Keeping Silence by John Norton Loughborough

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · May 30, 1878

Keeping Silence.

By John Norton Loughborough

I AM requested to answer, through the SIGNS, 1 Cor. 14:34, 35: "Let your women keep silence 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. And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home; for it is a shame for women to speak in the church."

This text is many times urged upon us to prove that women should not take part in social meetings or in preaching the truth.

That it is not the design of Paul in the above text to forbid women bearing their testimony, in a modest manner in the assemblies of the saints is evident from the fact that in other portions he gives exact instructions how women should speak and pray in public. In this same letter to the Corinthians this instruction is found, "Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoreth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoreth her head; for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn; but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels." 1 Cor. 11:4-10.

This instruction would have no effect if applied to secret prayer and testimony, but is at once plain if applied to speaking and praying in the public assemblies of God's people. In the margin of verse 10 it says, the hair is a covering in sign that she is under the power of her husband. The "shame" and "sign" are in the public.

In this same chapter verses 17, 18 he says, "Now in this that I declare unto you I praise not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it." This can apply to nothing else than the public assembly of the saints, and proves conclusively that he is giving instructions relative to the demeanor of women in public meetings.

In writing to Timothy Paul says, "I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls or costly array; but (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence." 1 Tim. 2:8-12. In the above text we see that while he would have women, as well as men, pray everywhere, he would have them modest in their apparel and demeanor, and in no case domineering over the men but in such matters as there might be dispute upon, let the women keep silence.

According to the prophecy quoted by Peter on the day of Pentecost, and applied in this dispensation, women were to have a part in the work under the outpouring of the Spirit of God as well as the men.

"This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; and it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; and on my servants and on my handmaidens, I will pour out in those days of my spirit, and they shall prophesy." Acts 2:16-18.

It is no wonder then, as this was prophesied by Joel, concerning the entire gospel dispensation, that we read in Acts 21:8, 9, of prophetesses. "And we entered into the house of Philip, the evangelist, which was one of the seven, and abode with him. And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy." In like manner we read of Phebe, "I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is in Cenchrea; that ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you; for she hath been a succorer of many, and of myself also." Rom. 16:1, 2. From this we learn that Phebe was a public laborer in the cause of the gospel.

What then shall we understand by the text at the head of this article? From statements made in the last part of the same chapter, we conclude that there was confusion in some of their meetings, several speaking at once, and even women domineering over the men. He would have them keep silent from such demonstrations as that, and even the men are requested to keep silence when another is talking, so that their meetings shall move off decently and in order, and not all be confusion. He says, "How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two or at the most by three, and that by course, and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter let him keep silence in the church, and let him speak to himself and to God."

"Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the others judge. If anything be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." Verses 26-33.

He closes the chapter, after his testimony respecting the sisters by saying, "Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order." Verses 39, 40.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.