A blanket ban on women asking any questions during the ACM

Question: Before the ACM, a Bible-Presbyterian pastor told sisters not to ask questions during the ACM but to remain silent. If they had any questions, they were to go home and ask their own husbands. Is this a correct interpretation of 1 Cor 14:34 35, or was Apostle Paul addressing a different issue, such as women preaching or disorderliness in the church?

Based on the broader context of 1 Corinthians and the specific wording of the passage, a blanket ban on women asking any questions during the ACM is a misapplication of Scripture. Paul's instruction was a specific remedy for a specific problem of disorder, not a universal command for all women in all church settings.

Subject: A Reflection on 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 and Its Application

Dear Pastor,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to you with a spirit of respect and a desire for clarity and unity in our church body. I have been reflecting on the instruction given to the sisters before the ACM, that they are not to ask questions but to remain silent and direct any inquiries to their husbands at home. While I understand the desire to maintain order, I am concerned that this may be an interpretation of 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 that does not fully account for the context and the broader message of Scripture.

My goal in sharing these thoughts is not to be divisive but to engage in the kind of thoughtful study of God's Word that we are all called to.

The Context: Addressing Disorder, Not All Speech

The key to understanding this passage lies in the surrounding text. The entire 14th chapter of 1 Corinthians is a detailed instruction on orderly worship, specifically concerning the exercise of spiritual gifts like tongues and prophecy. Paul's primary concern is that "God is not a God of disorder but of peace" . This is the overarching principle guiding his commands.

When we read verse 35, it clarifies the type of "speaking" Paul is addressing: "If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home" . This suggests the problem was disruptive questioning during the service. The issue was not a woman sharing a prophecy or prayer—which Paul had earlier acknowledged as permissible in 1 Corinthians 11:5—but rather interruptions from women seeking to learn by asking questions that were disrupting the meeting .

Why a "Blanket Ban" is Problematic

Applying this as a universal rule for all women in all church settings misses several important points:

1.  It contradicts other Scripture: As mentioned, Paul explicitly gives instructions for how women should conduct themselves when they do pray or prophesy in the church (1 Corinthians 11:5). A complete and permanent ban on all speech would make Paul inconsistent. The prohibition in chapter 14 is better understood as a restriction on a specific, disorderly type of speaking (asking questions to disrupt the meeting), not a prohibition on the meaningful participation that Paul acknowledges elsewhere .

2.  It silences the wrong people for the wrong reason: The instruction was given to "the women" who were being disruptive. It was not a blanket condemnation of all women. The pastor's instruction to all sisters to ask their husbands at home creates a burden that Scripture does not place on them. The command is a pastoral response to a local problem of disorder, not a trans-cultural, universal law for the church .

3.  It undermines the pursuit of knowledge: The verse itself states that the women "desire to learn something" . The instruction is not to "prevent" them from learning but to redirect "how and when" they ask their questions to preserve the peace and order of the worship service . Discouraging them from asking "any" questions effectively hinders their spiritual growth.

A Better Approach

The command in this passage is not a divine mandate to silence women but a practical guideline to ensure that "everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way" (1 Corinthians 14:40). In our modern context, this principle can be applied without creating a stumbling block or a sense of exclusion. Encouraging all members to be thoughtful and respectful of the service, regardless of gender, aligns much more closely with Paul's intent.

Thank you for taking the time to consider this perspective. I pray that our church will continue to be a place where all are encouraged to grow in their knowledge of Christ.

Grace and peace be with you.

Rev. So and So