PerryDox – BeJustAChristian

As emphasized within this study, structure, narrative, and such are instructive towards understanding meaning. Looking at 1 Corinthians 14:34-35, there are many ways of examining the various ways it is structured.

The simplest argument for women being silent is reading only 14:34-35 and concluding, “the Bible say women be silent”. Any text can be made to mean something different that intended by ignoring the context. Could people be doing that here?

One example where Paul is taken out of context by isolating a simple phrase is when Paul wrote, “Christ did not send me to baptize” (1 Corinthians 1:17). That does not mean baptism is not an essential aspect of Paul’s gospel, which he demonstrates it is in many places including 1 Corinthians 10. His point is Christ sent him to preach, and the Corinthians should not become disciples of the ones who baptize them. Plus, anyone can baptize, being an apostle is a work God directly called Paul to do.

Let’s look at various ways to see the structure and argument Paul via inspiration is making.

1. INDUCTIVE METHOD

One of the easiest, productive, and understandable method is to label according to WWWWWH: Who, What, When, Where, Why, How. This is a method even used within journalism. What it is, is collecting facts before interpreting them.

Overall Topic of Spiritual Gifts

WHO – Topic of spiritual gifts (14:26) “What then, Brothers/adelphos” (here, generic for brothers and sisters)

WHAT – Topic of spiritual gifts (14:26a; 37-40)

• Notice that this is both a conclusion and introduction
• “What then, brothers” includes everything before.

WHY – Topic of spiritual gifts (14:26b)

HOW – Topic of spiritual gifts (14:40)

General Topic of Spiritual Gifts – Of Speaking and Being Silent

1. WHEN – “Whenever you come together/assemble” (14:26)
2. WHO – “Whenever you come together/assemble” (14:26)
3. WHERE – “Whenever you come together/assemble” (14:26)
4. WHO – “each one” (14:26)
5. WHAT – “has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation (i.e., prophecy – 14:30-32), a tongue, an interpretation (14:26)
6. WHY – “All things done for edification” (14:26)

 

Specific Topic of Tongues

1. WHO – tongue speakers (14:27)
2. WHAT – speaking in tongues
3. HOW – only two or three, each in turn (14:27)
4. WHO – someone must interpret (14:27)
5. WHEN – if no interpreter then silence (14:28)
6. WHAT – speak to himself and God (14:28)
   1. This is an expansion of interpreting and no interpreting.

Specific Topic of Prophets

1. WHO – prophets speak (14:29)
2. WHAT – prophesying (14:29)
3. WHO – others (14:29)
4. WHAT – evaluate or judge (14:29)
5. WHEN – if another has a revelation then first prophet silence (14:30)
6. WHO – if another has a revelation (14:30)
7. WHERE – is seated (14:30)
8. HOW – prophesy one by one (14:31)
9. WHY – everyone may be encouraged (14:31)
10. HOW – the prophets are in control of their own speaking (14:32)
11. WHY – God is not a God of confusion but of peace (14:33a)
12. WHERE – As in all the churches of the saints (14:33)

All this has been straightforward with no controversy for non-charismatic congregations. The question that must asked and answered is this: In vv.34-35, when talking about the women being silent:

• Is Paul introducing a new topic? (“He now, after the digression regarding the women” Meyer)
• Is Paul continuing a previous topic?

Reasons to consider Paul is continuing a previous topic:

1. Following the text about women being silent (vv.34-35), Paul again talks about prophets (vv.37-39).
2. Following the text about prophets (vv.37-39), Paul again talks about speaking in tongues (v.39).
3. Following the text about speaking in tongues (v.39), Paul writes about how the assembly should be, decently and in order, which leads back to the edification point beginning this section (14:26).
4. Principle: While uninspired preachers go on tangents totally unconnected to the overall sermon, the question remains whether someone guided by the Holy Spirit does the same? If God is not a God of confusion (the central idea in this passage), then I suggest the Holy Spirit’s guidance here is not beginning a new topic only to renew the former topic bringing confusion.

Therefore, is it contextually consistent to read “let the women be silent” as referring to all women in all areas and at all times? No.

Plus, did you notice there was a topic introduced prior to vv.34-35 that did not get expanded upon, unlike the other topics; that is, unless vv.34-35 is the expansion. That topic is “let others evaluate/weigh carefully/pass judgment/judge”. The definition for “judge” includes discovering via asking questions. Asking questions is specifically mentioned in v.35. Contextually then, Paul is forbidding the women (or wives) from exercising authority by judging. In this way Paul is saying the same thing as in 1 Timothy 2 where women were not allowed to exercise authority by teaching.

It is also helpful to notice contextually that the speaking throughout this section is speaking from a position of authority or leading the congregation through speech. Connected to that is both tongue speakers and prophets were told to be silent at a specific time. Contextually again, it makes sense to understand the speaking forbidden to be defined by the same parameters: The speaking is addressing the congregation from a position of leadership; and the silence is only regarding one thing.

Now let’s apply the same process to 14:34-35. The second number connects this back to the

Specific Topic of Prophets’ Being Judged by Women/Wives

1. WHERE – As in all the churches of the saints (14:33) (I believe this belongs to both what precedes and follows – see chiasms)
2. WHO – the women/wives (14:34) [“your women” is a textual variant]
3. WHAT – should be silent and submissive (14:34)
4. WHERE – in the churches (14:34)
5. WHY – as the law also says (14:34)
6. WHY – if they want to learn (14:35)
7. HOW – ask husbands (prophets?) (14:35)
8. WHERE – at home (14:35)
9. WHY – disgraceful to speak in the assembly (14:35).
10. WHY/WHERE – did the word of God originate with you (14:36). Corinth was not to follow their own rules.
11. WHAT – Still on the topic of prophets and Paul adds the group “spiritual” (could that refer to judging?). Paul’s command is the Lord’s command is the law’s command (14:37).
12. WHAT – Ignore Paul and be ignored (14:38).

Overall Topic of Spiritual Gifts

1. WHAT – desire to prophesy and speak in tongues (14:39).
2. HOW – everything done decently and in order (14:40)

What the above shows is that it is contextually consistent to understand what is forbidden is women judging the prophets.

1. OUTLINES

The outline which has helped me the most is by James B Hurley in “Man and Woman in Biblical Perspective”. Admittedly it is a complicated outline when first examining it. When looking at Hurley’s overall argument, he admits,

“The weightiest argument against this view is the fact that it is not obvious at first sight. This is primarily caused by the length of the instructions concerning the interruption of one prophet by another (14:30-33a) and the unrestricted use of the term ‘be silent’ in verse 34.” (ibid., p190)

To help see the flow of the argument, read again 14:26-40. Notice the following emphases:

• Three groups are told to be silent: tongue speakers; prophets; women/wives (possibly of the prophets).
• Interruptions was the norm, out of order, and unedifying; this is what Paul is regulating. If tongue speakers were interrupted by other tongue speakers; and prophets interrupted by other prophets; then it makes contextual sense the women were interrupting by their questions.

Before getting to Hurley’s detailed outline, let’s consider a simplified version:

A – PROPHETS SPEAK – 29a) And let the prophets speak by two or three,

B – JUDGES – 29b) and let the others discern.

A’ – PROPHETS SPEAK AND BE SILENT – 30) But if a revelation be made to another sitting by, let the first keep silence. 31) For ye all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted; 32) and the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets; 33) for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

B’ – NOT JUDGES AND BE SILENT – 34) let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law. 35) And if they would learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is shameful for a woman to speak in the church.

A – PROPHETS – 37a) if anyone thinks he is a prophet

B’ – JUDGES – 37b) or spiritual (notice how this connects nicely overall with 12:10 which mentions prophecy and “distinguishing between spirits” which is judging the prophets.)

Hurley’s outline of Paul’s argument

(James B. Hurley, Man and Woman In Biblical Perspective, pp.188ff.)

14:26 

GENERAL TOPIC:

When you come together…let all be done for edification.

14:27

1. SPECIFIC ISSUE 1: TONGUES:

If anyone speaks in tongues

1. Restriction on number speaking: let it be two or at most three
2. Ensuring the edification of the congregation:
3. And let one interpret
4. If there is no interpreter

14:28           

1. Let him keep silence in the church
2. And let him speak to himself and to God

14:29

1. SPECIFIC ISSUE 2: PROPHETS
2. Restriction on number speaking: Let two or three prophets speak
3. Ensuring the edification of the congregation: Let others weigh what is said
4. Further explanatory comments about prophets speaking (II.A) and weighing of their words (II.B)

14:30-31

1. Regarding (II.A) prophets speaking: If a revelation is made to another…let the first be silent
2. For you can all prophesy one by one

(i)       in order that all may learn

(ii)       and be encouraged

14:32                                                              

1. And the spirit[ual gifts] of the prophets are subject to the prophets

14:33a

(i)       For God is not a God of confusion

(ii)       but of peace

14:33b-34a                       

2. Regarding (II.B) the weighing of what was said by the prophets: As in all the churches of the saints, let the women keep silence in the church [during the judgment of prophets]

14:34b

1. For they are not permitted to speak

(i)       but they should be subordinate

(ii)       even as the law says

14:35

1. If there is something they want to know,

(i)       let them ask their husbands at home

(ii)       for it is shameful for a woman to speak in church

Putting it all together we can see the meaning as follows:

14:34-35 – 34)  Let the women keep silent (not permitted to pass judgment by learning through questioning as a judge or public speaker) in the churches (meetings of the churches); for they are not permitted to speak (by passing judgment by learning by questioning in an authoritative manner as judges), but let them subject themselves (not be in a leadership position of passing judgment by learning by questioning in an authoritative manner as judges), just as the Law also says (for God, in spiritual areas, placed women in subjection to men in both the O.T. and N.T.; not by passing judgment over men). 35) And if they desire to learn anything (concerning the judging of prophets/teachers or by teaching themselves in an authoritative manner), let them ask their own husbands at home (which would be neither public, a position of leadership, nor usurping of authority); for it is improper for a woman to speak (in a public, authoritative manner) in church (a meeting of Christians).

III. 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 and Genesis 3:1-6

As there were striking similarities between 1 Timothy 2 and Genesis 2-3, there are surprisingly – and hopefully educationally – several similarities between 1 Corinthians 14:33-5 and Genesis 3:1-6:

• GOD DOES NOT WANT DISORDER: 14:33 – God is not a God of disorder but of peace
  • SATAN CAUSES DISORDER: 3:4 – “No! You will not die,” the serpent said to the woman.
• ALL THE CHURCHES: 14:33 – As in all the church of the saints
  • ALL THE TREES: 3:2 – The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden.
• WOMEN NOT SPEAKING IN AUTHORITY: 14:34 – the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but should be submissive,
  • EVE SPEAKING AND ACTING AS THE AUTHORITY: 3:2 – The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. 3) But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’”… 6) Then the woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband,
• LEARNING: 14:35 – if they want to learn something
  • LEARNING: 3:5 – false learning; “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
• QUESTION: 14:35 – they should ask their own husbands at home
  • QUESTION: 3:1 – “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”
• HUSBAND AND WIFE: 14:35 – their own husbands at home
  • HUSBAND AND WIFE: 3:6 – she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

Following these comparisons, here is another:

• ANGRY QUESTION – 14:36 – Did the word of God originate from you, or did it come to you only?
  • ANGRY QUESTION – 3:11 – Then He asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

Paul in 1 Corinthians 14, just like he did in 1 Timothy 2, is not wanting a repeat of what happened in the Garden according to the Law, the Torah.

1. CHIASMS

Chiasm – 1 Corinthians 11-14

Before showing the connect, first an objection must be addressed. I am about to show how 1 Corinthians 11 is part of a large chiasm to chapter 14. Many understand the first section of chapter 11 to not be addressing the assembly and therefore not part of the overall pericope concerning spiritual gifts. One reason for that is:

12:1 (NASB) Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.

Does this mean Paul had not been talking about spiritual gifts before, or at least not as practiced within the assembly? Obviously, spiritual gifts had been talked about because prophesy is a spiritual gift (11). So there must be another answer. The clearest is remembering there are two sources for what Paul addresses in this letter: One is “concerning the things you wrote” (7:1); the other is, “For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you (1:11). Therefore 8:1 is most likely addressing again what the Corinthians wrote, while chapter 11 is information from Chloe’s people:

11:18 (NASB) For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it.

Having shown there is no reason to take 12:1 as only now discussing spiritual gifts (in fact it can’t be considering prophecy is a miraculous gift), let’s see how structure helps us understand. Right in the middle of instructing concerning spiritual gifts (1 Cor.11,14), Paul speaks most eloquently of love (1 Cor.13). Right in the middle of speaking of love (13:1-8; 13:13), Paul speaks of spiritual gifts (13:8-12). Did Paul just get disorganized or go on a tangent? No, this is part of his writing organization:

A – Assembly Order-Women and Disorder (11)

B – Spiritual Gifts (12)

C – Love (13:1-8a)

D – Spiritual Gifts (13:8b-12)

C’ – Love (13:13)

B’ – Spiritual Gifts (14:1-25)

A’ – Assembly Order and Disorder-Women (14:26-40)

ASV PDH

A – 26) INTRODUCTION: ORDER OF WHY THINGS ARE TO BE DONE – What is it then, brethren? When you-all come together, each one/hekastos has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all/pas things be done towards/pros edification.

B – ORDER FOR ALL 27) If anyone/tis speaks/laleó

C – ORDER SPEAKING AND SILENCE in a tongue, let it be by two, or at the most three, and that in turn; and let one interpret: 28) but if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence/sigaō in the church; and let him speak/laleó to himself, and to God. C – 29) And let the prophets speak/laleó by two or three, and let the others discern. 30) But if a revelation be made to another sitting by, let the first keep silence/sigaō. 

D – ORDER FOR ALL 31) For ye all/pas can prophesy one by one, that all/pas may learn, and all/pas may be exhorted; 

E – 32) CENTRAL POINT: ORDER & WHY – and the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets; 

E’ – 33a) CENTRAL POINT: ORDER & WHY – for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace.

D’ ORDER FOR ALL 33b) – As in all/pas the churches of the saints,

C’ – ORDER SPEAKING AND SILENCE 34) let the women keep silence/sigaō in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak/laleó; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law. 35) And if they would learn anything/tis, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is shameful for a woman to speak/laleó in the church. 36) What? was it from you that the word of God went forth? or came it unto you alone?

B’ – ORDER FOR ALL 37) If anyone/tis thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of the things which I write unto you, that they are the commandment of the Lord. 

A’ – 40) CONCLUSION: ORDER OF HOW THINGS ARE TO BE DONE – 38) But if any/one/tis is ignorant, let him be ignorant. 39) Wherefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and forbid not to speak/laleó with tongues. 40) But let all/pas things be done decently and in order.

• When examining the above chiastic structure, in this study our main effort is to understand C’.
• What is intriguing is a difference in C: “one” interprets; “others” judge.
• What is another intriguing difference is between C and D: “others” judge; “all learn” and “are exhorted. The contrast is that while all benefit from this prophesy, the language does not say “let all discern/judge”.
• We see a progression in numbers: “let one interpret” to “let others discern” to “all may learn and be exhorted.” We know the interpreter is spiritually gifted. This implies the “others” are also; but not all, have the gift of discernment. And finally, all benefit which does not require a miraculous gift.
• If the above order is correct, we do notice that the learning of v.31 (D) is different than the learning of v.35 (C’). In the first “all learn” while in the second “if they would learn” implying something different than that which is learned by all. I suggest the difference is learning by listening, and learning by asking (i.e., interrogating as judges) questions.
• An essential lesson is understanding the overall point is not about women being silent; but about order for all. What must be addressed then is why the women speaking is out of order? The answer is found in seeing the chiastic order of that smaller section which has “as also says the Law” in the center.

When we look only at the controversial section (14:34-35), we see again how Paul organizes his thoughts chiastically:

1 Corinthians 14:33b-34 ASV

A – 33b) As in all the churches of the saints,

B – 34 let the women keep silence in the churches:

C – for it is not permitted unto them to speak;

B’ – but let them be in subjection,

A’ – as also saith the law.

1 Corinthians 14:33b-36

A – As in all the churches of the saints,

B – The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak,

C – but are to subject themselves,

D – just as the Law also says.

C’ – If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home;

B’ – for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.

A’ – Did the word of God originate from you, or did it come to you only?

What we learn from this view is that all the churches of the saints were under whatever this law is. Also learned is silence is the specific type of the more generic subjection. It is also possible this implies the silence is not something new but is part of the law.

 

 

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This entry was posted by PHall on Saturday, February 16th, 2019 at 9:45 pm and is filed under I Corinthians, Genesis. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.