I am adding a new section to my blog. It will be called Controversy Corner. There I will occasionally deal with issues of a more controversial nature. I have chosen to start with the role of women in the church. Am I brave or what? If you agree or disagree with me, feel free to voice your opinion. I am a strong believer that Christian fellowship is not based on doctrinal agreement. In fact, if we only fellowship with those who agree with us, I believe we have not fully understood the Kingdom of God. Therefore, if you disagree with me, I will not view you as any less of a brother or sister in Christ. I hope you will do the same for me. With that being said, let’s dive in to the topic of the place of women in the church.

Some say that there should be no argument on the subject of women in the church. After all, did not Paul clearly say that women should remain silent in assemblies, and they should not teach men? If we look at all the things Paul said about women, this principle may not be as clear as we think. In fact, as we shall see, Paul is quite contradictory on this subject.

Consequently, some people take Paul's statements that seem to be pro women and use them to back their viewpoint. Others use Paul's statements that appear to leave women in silence to back their position. Who is right? Sometimes when we are faced with a situation where the scriptures leave us confused, it is good to step back and try to get a look at the big picture. In what setting was Paul writing? What was the social and eschatological context of his statements? When we begin to discern these things, the probable interpretation of Paul's writings presents itself. We will try to get a look at this bigger picture in this post and the ones to follow. However, first let us begin by looking at some of Paul’s statements concerning women.

Let's begin with the granddaddy of them all.

"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. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church." (I Cor. 14:34-35)

Although this appears to be a clear cut command from Paul, it actually is a troubling passage. Paul seems to contradict what he says about women in chapter eleven of first Corinthians.

"But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved."  (I Cor. 11:5)

In chapter eleven Paul speaks of women prophesying, yet he commands them to be silent in chapter fourteen. Here we see an apparent contradiction. If women were prophesying, how could they keep the command to be silent? Moreover, few today demand that women wear coverings on their heads. Yet, many of those same folks stand against a women teaching a man.

Let's take a look at another statement Paul made about women.

"Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control." (I Timothy 2:11-15)

Again, in I Timothy we see what appears to be a clear cut command for women to remain silent in the assembly. However, scholars debate whether Paul is talking about women teaching in the assembly or the husband/ wife relationship in this passage. Notice how Young's Literal Translation presents these scriptures.

"Let a woman in quietness learn in all subjection, and a woman I do not suffer to teach, nor to rule a husband, but to be in quietness, for Adam was first formed, then Eve, and Adam was not deceived, but the woman, having been deceived, into transgression came, and she shall be saved through the child-bearing, if they remain in faith, and love, and sanctification, with sobriety."

We might be tempted to say speculating about these passages is merely trying to make them say what they clearly do not say. If these were all the dealings the Apostle Paul had with women, any argument for women teaching and participating in theological discussion would be a weak one at best. However, Paul did have interaction with women in his ministry, and when we see how he related to women, he appears to disobey his own commands! We will look at these contradictions in part two of this series.