A Woman’s Place in the Church

“Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says.” 1 Cor. 14:34.

They should not speak, but be submissive. Notice that the contrast is between speaking and being submissive.

“But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head . . . .” 1 Cor. 11:5.

Paul states that a woman can pray and speak prophetically. How can someone speak prophetically and at the same time be silent? Those who prophesy speak edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 1 Cor. 14:3-4. Those who speak prophetically edify the church.

We see again and again that the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. But we have become ministers of the Spirit, not of the letter.

What then is the Spirit that is in these contradictions according to the letter?

“Every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head . . . .” The man is the head of the woman just as Christ is the Head of the church. “For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of submission [Norw.] on her head, because of the angels.”

The woman is from the man and was created for the man’s sake just as the church is from the Man—Christ—and has been created for His sake.

The woman, as the weaker vessel, must therefore be submissive to the man, just as the church is submissive to Christ. This picture must be kept very clear, so we always remember that Christ is the Head.

If a woman either prays or speaks prophetically, she is to cover her head with a symbol of submission. By doing so, she declares, while she is speaking, that she has taken the position she has been given: a woman who understands her place and does not go beyond her measure when she speaks, becoming a man’s teacher or having authority over a man. With all submission, she speaks prophetically to the edification of the church.

When speaking prophetically, she must not go beyond that which is unto edification, exhortation, and comfort; otherwise, she should remain silent. She must not give a message that makes her a teacher or have authority over a man. In these areas, she must remain silent and be submissive. This is not because she is any less than the man—in Christ—but as a representative of the church, she must not be in opposition to her head.

Quite often a woman is more spiritual than the men who are present. When she speaks prophetically according to the light she has, the men can learn a lot from what she says. So, in this way, she is actually a teacher for the men. What can we say about this? The woman has permission and liberty to speak according to all the light that she has, as long as she keeps her spirit pure from thoughts about having authority over the man. In such a case, the man should not be so concerned that a woman has infringed on his honor. If he is carnal, that is his own fault. Just because he was born as a man does not make him a prophet or make him spiritual, if he does not walk in the Spirit.

Paul commended Phoebe, who was a servant of the church in Cenchrea, saying: “That you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.”

Phoebe was on her way to Rome, and Paul exhorted the ones there to receive her in the Lord for what she was, a servant of the church in Cenchrea.

Paul sent greetings to the married couple Priscilla and Aquila, “My fellow workers in Christ Jesus.” Rom. 16:1-4.

The man has full rights, so he must not begrudge the woman the limited rights and honor that she is entitled to. This is righteousness.

A lack of knowledge has caused people to serve according to the letter of the law, and they have emphasized it to such a degree that the woman has been made to be more of a slave than what she is according to the Scriptures. We need to learn to be ministers of the Spirit and not of the letter. If someone wants to cling to the letter, they themselves are slaves, and they make slaves of others. It is not God’s will or intention that we should be ministers of the letter. When David ate the showbread, it brought him life; yet according to the letter, if anyone ate of it, they were to die. He understood the ministry of the Spirit.

So, what should we do? The woman should show respect for the man in all her conduct and speech and not exalt herself as his head or teacher. If the man feels judged when a woman speaks prophetically, he ought to judge himself. He cannot defend his flesh by using such a pathetic excuse as, “You are a woman, so you must not speak in a way that makes me feel judged.” All may prophesy, and if an ungodly person comes in, he is judged by all and rebuked by all.