The full text of 1 Corinthians 14 is below the devotion.
Understanding the context of a verse is important.
For example, suppose someone took the phrase “blessed are you when people insult you” out of the context of Matthew 5:11-12 and explained that Christ wants us to be annoying.
In the same way, we must put “Women should remain silent in the churches” in context:
First Corinthians 14 addresses proper use of spiritual gifts.(1)
Verses 29-33, explain that prophecies shared in the church must be judged for validity.
Verses 34-35, explain that women should be silent.
Verses 36-40 insist that people who exercise spiritual gifts should understand these instructions because “everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.”
Because Acts 21:8-9 and 1 Corinthians 11:1-5 (2) tell us woman can pray and prophecy in church, we know this silence must apply to specific situations so we study the context.
The logical conclusion is that women should be silent when prophecies are judged as part of a church service. If a woman judged the prophecies, she'd be publicly judging men who prophesy, perhaps even judging her own husband. If she sees something wrong in the prophecies, she can discuss it with her husband later and he can address it with the church leaders, if necessary.
The verses following the command for her silence reiterate the importance of fitting and orderly worship. When we combine this with the 1 Timothy 2:12, we can easily conclude that women are prohibited from tasks in the church which place them in authority over men or cause them to publicly judge a man's teaching.
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If you would like to read about 1 Timothy 2:15 in regard to our 2 previous devotions about 1 Timothy 2, see I Don't Know Exactly What This Verse Means.
If you want to read about a time when I feel I poorly handled a disagreement with my pastor see When I Violated Scriptural Guidelines.
For further insights, see Do Women Have to Remain Silent in Church and Must Women Be Silent in Church. To see a pertinent aspect of this question as it applies to marriage see Women's Intuition which explains some of the things that have shaped my understanding of submission in marriage.
(1) Genuine believers hold differing views about the gifts mentioned in this chapter. Some believe they have ceased and others believe they are still in operation. Whatever you believe, the principle expressed in these verses is still pertinent: Women are free to speak in church services in appropriate ways as long as they aren't in a position of authority over men. We'll discuss that more thoroughly in future posts.
(2) To better understand 1 Corinthians 11, See Should Women Wear Head Coverings?
I encourage you to read the entire context of these misunderstood verses:
1 Corinthians 14: “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. 4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.”
“6 Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? 7 Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? 8 Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? 9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me. 12 So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.”
“13 For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. 16 Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say ‘Amen’ to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? 17 You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.”
“18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. 20 Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. 21 In the Law it is written:”
‘With other tongues
and through the lips of foreigners
I will speak to this people,
but even then they will not listen to me,
says the Lord.’
“22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 25 as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, ‘God is really among you!”
“26 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.”
“29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.”
“34 Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. 35 If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.”
“36 Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? 37 If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command. 38 But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.”
“39 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.”
