The Law That Never Existed: Unmasking the Corinthian Controversy
When I first encountered the argument that Paul was quoting false teachers in 1 Corinthians 14:34-35, one detail stood out like a red flag: the reference to "the law."
The false teachers claimed women should be silent and submissive "as the Law also says." But here's the problem—nowhere in biblical law does it actually say that. As someone who spent years studying these passages, this was the clue that unraveled everything I thought I knew about women's roles in Scripture.
The Law That Isn't There
Paul, a former Pharisee who knew the Torah inside and out, would never have misquoted Scripture. He was meticulous about biblical law and consistently accurate in his references to it. So when someone quotes "the law" as requiring female silence and subjugation, but no such law exists in Scripture, we have to ask: what "law" are they talking about?
The answer lies in understanding the religious landscape of first-century Judaism, where biblical law had been layered over with centuries of human traditions—traditions that often contradicted the heart of God's original design.
The Oral Law vs. Biblical Law
By Jesus' time, Jewish religious life was governed not just by the written Torah (what we call the Old Testament law), but by an extensive oral tradition that had been passed down for generations. These traditions, later codified in documents like the Talmud, were often treated with the same authority as Scripture itself.
Jesus frequently confronted this practice. He told the religious leaders, "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!" (Mark 7:9, NIV). And again: "You nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down" (Mark 7:13, NIV).
This tension between God's actual commands and human religious traditions runs throughout the New Testament.
The Talmudic Restrictions on Women
When the Jews were exiled to Babylon, they developed extensive oral traditions to help preserve their cultural identity. Many of these were beneficial and helped them maintain their faith in a foreign land. But worldly, non-godly influences also crept in.
Some of these traditions included what were called "the ten curses of Eve"—restrictions placed on women supposedly because of Eve's role in the fall. These included:
Women must cover their heads like mourners and not show themselves in public
It was disgraceful for women to speak in public, especially to men
Women were considered sources of temptation and contamination
Public interaction between men and women was strictly forbidden
These weren't biblical commands—they were cultural restrictions that developed over time and were eventually codified as religious law.
The Shocking Nature of Jesus' Ministry
Understanding these traditions helps us appreciate just how revolutionary Jesus' ministry was. When He spoke with the woman at the well in John 4, the disciples weren't shocked primarily because she was Samaritan—they were shocked because He was speaking with a woman in public at all.
The text makes this clear: "Just then his disciples came back. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman" (John 4:27, NIV).
It was actually illegal under these oral traditions for a man to speak with a woman in public. Jesus was scandalously breaking cultural and religious norms by treating women as equals worthy of theological conversation.
Similarly, when Mary sat at Jesus' feet to learn (Luke 10:39, NIV), she was taking the position of a disciple—something forbidden to women under the traditional interpretations. Yet Jesus defended her choice and criticized Martha for trying to pull her away into "women's work."
Paul's Revolutionary Approach
Paul continued this revolutionary approach throughout his ministry. In a culture where women were supposed to remain silent and invisible, Paul:
Worked in partnership with Priscilla, who taught the eloquent Apollos (Acts 18:26, NIV)
Stayed in the home of Philip, whose four daughters prophesied (Acts 21:9, NIV)
Recognized Phoebe as a deacon who carried his letter to Rome (Romans 16:1-2, NIV)
Called Junia an apostle (Romans 16:7, NIV)
Declared that in Christ, "there is no male and female" (Galatians 3:28, ESV))
Paul consistently elevated women's dignity and recognized their spiritual gifts, directly opposing the restrictive traditions of his time.
The False Teachers' Appeal to Tradition
So when false teachers in Corinth quoted "the law" to silence women, they weren't referencing biblical law at all. They were appealing to these oral traditions—the same traditions Jesus and Paul consistently opposed.
This explains several puzzling aspects of 1 Corinthians 14:34-35:
1. Why Paul would supposedly contradict himself by first encouraging everyone to prophesy, then silencing half the congregation
2. Why he would reference a "law" that doesn't exist in Scripture
3. Why this passage seems so out of character with his treatment of women elsewhere
4. Why his response in verse 36 is so sharp and oppositional
Paul wasn't endorsing these restrictions—he was quoting them in order to refute them.
Jesus vs. Religious Tradition
Throughout the Gospels, we see Jesus consistently opposing traditions that burdened people unnecessarily or contradicted God's heart. He healed on the Sabbath, touched the "unclean," ate with sinners, and elevated those whom religious tradition marginalized.
When religious leaders criticized His disciples for not following traditional handwashing rituals, Jesus responded: "This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men" (Matthew 15:8-9, ESV).
The same dynamic was happening in Corinth. False teachers were "teaching as doctrines the commandments of men"—trying to impose restrictive traditions that contradicted the freedom and equality Christ had established.
How This Pattern Continues
Unfortunately, this pattern of using tradition to restrict women didn't end in the first century. Throughout church history, cultural biases have often been baptized as biblical truth.
The church once used Scripture to defend slavery, racial segregation, and the divine right of kings. In each case, careful study eventually revealed that these positions reflected cultural assumptions rather than God's heart.
Today, we must ask ourselves: are we defending biblical truth, or are we unconsciously perpetuating traditions that contradict the Kingdom values Jesus demonstrated?
Distinguishing God's Voice from Human Tradition
How can we tell the difference between God's actual commands and human traditions that have been elevated to scriptural status? Here are some key questions:
1. Does this align with Jesus' example? Jesus consistently elevated women and included them in His ministry.
2. Does this reflect God's character? God is just, loving, and doesn't show favoritism based on gender, race, or social status.
3. What are the fruits? Jesus said we'd know truth by its fruits. Do these interpretations produce love, joy, peace, and flourishing?
4. Does this align with Scripture's overall trajectory? The Bible consistently moves toward greater freedom, equality, and mutual honor.
The Heart of the Matter
When Paul wrote to the Galatians, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1, NIV), he wasn't just talking about ceremonial laws. He was talking about any human tradition that contradicts the freedom Christ died to establish.
The false teachers in Corinth were trying to reimpose a "yoke of slavery" on women—using religious tradition to justify restrictions that God never intended. Paul's sharp response makes perfect sense: "What?! Did the word of God originate with you? Are you the only ones it has reached?"
Our Call Today
As followers of Christ, we're called to distinguish between God's eternal truths and the cultural traditions that often obscure them. This requires:
Careful study of Scripture in its historical context
Humility to admit when our interpretations might be wrong
Courage to oppose traditions that contradict Christ's example
Wisdom to discern God's heart behind His commands
The goal isn't to eliminate all structure or dismiss Scripture's authority. The goal is to ensure we're following God's actual design rather than human traditions that have been mistaken for divine commands.
When we do this faithfully, we often discover that God's design is more beautiful, more liberating, and more reflective of His character than the restrictive interpretations we inherited.
Have you encountered traditions in your own spiritual journey that seemed to contradict God's heart? How do you distinguish between biblical truth and cultural tradition?
Blessings,
Susan 😊