WOMEN PREACHERS: The “Problem” of 1 Corinthians 14:34

The church at Corinth was alive with spiritual fervor. It was a gathering of believers freshly anointed by the Holy Spirit, but often lacking restraint. Spiritual gifts flowed freely—tongues, prophecies, revelations—but sometimes without order or discernment. There was excitement without structure, zeal without wisdom. So Paul wrote to bring light to their fire, direction to their enthusiasm, and order to their gatherings. “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints” (1 Corinthians 14:33).

Chapter 14 is a masterpiece of divine order. Paul begins with love—always love. “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy” (v. 1). The Greek word for “prophesy” is προφητεύω (prophēteuō), meaning to speak forth or declare the divine will; to proclaim the mind of God. In the early church, before the written New Testament was complete, the prophets were the living voice of God among His people. Their role was not unlike that of preachers today—to teach, edify, exhort, and comfort the body of Christ.

But the Corinthians, in their eagerness, had allowed worship to become a clamor of competing voices. Tongues were spoken without interpretation. Prophets spoke over one another. Wives interrupted their husbands during prophecy. The Spirit’s harmony had been replaced with noise. And so Paul, with pastoral firmness, called them back to reverence and order.

He laid down three principles of silence, each a boundary for the sake of peace. “If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church” (vv. 27–28). The phrase “keep silent” is from the Greek σιγάω (sigáō), meaning to be still, to refrain from speaking, to make no sound. It does not mean to be silenced forever, but to be quiet in that moment for the sake of order.

Next, Paul applies the same command to the prophets: “If a revelation comes to another who is seated, let the first keep silent” (v.30). Again, σιγάω—be still until the proper time. The Spirit of the prophets, Paul reminds them, “is subject to the prophets” (v. 32). In other words, the Holy Spirit does not cause chaos or compel interruption. God’s power does not overwhelm self-control.

Then comes the third command of silence: “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” (v. 34). It is here that centuries of misunderstanding have taken root. Some have treated this as an eternal ban on women speaking, preaching, or teaching in any assembly. But Paul’s own words in the same letter prove otherwise.

Earlier, in 1 Corinthians 11:5, Paul wrote, “Every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head.” The implication is plain: women were praying and prophesying publicly.

The Greek word for “woman” in 1 Corinthians 14:34 (where he said, “women are to keep silent”) is γυνή (gynē), which also means wife. In the Greek, in other words, in which the New Testament was written, the word for women is the same word for wives. The context must determine the meaning. And Paul himself provides the key: “If they have anything to ask, let them ask their own husbands at home” (v.35). Not all women have husbands. Therefore, this cannot apply to all women. It applies specifically to wives. Which wives? All wives? Of course not. Wives who were interrupting their husbands, likely while their husbands were prophesying in the assembly.

These wives were speaking out of turn, questioning or commenting aloud during their husbands’ public ministry. Paul simply commands them to be quiet—σιγάω, the same command given to tongue-speakers and prophets—not because they were women, but because they were creating disorder.

If we apply Paul’s words universally, then no woman could sing, pray, confess faith, or even greet another believer aloud in the assembly. But that would contradict not only chapter 11 but also the rest of Scripture, where women played active, vocal roles in the life of God’s people. Miriam sang unto the Lord (Exodus 15:21). Deborah prophesied and judged Israel (Judges 4:4–5). Huldah prophesied to kings (2 Kings 22:14–20). Anna the prophetess “spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38). Philip had “four virgin daughters who prophesied” (Acts 21:9).

The early church was not a silenced church. It was a Spirit-filled one. On the day of Pentecost, Peter stood with the eleven and declared the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy: “Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy” (Acts 2:17). The fire that fell on Pentecost rested upon both men and women alike. The Holy Spirit is not partial in His anointing. He fills whom He calls.

Paul’s aim in 1 Corinthians 14 was not to muzzle women but to bring order to the exercise of spiritual gifts. He reminded the church that “God is not the author of confusion” (v. 33). That truth still applies. The gifts of the Spirit are to be used with reverence, humility, and love.

When Paul said, “If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord” (v. 37), he was asserting apostolic authority over every prophetic voice in Corinth. The prophets could not contradict the apostle. Likewise today, no preacher, teacher, or tradition has authority to contradict what the apostles wrote. And the apostolic record—when read in full—shows that women prayed and prophesied publicly under the anointing of the Spirit.

To deny women that same right today is to deny the apostolic witness itself. It is to build fences where God has opened gates. It is to substitute human tradition for divine command.

Paul told Timothy, “Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine” (1 Timothy 5:17). That labor—the preaching and teaching of the Word—has never been reserved by gender. What matters is not the voice, but the vessel. God said, “I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh” (Acts 2:17).

In Christ, the dividing walls have fallen. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). That does not erase distinction, but it does erase limitation. The same God who leads a man to preach may lead a woman. The same fire that burned in Peter may burn in Priscilla, who with her husband Aquila “explained the way of God more accurately” to Apollos (Acts 18:26).

The Lord’s body must not quench the Spirit by silencing those He has gifted. Here is the principle: “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things. Hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:19–21). When we refuse to test, we simply repeat tradition. When we hold fast to truth, we honor Christ.

Christ Himself is the head of His body, the church. He is the One who calls, equips, and sends. “He gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers” (Ephesians 4:11). These gifts were not distributed by gender but by grace. The Spirit chooses His instruments as He wills.

In the end, the real issue is not whether a woman can preach, but whether God has gifted and led her to do so. And if He has, who are we to forbid her voice? “Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls” (Romans 14:4).

Let us walk humbly, honor God’s order, and open our hearts to His fullness. The gospel flame burns brighter when every tongue He has touched declares His praise. Let us not extinguish what Heaven has ignited.

Lord Jesus, You are the Builder of Your church, the Caller of Your servants, the Giver of every good gift. Thank You for pouring out Your Spirit on all flesh—sons and daughters, old and young, men and women—and for calling each of us into Your service. Teach us to honor Your Word, to walk in Your order, and to rejoice in the diversity of Your grace. Deliver us from the traditions that quench Your fire. May our hearts be open to every voice You have chosen, and may every word spoken be for Your glory alone.

Let the body of Christ be filled with holy order, humble power, and the living sound of Your Spirit’s truth.

Amen.

Bryan Dewayne Dunaway