Should Women Keep Silent? -- By: David Joel Hamilton

Journal: Priscilla Papers
Volume: PP 17:3 (Summer 2003)
Article: Should Women Keep Silent?
Author: David Joel Hamilton


Should Women Keep Silent?

Part One of 1 Corinthians 14:26-40

David Joel Hamilton

This article is chapter 14 from the book Why Not Women: A Fresh Look at Scripture on Women in Missions, Ministry, and Leadership by Loren Cunningham and David Joel Hamilton (YWAM, 2000). This article is used with permission. Chapter 15 (Part 2 of 1 Cor. 14:26-40) will be published in the Fall issue of Priscilla Papers.

David J. Hamilton is a veteran missionary and scholar who wrote his master’s thesis on the difficult Bible passages related to the ministry of women. He recently coauthored Courageous Leaders Transforming Their World (YWAM, 2000) and served as one of the senior content editors for the Christian Growth Study Bible (Zondervan, 1997). He has served in Youth With A Mission for more than twenty years, currently as an international associate provost for the University of the Nations, and also as assistant to the president.

Some Scriptures seem to be known by everyone, and 1 Cor. 14:34 is certainly among them. In fact, if you bring up the topic of women preachers, many Christians can quote Paul’s words: “Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says.”1

So what did Paul mean when he told the women to keep silent? If he was indeed saying that women should not minister publicly, he was contradicting what he said earlier when he gave instructions for women’s dress code while prophesying! There must be an explanation. As we examine these verses, we will see that Paul was definitely not teaching against women ministering publicly. Rather, he was correcting the way in which women were ministering in the Corinthian church.

One other word before we begin: If this passage were without difficulties, there wouldn’t have been centuries of controversy around it. However, I trust that the Holy Spirit is available to guide us into all truth as together we search for understanding.

Clue #1: What’s The Context?

Before delving into any Scripture, one needs first to look at the context surrounding the verse. Keep in mind that this verse is part of a passage that concludes a seven-part series on ministry in the church. Paul didn’t toss out haphazard ideas. He was a controlled, disciplined writer and nowhere more so than in this intricate passage. Any understanding of this verse regarding women keeping silent has to be viewed in the context of what has gone before. This includes You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
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