Question:
Women are told to ‘keep silent in the churches…as also saith the law’ (1 Corinthians 14:34). Does the law mentioned here mean the Mosaic law? If so, does this still apply to us? Is it just a custom of the times, and no longer applicable?

Answer:
Yes, I believe that “the law” mentioned in that verse is the law that was given by Moses. But we need to read the whole verse to see that what is meant is that there is a principle involved which is found all through the first five books of the Old Testament, which Moses wrote, and which is called “the law.” – “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).

First Corinthians 14:34 says: “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.” God told the first woman right after she had sinned: “Thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee” (Genesis 3:16). We are told of other women in those first five books, and we find that obedience characterized those who pleased the Lord. A contrast to this is “Lot’s wife,” who disobeyed, and lost her life because of it (Genesis 19:26, Luke 17:32). Peter points out that Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord” (1 Peter 3:6). To be a helpmeet, which the previous question takes up, the wife must be in subjection to her husband.
Someone may ask: “Don’t the Scriptures say that because the believer is “in Christ” that there is neither “male nor female” in that position?” (Galatians 3:28). But though this is our wonderful position before God, this does not set aside how God has placed us in this scene. God sees us as already sitting in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6), but we are still on this earth in these bodies as males and females, and we must live as God tells us in this state.
The Scriptures give three reasons why a woman is to be in subjection to the man and therefore told not to speak publicly in the presence of men, and in the assembly.

1. The first reason is her God-given place in creation-Ephesians 5:22, 23.


2. The second reason is the place she has because of the fall and her sin in the garden of Eden–1 Timothy 2:11-14.


3. The third reason is the law–1 Corinthians 14:34.

So, the answer to this question is that the women are to be silent in the assembly is not just a custom of Paul’s time, and, 1 Corinthians 14:34 is still very much applicable and precious instruction for us today. This is true of all the Word of God. We cannot be pleasing to the Lord if we remove any part of His Word, or do not rightly apply it” (2 Timothy 2:15).