10-16-2009, 03:16 PM
The words that start in the middle of 1 Corinthians 14:33 and run through verse 35 may well be spurious additions to the Bible, for they say: ‘And as [is true] in all the congregations of Holy Ones; the women should remain silent in the congregation. They shouldn’t be allowed to speak out. Rather (as the Law says), they should be submissive. And if they wish to know something, let them ask their husbands [when they get] home, for it’s disgraceful for a woman to speak out in a congregation.’
The reasons why the authenticity of these words should be questioned are because:
1. There is no such injunction in the Law of Moses. And it would simply be out of charactor for Paul, who went to such lengths to tell Christians that they were not under the Law, to quote the Law as something that they should obey, and then to cite the Law as saying something that it doesn't say.
2. In the most ancient texts of this book, the words are not added in the same location, giving the impression that they were written as a later note.
3. The injunction flies in the face of God’s use of women in outstanding and prominent positions, such as judges of Israel and as Prophets.
However, the words at Colossians 3:18 (‘Wives; Always obey your husbands, since this is proper [for those who are] in the Lord’) are in line with other scriptures, and appear to be authentic.
The reasons why the authenticity of these words should be questioned are because:
1. There is no such injunction in the Law of Moses. And it would simply be out of charactor for Paul, who went to such lengths to tell Christians that they were not under the Law, to quote the Law as something that they should obey, and then to cite the Law as saying something that it doesn't say.
2. In the most ancient texts of this book, the words are not added in the same location, giving the impression that they were written as a later note.
3. The injunction flies in the face of God’s use of women in outstanding and prominent positions, such as judges of Israel and as Prophets.
However, the words at Colossians 3:18 (‘Wives; Always obey your husbands, since this is proper [for those who are] in the Lord’) are in line with other scriptures, and appear to be authentic.