Christians on social media have to navigate a minefield of posts designed to inflame reactions and create confrontations. It can sometimes be difficult to maintain a humble and contrite heart when interacting with people who seem intent on being entirely uncharitable. However, when encountering fellow Christians, one would expect that charity, grace, and kindness would be extended to one another. Sadly, that is not often the case. In fact, it seems the anonymity offered by the internet draws out the worst even in Christians. When this occurs, not only do fellow Christians get abused, but so do the Scriptures themselves to justify this sinful behavior.

One such example, especially within biblically conservative Christian camps, is the twisting of Scripture by some men to silence any woman who dares to engage in public discourse about the things of God. Two passages of Scripture, 1 Corinthians 14:34–35 and 1 Timothy 2:12, are the particular focus of such misuse. While the scenarios may differ, the essential pattern is that, in an online discussion, a Christian woman will offer some comment or response on a theological topic, quickly followed by a professing Christian man saying, “Silence, woman!” while throwing out one or both of the verses as the prooftext justifying his demand. Rather than a godly discourse over the topic at hand, the male half will only repeatedly assert that all women everywhere are required to be silent on Christian matters in the presence of men. This demand is fallacious, unbiblical, and should be rebuked decisively.

Context is Key

With regard to the passages being used, context is always key. Both passages are written to churches by Paul as commands to be obeyed as an apostle speaking with the authority of Christ. And both have universal application to the church throughout all time. They were not simply local matters that had no bearing on the church at large. With that in mind, it is necessary to examine the context so that the meaning and application are not twisted to serve nefarious purposes.

1 Corinthians 14:34–35

The first passage, 1 Corinthians 14:34–35, reads,

[T]he women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. (1 Corinthians 14:34–35, ESV)

When isolated from the rest of the text, it is easy to see why someone might argue that women are not permitted to ever speak on theological issues. However, Scripture provides a much-needed context for this passage. In verses 26 to 33, Paul is providing specific instructions on the order and structure of the church gathering. He directs the gathering to be conducted in such a manner as it builds up the body (26). He restricts the number of those speaking in tongues (27) and those who speak a prophetic word, with others weighing in on what is said (29). All of this is to be done, “so that all may learn and all be encouraged” (31). This is the context that precedes Paul’s admonition that women must be silent in the church.

With that established, the commandment given to the women of the church is one regarding who can speak authoritatively to the church body, not one of generally silencing women indefinitely. As will be seen in the following passage, God’s design for the church is that biblically qualified men are called to lead, teach, and hold authority over the entire church body. Therefore, when the people all come together for worship and instruction, only those men called and equipped by God can teach in such a fashion. Paul is then addressing women who seek to speak prophetically or authoritatively, or who are seeking to question the prophetic teaching given. This is not a command to silence all women in the church from ever speaking in a public setting, but rather he is restricting the order and function of the church according to God’s design for authority in the gathered church body.

1 Timothy 2:12

This same restriction is seen in 1 Timothy 2:12, which states, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.” In this passage, Paul has started by calling for the church to pray for kings and rulers, that the church might exist peaceably and preach the gospel (v. 1–6). He then gives instructions for the men to pray without anger or quarreling (8) and for women to demonstrate their godliness, not through external appearances, but through a quiet and submissive demeanor (v. 9–11). It is with this in mind that Paul then calls women to submit to the authority of biblically qualified men, and to not attempt to exercise authority in the gathered church. Such a command is entirely in line with women who desire to express godliness and submissiveness to Christ.

Once again, this passage is not a blanket command that tells all women everywhere to be silent on the things of God before men. Rather, it is the establishment of God’s ordaining the roles of men and women within the structure of the church body. This can be understood in the immediately following passage of 3:1–11 in which Paul lays down the biblical qualifications for the elder of the church. When the entirety of the passage is examined, it reveals that Paul calls the church to pray that the gospel might be preached, that men pray without unjust anger, that women conduct themselves in a godly and submissive way, that women not seek authority over men in the church, and that only qualified men could lead and teach. Paul is giving Timothy instructions on how the church should conduct itself so that it might fulfill its mission in this world. He is not seeking to silence all women everywhere from speaking on the things of God.

Scripture Allows Women to Speak

To that end, it is worth noting that Scripture provides examples of women speaking to men about theological matters and does not rebuke them for it. One such example is that of Priscilla and Aquila in Acts 18:24–26. In this passage, a zealous man named Apollos is teaching about the things of Jesus, but his knowledge is limited to the baptism of John the Baptist. Both Priscilla and Aquila, “they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately” (26). In other words, Priscilla, a woman, in conjunction with her husband, spoke with Apollos, a man, about Scripture and the things of God, and was never corrected or rebuked for doing so. This is because Priscilla was not acting in the role of an elder or exercising authority over another man. Instead, she was engaged along with her husband in teaching Apollos the truth. Some may argue that she was able to do so because her husband was there and was her authority, and there is truth in this. However, what is being challenged is the notion that women can never speak to another man about the things of God. Priscilla stands as evidence that this simply is not true.

Another example is found in John 4:4–41, which is Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well. It provides additional evidence that women in general are not universally silenced by Scripture. First, when Jesus begins to reveal the Samaritan woman’s sinful past (v. 17–18), the woman immediately recognizes him to be a prophet and engages in a theological debate (v. 19–26). At no time in this discussion does Jesus rebuke the woman for daring to talk about the things of God with him, a man. Instead, he engages her points and corrects her understanding of biblical truth, culminating in his revealing to her that he is the Messiah. This same woman then runs to the town to tell everyone, man and woman, about Jesus (29), which results in them all coming out to meet him. Once again, this woman is not chastised for sharing Jesus with others. Instead, the people who came because she told them about him, and having learned from him, acknowledge Christ is the long-awaited Savior (43).

Twist Not Scripture

These are merely two powerful examples that refute the notion that Scripture prohibits women from speaking about the things of God in mixed company, especially in public environments like the internet. The passages in 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy are clearly intended to address the role of authority in the gathered church body, and while they are universal commands to the church throughout all of time, they are not universal prohibitions to keep women from speaking at all. They have a specific scope and purpose, and they should not be twisted out of context by men to shame and silence women in general.

Scripture provides ample support that women can and should share the things of God within the appropriate boundaries established in the Word. They should do so with a desire to honor God, to demonstrate the holiness through submissiveness and humility, and with the understanding that they cannot hold authority God has not given them. Anyone who attempts to misuse God’s word that they might keep women from ever engaging in public discussions of theology must contend with the fact that God has clearly provided women the means to do so. To continue to make such unbiblical demands of women places the men who do so in contention with God himself.