Have you ever been to a play, movie, or presentation where there were disruptions? Paul addresses in verses 26-40 rude people being boisterous and obnoxious in a congregational gathering designed for one person to speak. “What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation.” (26b) Many were speaking at once, which isn’t right (27, 30). It sounded like a large flock of segals on a rocky ocean beach with waves crashing.
First, he tells them to no longer simultaneously speak in tongues and prophecy during their gatherings (26-33). Only one person is to speak in front of the congregation at a time.
Now Apostle Paul addresses interuptive side conversations, specifically mentioning wives. Paul is not contradicting his statement in 11:5, “And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head–it is just as though her head were shaved.” Women can pray and prophesy during congregational meetings.
When Paul says “women should remain silent in the churches” (34), he specifies that his statement concerns “if they want to inquire about something”. The original Greek word “eperotao” is used more often implying a pointed, urgent, or challenging inquiry demanding an answer. It is often used in association with people interrogating Jesus. (Matthew 22:35) Here, it is women asking questions.
Who are the women asking demanding questions and expecting an answer? Paul continues, “they should ask their own husbands at home” (35). The scene is this. One speaker, a prophet or teacher, is up front, and a wife turns to her husband and asks a question. What is her husband going to do? Any wise husband would answer. And so this side conversation interrupts those around them. Tell me you haven’t experienced this in a play, movie, classical concert, presentation, or church? I experienced it just last week during a Bible study.
Everyone, please be respectful. Silence your cell phones and stop the side conversations! Let the rest of us hear what we came to hear!
