![\"Context](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mmoutreach.org\/wim\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/context.jpg?resize=500%2C333\")
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Recently, I listened to a pastor describe the context of 1 Corinthians 14:34-35. I was very interested to hear what he had to say since I had never heard anyone explain the context of 1 Corinthians to show how there is support for the silencing of women. I was quite surprised when he claimed the context of 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 was 1 Timothy 2. \u00a0I had heard him emphasize the importance of context, context, context many times. However, his explanation of what qualifies as context was always the same as mine. The context of a disputed verse are the verses and chapters\u00a0that surround it. It is never<\/strong> a passage in another book. While another passage in another book can be related, it isn’t the context. So I asked him again. Could he please give the direct context from the book of 1 Corinthians that supports the silencing of women. I have not yet heard back from him, but I thought it would be a good idea to go back through the entire book of 1 Corinthians to gather all of the evidence that Paul documents for why the two verses of 1 Cor. 14:34-35 were added to his letter. I found so much more than I expected from looking at a wider context! There is way more material than I could put into one article, so I am going to try to distil the evidence into categories and then I will give a conclusion of Paul’s reasoning. I will challenge anyone who thinks I have not considered the entire context. I welcome you to bring me correction and show me the supporting context from the book of First Corinthians that defines and upholds the silencing of women in the church.<\/span><\/p>\n Other comments that Paul makes do not directly reference the letter from the Corinthians, but they appear to answer challenges, claims or arguments. For example, 1 Cor. 6:12 says:<\/span><\/p>\n 1 Corinthians 6:12 (NASB) All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Are “all things” lawful for Paul? The negation that follows appears to be Paul’s answer to the writer of the letter who claims not to be under any law. “All things are lawful for me,” the letter says, but Paul answers “BUT NOT all things are profitable.” Again, “All things are lawful for me,” the writer concludes, but Paul answers, “BUT I will NOT be mastered by anything.” Paul’s testimony in all the churches is that we are under the “law of Christ.” We can fulfill the duty to Christ through love and service to our brother (Gal. 6:2.) Anytime a statement is made in 1 Corinthians that appears contradictory to Paul’s known position we can suspect that Paul is dealing with issues that were presented to him, for Paul does not contradict himself. The fact that Paul consistently speaks about setting aside what is good for oneself and aiming for what is helpful for others as the “common good” should tip us off that the arrogant claim that “all things are lawful” is part of the quarrel among the Corinthians.<\/span><\/p>\n Paul uses logical disjunctives throughout 1 Corinthians. A logical disjunctive<\/span> is <\/span>a conjunctive that gives an alternative possibility to the idea to which it is associated or that REBUTS the idea to which it is associated. Paul uses the logical disjunctive in the following instances:<\/span><\/p>\n Paul has emphasized body ministry. All are to share in the ministering of their gifts for the common good. The purpose of the spiritual gifts is to build up the body of Christ in love. Every member is needed in building up the body, and no one is to be disregarded and shamed as if the person and their gifts are not needed.<\/span><\/p>\n God has taken women who were considered as the weak and despised of the world, in a shame-based worldly system, and He has placed them into the body of Christ by His will. Even though some men were prejudiced against women because they followed the proud worldly system, God placed His Spirit within women just as He placed His Spirit within men in order to shame those who arrogantly claimed superiority. Women’s voices are not filthy and indecent as the “saying” of the Corinthians was quoted by Paul in 1 Cor. 14:34-35. Paul immediately rebutted the oral law that was created by mere men. Paul refuted the “saying” by his use of the logical disjunctive. Paul refutes the claim that these men are superior and that they alone can preach the gospel and that they alone can learn from the Word. They are fleshly men following a faulty system that shames women and refuses to allow women’s spiritual gifts to be heard in the assembly. However, Paul’s argument from the beginning of 1 Corinthians is that it is the SAME God, the SAME Lord, and the SAME Spirit who distributes all the spiritual gifts. It is God who places men and women in the body of Christ, and it is not man’s prerogative to stifle and silence the Holy Spirit’s voice just because He speaks through a female temple of God.<\/span><\/p>\n Paul lays out the “more excellent way”. That way is love, care, not seeking one’s own way, and honoring those who seem to have little honor. The quote that Paul gives from the Corinthians DIVIDES the body of Christ between those who are allowed to LEARN in the church and those who are NOT WORTHY TO PUBLICLY LEARN. The quote further divides the body of Christ by claiming superiority for some of the fleshly temples of God, allowing them full access to <\/span>learn and to <\/span>teach, while claiming that the voices of the other fleshly temples of God are\u00a0disgraceful. The sound of arrogance, pride, disrespect and a failure to LOVE are clearly opposite of what Paul declared are the commands of God. Those who will not love God by refusing to love the members of the body of Christ are not speaking for God. Their voices are to be disregarded. The clear voice of Scripture is that all are commanded to pray that they can edify the church. All are given authority to pray that they may edify the church and all are given permission to learn in church. Paul tells widows that they should serve the Lord as they are. If they needed a man to go home to in order to learn the Word, Paul would have told them they must marry to fulfill the law to learn at home. The divisions that pride caused in the Corinthian church that was forcing women to submit to a man-made law and this brought shame to the Corinthians and no praise from Paul. A spirit of arrogance puffed up through “worldly knowledge” separates and divides. But true godly love edifies. All things are freely given to men and women alike from the Spirit of God. (1 Cor 2:12.) We are all the temple of God and all are to be vessels of honor.Today, as in Paul’s day, some men claim that they have no need for women teachers. They already have the BEST in men teachers, and women are not needed. But the eye cannot say to the hand “I have no need of you.” (1 Cor. 12:21) When the church allows both men and women to boldly and freely serve the body of Christ in love, this will be the day that we are one step closer to true unity in the Spirit.<\/span><\/p>\nCONTEXT: The Corinthian’s Letter to Paul – Questions and Claims<\/h2>\n
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CONTEXT: The Same God Indwells All and Works in All<\/h2>\n
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CONTEXT: One Body of Christ – No Division, All are Needed<\/h2>\n
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CONTEXT: Paul’s Use of Logical Disjunctives to Rebut Bad Claims<\/h2>\n
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CONTEXT: God’s Choice<\/h2>\n
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CONTEXT: God’s Gifts<\/h2>\n
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CONTEXT: Servants of God work together<\/h2>\n
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CONTEXT: Spiritually Minded vs Natural Wisdom<\/h2>\n
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CONTEXT: Strengthening the Church<\/h2>\n
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CONTEXT: No Boasting<\/h2>\n
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CONTEXT: The Wisdom of the World<\/h2>\n
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CONTEXT: Paul’s Teachings and Correction<\/h2>\n
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CONTEXT: Love is the More Excellent Way<\/h2>\n
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CONTEXT: God is Not a God of Confusion – There is No Indistinct Sound in God’s Commands<\/h2>\n
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CONCLUSION<\/h2>\n