Cheryl Schatz

Frank,
There are several problems with the view that Paul is stopping the noisy women from talking. First of all the Greek word used is not the one for noisy speech. There is a perfectly good Greek word that does mean this. It is krazo which means “as speaking or demanding with a loud voice cry (out), call (out), exclaim, shriek, to cry out with loud and raucous voice.” Secondly the learning that these women are have is to be done at home. This contradicts Paul’s instruction that everyone can prophesy so that everyone can learn. The next problem is that we would have to assume that only the married women were causing a problem because the instruction is to ask their “husbands at home”. The last thing is that it is sad to be a shame (meaning vile, filthy thing) for a woman to speak (normal word for speak again, not one for raucous speech) in the assembly. How could Paul tell women that they were allowed to prophesy and then say a few verses later that their mere speaking is a shameful act? It just doesn’t fit. And if it doesn’t fit, you must aquit. 😉

I do like the idea that there are other explanations for the problem passages, but these explanations have way too many problems to be considered the proper solution to this difficult passage.