, on an extended scale, to rule over the man, and to subject him to such bondage and wrongs as he, in most lands and ages, has inflicted upon her. Also, under the law as given by the hand of Moses, a restriction was placed upon the wife, which did not hold in regard to the husband. That restriction was extended even into matters of religion; and it found expression in such language as this: Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void.”2 Here, in the gravest of all matters, the husband was armed with authority to confirm or revoke a religious vow and oath of his wife. In the new and final dispensation, it is still further declared, that “the head of every man is Christ; and the hea...