First Corinthians 11:5 speaks of sisters praying. Should sisters in the meeting be robbed of the joy of participating in prayer?
Oh, the language is a little bit difficult to answer there. The verb 'to rob' presupposes the answer, so it's a very difficult question to answer, because it presupposes that they have the right so to do, and anybody who says they haven't is robbing them of their right. But that is the point at issue, isn't it? Is it their right? Godly people who have careful concern to interpret Scripture seriously and responsibly have come to different points of view on the matter. First Corinthians 11 gives direction as to the women being veiled when they pray or prophesy, and I presume that means pray and prophesy in the presence of men. Chapter 14 finishes that part of first Corinthians that begins in chapter 11. It starts by talking about the women and it ends with talking about them, and not by accident either. It says that it is a shame for a woman to speak in the church (1 Corinthians 14:35).
The question arises, how do you resolve the apparent contradiction that chapter 11 gives direction for how they are to pray and prophesy, presumably in the presence of men, and chapter 14 gives direction that it is a shame for them to speak in the church, even for the purpose of asking a question?
Now, as I say, responsible exegetes and elders of churches have differed in how they resolve that apparent problem. As a rather elderly rusty old bachelor, brought up in various traditions, I've done my best to try and understand these things. I've come myself to the conclusion that the distinction is between the church and the home. What women are said not to do in the church, for it's a shame for them to speak, so let them not ask questions, they are encouraged to do at home, and Paul begins that particular paragraph in chapter 14 with the words, 'As in all the churches . . . the women should keep silent in the churches' (1 Corinthians 14:33–34). What they do elsewhere, not in the church, is another thing.
Secondly, in my understanding Paul calls upon the law to support him, and I take that to be not just a restrictive verse or two in Genesis 3, but the whole Old Testament law. In Israel, under that law the custom was that they had prophetesses, and they exercised their ministry sometimes in the presence of men.
Anna was such a prophetess and when Mary and Joseph brought the child Jesus into the temple, 'coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem' (Luke 2:38). Quite clearly that was in the presence of Joseph, if no more men. So women did pray and prophesy in the presence of men. What they did not do under the law, as far as I'm aware, was to lead the congregation in prayers and praises in the temple. Nor, as far as I'm aware, did they lead the prayers and praises in the synagogues. I take it Paul is saying that, as in Judaism, that kind of order should be followed in the churches.
I say that sincerely, and I hope the sisters don't say, 'There goes another thief and robber.' I didn't write these verses. This is my simple, sincere effort to understand them. Other people hold differently and I respect their view. It is, I think, for the elders of any church to decide before God what they feel that he means, and therefore it is godliness on the part of church members to submit to the elders in these matters.
