Women in Ministry
We at the Congregation of Yahshua, Pittsburgh Pa., believe that in order to correctly interpret the scriptures they must first be understood in the original. (whom is it addressing/why was this direction given etc.)
The letters in the New Testament are just that, letters written to specific people with specific issues, (though under the direction of the Holy Spirit).
Although we cannot answer all questions about the specific situation Paul was addressing in Corinth, we do conclude that he was addressing a specific situation rather than making a general prohibition on women speaking in church.
His intent was to prohibit disruptive disrespectful behavior, questions and comments that were part of the chaotic Corinthian meetings—and in Corinth, these particular practices were coming from the women.
Just as he told the disorderly tongues-speakers and prophets to control themselves because God is not a God of disorder, he also told the women to control themselves because the law teaches self-control.
Now we can see why Paul is writing to the Corinthian church…
1 Corinthians 1:10-11 “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Yahshua Messiah, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.“
1 Corinthians 11:17-18 “Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.”
This church is very divided and out of order. Although they appeared to be working in gifts of tongues and prophecy we see they were not in order thus causing much confusion within the church which added to their divisions.
1 Corinthians 3:1-3 “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Messiah. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”
And because of this they allowed sin in their midst, sexual immorality and pride..
1 Corinthians 5:1-2 “It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.”
…they are suing one another…
1 Corinthians 6:1-2 “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?”
This church is so divided and not Spirit led that they even abuse communion, with gluttony and drunkenness and no love of the brethren, 1 Corinthians 11:17-30.
What’s going on at Corinth? Corinth was a center of worship for the god Bacchus/Dionysus. As part of worship, Corinthians would lose all self-control in ecstatic, drunken frenzies.
They also spoke nonsense “tongues.” The church at Corinth was getting drunk at communion, and going a little wild with tongues and prophecies. The Roman writer Livy claims that most of the Bacchus worshippers were women. In religious practice in that area of the world, then and now, women contribute “ululations”—ritualistic wailing—to certain rites.
It also happened in triumphant or ecstatic worship, and certainly in the Bacchus cult. Bacchus worship seems to have been influencing the Corinthian church. So it makes sense that women would bring these ululations in, which would certainly be disruptive and not edifying.
What going on at Ephesus? In Ephesus it was a similar situation, it was the worship of Artemis/Diana. Diana was fiercely independent and spirited and vowed not to be associated with or subjected to a man. In the Cult of Diana, women dominated and subjugated men.
The cult was sexist not teaching equality of access to God, but rather special privilege by women to receive instruction from the Goddess. It was from this type of 'sexist' teaching and behavior that converts from the Cult of Diana were to refrain and unlike in the Dianic Cult, women were to learn in submission and in all quietness.
They (Corinthians and Ephesians) were bringing in the baggage of how they worshipped their idols into the worship of Yahweh… this is nothing new. Israel did it consistently.
They were attempting to worship Yahweh the way the heathens worship their gods which Yahweh had told them not to do.
Paul was addressing particular problems specific to these churches that was resulting in inappropriate behavior. Paul was not giving a universal order to all women of all time not to teach.
But was ordering that women do not assume superiority over men or promote false teachings (in Ephesus) or disorderly outburst (in Corinth). Women should learn first, being educated in the faith before they teach.
Paul’s focus isn’t gender but order. Now starting at 1st Cor. chapter 12 through 14 Paul begins to teach them how to order their services.
1 Corinthians 12:1-2 “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.”
He lets them know in the rest of this chapter there are other gifts not just tongues and prophecy. Even with gifting nothing maters if we don’t love one another, chapter 13.
He takes these 2 chapters to educate them on spiritual things and no matter what without love you have nothing. Now in chapter 14 he begins to give them correction for the things they are doing during service and how to handle the situation without denying tongues or prophecy.
1 Corinthians 14:27-34 “If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If anything be revealed to another that sits by, let the first hold his peace.
For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.”
ORDER…
1 Corinthians 14:40 “Let all things be done decently and in order.” No one speaking out of order so that the body can be edified and not confused.
In Ephesus – In the Cult of Diana, women dominated and subjugated men. The cult was sexist not teaching equality of access to God, but rather special privilege by women to receive instruction from the Goddess.
1 Timothy 2:11-13 “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve.”
Again this is about order not gender. These women are corrupting the teaching of the word with their idolatrous doctrine and ways.
We at the congregation of Yahshua have had to silence women at the church at various times for a period of time… insisting as Paul commanded that they be silent and learn. We would do likewise to a man if he were to exhibit the same disruptive behavior.
This is just a small tibbit of a much larger study. I hope this helps in understanding our teaching on this matter. If you have any further questions or comments please don’t hesitate. Much love in the Master Yahshua.