Are women not permitted to speak in the church?
Introduction. Our question is closely associated with one of Paul's statements to the church in Corinth: "Let your women keep silent in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak..." (1 Cor. 14: 34-35). Let’s examine how this verse should be understood with respect to women taking a leadership role in a public assembly and well as participating in public singing, leading a women-only Bible study, or other spiritual activities.
A closer look at I Corinthians 14: 34. These women are to “keep silent” (literally "to hold one's peace" or not make a sound (Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon, pg. 574, on sigao). "Churches" in the verse has particular reference to the assembly (vs. 16, 19, 23, 26). This speaking is associated with a desire to learn and ask questions. Paul says speaking out is contrary to the need to “be under obedience” and was “a shame” (KJV). Therefore, this passage is not addressing activities outside of the assembly (e.g., older women teaching younger women per Titus 2:4-5, Bible classes).
A closer look at the context. Our passage is surrounded by warnings concerning disorder in the assembly, especially in an excitable atmosphere of spiritual gifts (vs. 23, 33, 40). Paul is instructing the Corinthians how they were to exercise the worship service in an orderly manner. For example, if an interpreter was not present, those who could speak in tongues were to be “silent” (same word as in verse 34). If a prophet was speaking and another prophet received a more recent revelation, the first prophet was to be “silent” (same word as in verse 34). If the women wanted to ask questions, they were to be “silent” and were to ask their husbands at home (vs. 35). This passage is not addressing congregational singing in which all are to participate (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16).
Looking beyond 1 Cor. 14. Women have restrictions placed on them regarding the leadership of the local church. They are not to be elders (1 Tim. 3: 1-7). They are not to publicly preach or exercise authority over an audience containing men (1 Tim. 2: 12-15). Even when they exercised spiritual gifts of praying or prophesying in the early church (without men present per 1 Tim. 2:12-15), they were to be covered to show submissiveness to authority (1 Cor. 11:2-16).
Conclusion. From 1 Cor. 14:34-35 and other passages, we learn women in the audience are to be quiet learners and not to disrupt the worship service by asking questions. They should certainly participate in singing, but they are not to teach or exercise authority over men.
A closer look at I Corinthians 14: 34. These women are to “keep silent” (literally "to hold one's peace" or not make a sound (Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon, pg. 574, on sigao). "Churches" in the verse has particular reference to the assembly (vs. 16, 19, 23, 26). This speaking is associated with a desire to learn and ask questions. Paul says speaking out is contrary to the need to “be under obedience” and was “a shame” (KJV). Therefore, this passage is not addressing activities outside of the assembly (e.g., older women teaching younger women per Titus 2:4-5, Bible classes).
A closer look at the context. Our passage is surrounded by warnings concerning disorder in the assembly, especially in an excitable atmosphere of spiritual gifts (vs. 23, 33, 40). Paul is instructing the Corinthians how they were to exercise the worship service in an orderly manner. For example, if an interpreter was not present, those who could speak in tongues were to be “silent” (same word as in verse 34). If a prophet was speaking and another prophet received a more recent revelation, the first prophet was to be “silent” (same word as in verse 34). If the women wanted to ask questions, they were to be “silent” and were to ask their husbands at home (vs. 35). This passage is not addressing congregational singing in which all are to participate (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16).
Looking beyond 1 Cor. 14. Women have restrictions placed on them regarding the leadership of the local church. They are not to be elders (1 Tim. 3: 1-7). They are not to publicly preach or exercise authority over an audience containing men (1 Tim. 2: 12-15). Even when they exercised spiritual gifts of praying or prophesying in the early church (without men present per 1 Tim. 2:12-15), they were to be covered to show submissiveness to authority (1 Cor. 11:2-16).
Conclusion. From 1 Cor. 14:34-35 and other passages, we learn women in the audience are to be quiet learners and not to disrupt the worship service by asking questions. They should certainly participate in singing, but they are not to teach or exercise authority over men.