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does not say, not to sing. It could be argued, based on Ephesians 5:19 that psalms and hymns and spiritual songs are a form of speaking because it says: "speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs". However, there is no specific injunction against women singing in 1 Corinthians 14:34 and when the reason for the prohibition against speaking is examined it would appear that prohibiting singing would not have point (see below). As to saying Amen it says in a number of Old Testament passages that all the people should say Amen (see for example Deuteronomy 27). In the case of both singing and saying Amen the women would not be acting alone but their utterances would be merged with others, in other words, it would not be a woman speaking as such, but the congregation as a whole expressing themselves in song, or in the case of saying Amen, in a word. Speaking does however cover the asking of questions as well as teaching, praying or otherwise making audible utterances.

What are assemblies ?

The passage states that the silence is to be in the assemblies, that is in formal gatherings. It does not say when the assembly is together, as that might be thought to limit it to the two specific occasions when the assembly comes together, that is, to eat the Lord's supper and for discipline (1 Corinthians 11:22; 5:4). That this is the correct meaning of the passage is confirmed by the statement in verse 35: "It is a shame for a woman to speak in assembly", that is, in a gathering of that character. (Note: there is no 'the' before assembly, showing that it is any formal coming together that is in mind) It would apply to a secular assembly as well as a Christian one, though it may well be that God's ordering would only be properly maintained in his assembly. As to when a gathering is an assembly may in some cases not be entirely clear and, when this is so, there is scope for spiritual sensibilities to be exercised. The point would be, as always, to seek to keep within the bounds of Scripture. We should not seek on the one hand to water down the Scripture or on the other take it up in such an unreasonable way that the practice becomes discredited in people's minds. We should seek to understand the point of what the apostle is advocating as this would help us to take up the matter in an intelligent way. It should be mentioned that the idea of 'in assembly' is not the idea conveyed in the AV when it says 'in church'. The latter wording would convey the idea that women should be silent when they are in a church building which is not in the apostle's mind at all.

What is subjection ?

Speaking is put in contrast to being in subjection. This practically means that the woman is to receive from her head, rather than instruct her head, hence she is to ask questions of her own husband at home. Subjection does not by any means imply inferiority. Is Christ inferior to God ? Yet God is his head (1 Corinthians 11:3) and ultimately he will be placed in subjection to God (1 Corinthians 15:28). The divine ordering stated by Paul in chapter 11:3 applies generally. It must be said that Paul is dealing with outward ordering; it does not necessarily mean that in her personal relationship with Christ a woman may not be closer than her husband is to him and have his mind rather than her husband (e.g.1 Peter 3:1). Speaking often involves teaching and to a woman this is specifically forbidden whether in assembly or out: "I do not suffer a woman to teach" (1 Timothy 2:12). As it says also in verse 11 of that passage a woman is to learn in quietness in all subjection. Learning is in contrast to teaching and being in subjection is in contrast to exercising authority over man which Paul also forbids to a woman in verse 12. In both the passages we are considering the thought is that a woman should not obtrude herself. In 1 Corinthians 14: 34 silence is spoken of and in 1 Timothy 2:11-15 quietness is mentioned twice. Note then the reasons given for Paul's injunctions in the passage in 1 Timothy. Paul goes right back to Adam and Eve to support what he says. If we reject the early chapters of Genesis as fables then it is not surprising if we find we are left without a rational basis for the scriptural injunctions as to how man and woman should behave. Note also that Paul states in verse 8 of 1 Timothy 2 that men are to pray in every place. This does not mean that women should not pray. Other passages would show that they should (e.g. Luke 2:37;1 Timothy 5:5), but it is only men that are to pray in every place. This would cover both public and private prayer. They are to lift up pious hands. The lifting up of their hands would indicate that they were speaking to God. Usually in prayer meetings that I have attended men do not lift up their hands, but usually stand up to pray thereby indicating that they are speaking to God and not to

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