What Does Quietness Sound Like?

[Sung Psalm: 113]

[We regret that the end of this recording was lost]

There are two different lines of thought in Paul's letters regarding women.

In Galatians 3:28-29 Paul will say that in Christ “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave or free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise.”

Some have used this to level all distinctions within the church in an attempt to argue that Paul is a thorough-going egalitarian.

On the other hand there are passages like 1 Corinthians 14:34-35, where Paul says, “the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.”

The key principle of interpretation here is that “scripture interprets scripture.” If your interpretation of scripture winds up contradicting another passage of scripture, then most likely, your interpretation of scripture needs some work! If God is the author of the whole of scripture, then the whole of scripture should be consulted in order to understand any part. Obviously, this requires us to know the whole of scripture! If you would understand and apply the scriptures properly, then you need to see how the scriptures fit together.