The Don Martin - Jeff Smelser - Mark J. Ward Discussion on

I Corinthians 14:34,35


Smelser's 8th


The following is brother Jeff Smelser's next in the exchange on the true meaning and application of I Corinthians 14:34,35 today.

Subject: Re: I Corinthians 14:34,35
Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2003 21:45:06 -0500
From: "Jeff Smelser" <jeffsmelser@ntgreek.net>
To: <mars-list@mtsu.edu>
CC: "Don Martin" <dmartin5@concentric.net>, <markjward@darientel.net>

Jeff Smelser to Mark Ward, Don Martin, and the list.

Mark asked,

> QUESTION ONE:
> Brother Don (and Jeff, if you like), are the following activities WRONG?

-snip-

> A. A PROPHETESS MARRIED TO A PROPHET, innocent in heart, raising her hand,
> waiting to be called upon (thus non-disruptive like the simultaneous Bible
> class arrangement), and asking a question in the assembly of the local
> church?

On the basis of 1 Cor. 14:33b-35, yes, it is wrong for her to ask the
question.

"as in all the churches of the saints, let the women keep silence in the
church, for it is not permitted unto them to speak...And if they would learn
anything, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is shameful for a
woman to speak in the church."

The fact that she is a prophetess doesn't change God's word. In fact, it is
the very existence of prophetesses in the churches that made necessary
Paul's reminder of the rule that women are not to speak in the assembly as
he discussed the use of spiritual gifts in the assembly. Arguments based on
what we think the rule should be in view of the fact that the woman is a
prophetess may claim to exalt divine revelation, but in fact, no argument
that sets aside divine revelation on the matter can truly be said to
exalt divine revelation. 1 Cor. 14:33b-35 is divine revelation.


> B. A PROPHETESS NOT MARRIED TO A PROPHET, BUT MARRIED TO A SAINT WHO IS
> UNINSPIRED, innocent in heart, raising her hand, waiting to be called
> upon (thus non-disruptive like the simultaneous Bible class arrangement),
> and asking a question in the assembly of the local church?

On the basis of 1 Cor. 14:33b-35, yes, it is wrong for her to ask the
question.

"as in all the churches of the saints, let the women keep silence in the
church, for it is not permitted unto them to speak...And if they would learn
anything, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is shameful for a
woman to speak in the church."

> C. A PROPHETESS NOT MARRIED TO A PROPHET, BUT MARRIED TO AN ALIEN,
> innocent in heart, raising her hand, waiting to be called upon (thus
> non-disruptive like the simultaneous Bible class arrangement), and
> asking a question in the assembly of the local church?

On the basis of 1 Cor. 14:33b-35, yes, it is wrong for her to ask the
question.

"as in all the churches of the saints, let the women keep silence in the
church, for it is not permitted unto them to speak...And if they would learn
anything, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is shameful for a
woman to speak in the church."

Of course, one might ask how it can be expected that she should ask her
own husband at home given that he is not a Christian. Mark, as you have
well remarked, Paul's language here is as in 1 Corinthians 11:34, where
Paul wrote, "If any man is hungry, let him eat at home." This was not to
say that home is the only place a man could satisfy his hunger. But it was
to say that a man should not construe the Lord's Supper as a meal to
satisfy hunger, that there are other occasions where it is appropriate to
satisfy hunger, and Paul mentioned the most obvious: "at home". So
also in 1 Corinthians 14:35. Paul does not mean to say that a woman
may not privately ask one of the elders, or an older woman, or whomever.
But he makes it clear that she should not ask her question in the assembly,
that there are others besides the assembled church to whom she can
address her question, and Paul mentions the most obvious: her husband.

> D. An PROPHET'S WIFE WHO IS UNINSPIRED, innocent in heart, raising her
> hand, waiting to be called upon (thus non-disruptive like the simultaneous
> Bible class arrangement) and asking a question in the assembly of the
> local church?

On the basis of 1 Cor. 14:33b-35, yes, it is wrong for her to ask the
question.

"as in all the churches of the saints, let the women keep silence in the
church, for it is not permitted unto them to speak...And if they would learn
anything, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is shameful for a
woman to speak in the church."

> E. An UNMARRIED UNINSPIRED WOMAN (virgin, non-virgin or widow), innocent
> in heart, raising her hand, waiting to be called upon (thus non-disruptive
> like the simultaneous Bible class arrangement) and asking a question
> in the assembly of the local church?

On the basis of 1 Cor. 14:33b-35, yes, it is wrong for her to ask the
question.

"as in all the churches of the saints, let the women keep silence in the
church, for it is not permitted unto them to speak...And if they would learn
anything, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is shameful for a
woman to speak in the church."

Regarding her unmarried status, see my previous remarks in response to
question C.

> F. An UNMARRIED INSPIRED WOMAN (virgin, non-virgin or widow), innocent in
> heart, raising her hand, waiting to be called upon (thus non-disruptive
> like the simultaneous Bible class arrangement) and asking a question
> in the assembly of the local church?

On the basis of 1 Cor. 14:33b-35, yes, it is wrong for her to ask the
question.

"as in all the churches of the saints, let the women keep silence in the
church, for it is not permitted unto them to speak...And if they would learn
anything, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is shameful for a
woman to speak in the church."

Regarding her unmarried status, see my previous remarks in response to
question C.


> G. A PROPHETESS WHO IS MARRIED TO AN UNINSPIRED MAN asking him a question
> "at home"?

No, it is not wrong.

> H. A PROPHETESS WHO IS MARRIED TO AN UNINSPIRED MAN asking ANOTHER MAN
> (other than her husband, like a man more knowledgeable in the
> scriptures whether inspired or not) a question away from the
> assembly of the local church?

No, it is not wrong. Paul's words, "let them ask their own husbands at
home" are as in 1 Corinthians 11:34, where Paul wrote, "If any man
is hungry, let him eat at home." This was not to say that home
is the only place a man could satisfy his hunger. But it was to
say that a man should not construe the Lord's Supper as a meal to
satisfy hunger, that there are other occasions where it is appropriate to
satisfy hunger, and Paul mentioned the most obvious: "at home". So
also in 1 Corinthians 14:35. Paul does not mean to say that a woman
may not privately ask one of the elders, or an older woman, or whomever.
But he makes it clear that she should not ask her question in the assembly,
that there are others besides the assembled church to whom she can
address her question, and Paul mentions the most obvious: her husband.

> I. A PROPHETESS WHO IS MARRIED TO AN UNINSPIRED MAN asking ANOTHER WOMAN
> (like a woman who had great knowledge of the scriptures, whether
> she had the gift of knowledge or no inspiration at all) a question
> away from the assembly of the local church?

No, it is not wrong. See my remarks in response to question K
[part "H" -mjw]. [EDITOR'S NOTE: Jeff later corrected his reference to his response to part "K"  to say he meant to write see his reponse to part "H". I insert this here to assist the student of this discussion, but please note Jeff making this correction in what is titled "Smelser's 10th" - mjw]. Just as 1
Cor.11:34 did not prohibit eating at McDonald's, 1 Cor. 14:35 does not
prohibit asking a question of another woman outside the context of the
assembly.

> J. AN UNINSPIRED WOMAN WHO IS MARRIED TO AN UNINSPIRED MAN asking ANOTHER
> MAN (other than her husband, like a man more knowledgeable
> in the scriptures whether inspired or not) a question away from
> the assembly of the local church?

No, it is not wrong. See my remarks in response to question K[
part "H" -mjw]. Just as 1
Cor.11:34 did not prohibit a picnic on the riverbank, 1 Cor. 14:35 does not
prohibit asking a question of another man outside the context of the
assembly.

> K. AN UNINSPIRED WOMAN WHO IS NOT MARRIED ASKING A MAN (like a man more
> knowledgeable in the scriptures whether inspired or not) a question away
> from the assembly of the local church?

No, it is not wrong. See my remarks in response to question K
[part "H" - mjw].

Jeff Smelser
jeffsmelser@ntgreek.net
www.ntgreek.net
www.centrevillechurchofchrist.org



(from MARS-List Digest 4052, March 31, 2003)

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[Editor’s Note: This is one of the most in-depth, comprehensive studies between brethren on the issue of whether the women in the "b" part of verse 35 of I Corinthians 14:34,35 is "all women", including women today, or whether those women were only the "prophets wives". We hope all readers will continue to study all Bible topics with open minds, willing to conform to God's Truth. Thanks for reading! - Mark J. Ward markjward@yahoo.com]


Email the Editor at markjward@yahoo.com


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