Women Silent in the Body

Greetings sisters in the Lord,
Below you will find our article on Women Silent In The Body.
I hope it blesses you.

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Thus saith the Lord.

Yes, God’s Word instructs women to be silent in the gathering of the body in reference to teaching and authority over the men in the body.   

1 Timothy 2:12-14
Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.  12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.  13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.  14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

The greek word for silence is: hēsuchia
G2271 Feminine of G2272; (as noun) stillness, that is, desistance from bustle or language: - quietness, silence.  description of the life of one who stays at home doing his own work, and does not officiously meddle with the affairs of others  silence, quietness
From 2272/hēsyxios ("calmly quiet") describes being "appropriately tranquil" by not misusing (or overusing) words that would stir up needless friction (destructive commotion).




This does not mean a total absence of speech because the word hēsuchia is also used in verse :

2 Thessalonians 3 
Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness (hēsuchia) they work, and eat their own bread.

The greek word silence in verse 1 Corinthians 14 verse 34 is: sigaō  
From G4602; to keep silent (transitive or intransitive): - keep close (secret, silence), hold peace.

1 Corinthians 14:34
Let your women keep silence  (sigaō) in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.
35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.


We see in 1 Corinthians 14:30 (just prior to the women being instructed in silence)
"If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace."

The word sigaō   is used for 'hold his peace'. 

In context with scripture we see that women are to be silent when it comes to leadership and authority, to be peaceably quiet while the men are teaching and leading; not asking questions and being in obedience and subjection to their authority (husbands).

This does not mean a woman cannot sing, or pray silently, it simply means a woman is to defer to the men of the body to be the leaders while the group is gathered. 


God’s headship order is as such:
But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. 
(1 Corinthians 11:3)

We also see that God requires order: 
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 
(1 Corinthians 14:33)

Let all things be done decently and in order. (1 Corinthians 14:40)

By following God’s order, we see how the men are able to fully concentrate on growingin discernment, hone their leadership skills, be encouraged , rebuked, exhorted to stand strong as men and to be held accountable if they are slacking in any area.

If we look again at the last half of verse 34 we see that Paul uses the authority of the law.  

but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.

Paul references the law when he's talking about women being silent because they are to be in obedience (submission) to their husbands. 

Where does the law say women are to be in obedience (submission) to their husbands?  Let's look back in the beginning of creation and the headship order:

 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. Genesis 3:16  

And it is echoed in the new testament in Ephesians 5:22-24, 
1 Peter 3:1-6, Colossians 3:18.  Per the law women are to be obedient / in submission to their husbands and therefore silent in the body, not usurping authority over him.  1 Timothy 2:12

But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

A woman teaching is usurping the authority over a man, Paul clearly states this


This seems to be a somewhat complicated issue to study as many people today are wrapped up in man made religion where they ‘go to church’ and while there, everyone (including most of the men) is silent.  Then when the clock strikes the finish time, everyone leaves and therefore is allowed to talk again.  In the New Testament body life, we ‘are’ the body all the time and believers are coming together all the time, not for some man made ritual ‘service’ that is not depicted in scripture.  

So when the New Testament believers gathered, it wasn’t just once a week for a 2 hour timed out service, it was often throughout the week they came together and for however long people wanted to, or could stay.  This gathering could consist of only 2 couples or all the body (however many that might be).  When first gathered they may simply converse among one another, edifying and exhorting, for a while.  At some point the men will come together to lead in teaching and training up of the body for ministry.  One may offer to lead in song, one in prayer, some in testimonies of evangelism, some in teaching of the Word, there may be admonishment or rebukes, some encouragement and exhortation etc.  As the men are thus leading the body, the women are to be silent.  When the men finish there may be a fellowship meal with or without the Lord’s supper (how often as they do it), or respite outside  with simple refreshments etc and women talking in fellowship with others.  Fellowship in the Lord is continued until the possibility of some men becoming engaged in the scriptures again and then the women (knowing their place) will resume silence and allow the men to divide the word or work through whatever biblical discussion they are having.  This situation could come and go throughout the meeting…not just a one time event at a gathering.

Mature godly women should be helping younger women learn how to discern when to keep peacefully silent even when not in a formal setting of men dividing the Word.  Such situations could happen in public if two brothers meet on the street and begin to divide the word, helping one another while the women respectfully stand by and listen.  Or while having a simple meal at a brother/sisters home and up comes a subject that needs more exploration, even at the dinner table a woman should become respectfully silent while the men work out the Word of God.

There are no exact set times and rituals to be followed when gathering in the true New Testament body of Christ so discernment in such area is a skill that should be sought after as well as the men offering guidance.  By women keeping silent the men can totally focus on what the brothers are saying and not have to worry about deferring to his wife out of consideration. 

A woman asking questions and interjecting in the body is usurping authority over the men, according to Paul and this is sinful.   

There could be times where the women do not understand what the men are teaching/speaking of and therefore she should always be taking notes in order to look into later with her husband.  If they cannot find the answer then the husband is to contact a brother for help.  This encourages men to step up as leaders and helps in their discernment skills.  This also helps a woman remember her headship order and not be as Eve who stepped out from hers and look what happened.  

This in no way implies that men know it all and women don’t, in fact there are many women who are more discerning than many men but the fact of the matter is, God has this order set up so that men will learn their rightful places as will women.  His governmental order is what matters, not who knows what.
If this order is followed then both men and women will grow in the ways God has intended.

Love in Christ,
Sister Aman with brother Tupos

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