1 Corinthians 14 deals with the conduct of members of the church during the worship assembly. Our attention is drawn to a usage of the word church that is often neglected by preachers and teachers of God’s word, but nevertheless is present and prominent in this chapter.

We have often heard it and taught that the word church is used of the children of Israel in the wilderness (Acts 7:38), a riotous crowd in the city of Ephesus (Acts 19:32), a legal meeting of the officials of any city (Acts 19:39, trans. "assembly" – a common usage), the entirety of the church of Christ (Matt. 16:18), and local groups of Christians banded together in congregations (Rom. 16:16). But the word church, or ekklesia in the Greek, is used to denote the worship assembly of the congregation of Corinth.

There are several places where the word "church" in 1 Corinthians obviously refers to the local congregation. For instance, verse 4: "He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church," and verse 5: "Now I would have you all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy: and greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying." Other verses where this meaning is apparent are verses 12 and 23. However, there are three verses in which the context demands a different explanation. They are verse 19, "Howbeit in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue," verse 28, "But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God," and verse 35, "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."

Now of course, statements here cannot mean in the local congregation, for that would bring a prohibition of speaking at all upon those mentioned in verses 28 and 35 as long as they were in the local congregation. And that he is talking about what we call "the worship assembly" is apparent from the statement of verse 23, "If therefore the whole church be assembled together and all speak with tongues, and there come in men unlearned or unbelieving, will they not say that ye are mad?" The chapter deals with the conduct of those who had spiritual gifts in their worship assemblies where there was ample opportunity to use or abuse those gifts.

As in many of Paul’s writings, there are principles stated that are applied to the subject at hand, but are also true in other applications. The subject at hand, as we have observed, is the conduct of Christians who had miraculous powers in the exercise of those powers. Paul states one of those principles in loose connection with the chapter’s subject, then he is the one who make a broader application. Here is the statement of that principle: "As in all the churches of the saints, (34)let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law" (1 Cor. 14:33-34). The obvious application to the subject is, that those women who possessed the miraculous powers of tongues or prophecy were not to exercise them when "the whole church be assembled." Why not? "It is not permitted unto them to speak." He therefore makes a narrow application of a principle that is much broader. Then he makes an application of that same principle that shows us that it doesn’t just apply to this narrow area of miraculous exercises. "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" (vs. 35). Here Paul is discussing something far apart from miraculous utterances. He is talking about asking a question out loud in the assembly. Why is it prohibited? "It is shameful for a woman to speak in the church."

There are some who have made an attempt to distinguish between different kinds of assemblies. Did the early church have Pentecostal type miracle services, or did they exercise their gifts in the normal course of the assembly of the whole church? There is nothing in any of these passages to suggest that this assembly was anything but the normal assembly of the whole church.

In the chapter, it says that those who speak in tongues are to "keep silence in the church" "if there be no interpreter." From the immediate context, we know that absolute silence is not what is meant. He simply is not to speak in tongues with no interpreter present. That statement of verse 28 comes in instructions given to tongue-speakers with regard to the rules they are to follow in the assembly. It has nothing to do with leading prayers or asking questions. And the reason given is simple: "If therefore the whole church be assembled together and all speak with tongues, and there come in men unlearned or unbelieving, will they not say that ye are mad?" (vs. 23), and, "What is it then, brethren? When ye come together, each one hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying" (vs. 26).

The context of the prohibition of women speaking is more general. Not only is she not to speak in tongues or prophecy, but she is not even to ask questions in the assembly. And the reason has not to do with some peculiar circumstance, like the absence of an interpreter. The reason given is as plain as can be: "For it is shameful for a woman to speak in the church" (vs. 35).

Some have suggested that chapter 11 teaches that in some assemblies it is alright for a woman to pray or prophesy, as long as she covers her head. Whereas chapter 11 speaks of women and their appearance in public, it would include conduct in the assembly. But where is the verse that indicates this is a separate assembly? It simply is not there.

Some have used sophistry and argued that if the prohibition to speak precludes speaking at all in the assemblies, a woman cannot sing, because, after all, singing is "speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs" (Eph. 5:19). In the sense that singing is for the purpose of edifying and exhorting, that is true, but there is a difference between speaking out and saying words by yourself, which 1 Corinthians forbids women to do, and joining your voice in song with others to worship God and admonish the brethren. Those who understand that singing and talking are literally two different activities have no trouble understanding that.

A disturbing practice has invaded the so-called "conservative" camp. Preachers have been seen from time to time calling on audience members, including women, to read verses or answer questions during the assembly of the whole church. The justification is that they are in subjection if they do this in response to a man’s direction. Well, a woman is to be in subjection, but that is not all that the passage says. "Let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak … for it is shameful for a woman to speak in the church" (vs. 34-35).

The teaching of the Scripture is plain. I do not know why certain ones are so determined to depart from that which is written, but I do know that once started down this road, many find no opportunity for a U-turn. The more liberal elements are not so far out of sight as we thought when they began using women leading songs and prayers, waiting the table and exercising leadership over the men.

The practice of asking women to read or answer questions during sermons is a serpent that has bitten them.

How long before it devours us?