What If the Apostle Paul Was Quoting His Critics?
"Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission as the law says" (1 Corinthians 14:34, NIV).
For centuries, the church has used this verse to silence women. It seems so clear, so definitive. Yet here's what's fascinating: Almost no complementarian church actually practices what this verse literally says.
Women sing in the choir. They teach Sunday School. They make announcements. They lead women's ministries. They pray aloud. They share testimonies.
So if we believe Paul meant what this verse seems to say, why don't we practice it? Why do we twist ourselves into interpretive knots trying to make it mean something other than what it literally says?
The answer might surprise you: What if Paul wasn't saying this at all? What if he was quoting the Corinthians—and then refuting them?
The Historical Absurdity
First, let's address the popular explanation: that women in Corinth were disrupting services by shouting questions to their husbands who sat separately.
This is historically inaccurate. Completely.
Women in that culture were coming from absolute silence. They weren't even allowed to speak to their husbands in public, especially if those men were rabbis or religious leaders. In both Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts, women were second-class citizens with no public voice.
The idea that these same women—who couldn't speak publicly outside the church—were suddenly shouting across the room to their husbands inside the church assembly is absurd. It doesn't fit the times. It doesn't fit the culture.
So what was going on?
The Clue We Keep Missing
Look at 1 Corinthians 7:1: "Now concerning the things you wrote to me..." (NKJV). This tells us something crucial: First Corinthians is Paul's response to a letter from the Corinthians. He's answering their questions, addressing their issues, correcting their errors.
Throughout this letter, Paul quotes their words and then responds to them. It's a pattern:
"All things are lawful for me" (6:12, ESV)—he quotes them, then corrects: "but not all things are helpful."
Again in 6:12—he quotes them, then responds about being mastered by things.
And again in 10:23—same quote, same pattern of correction.
This is how dialogue worked in ancient letters. You'd quote what someone said, then give your response. But there were no quotation marks in Greek manuscripts.
So here's the question: What if 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 is Paul quoting a false teaching from Corinth?
The Evidence Piles Up
Look at what verse 34 actually says: "Women should keep silent... as the law says."
Wait. What law? Where in Scripture does it say women must be silent? This isn't biblical law—it's rabbinic law from the Talmud. Oral tradition, not Scripture.
Would Paul—who spent Romans and Galatians setting us free from the law—suddenly put us under a law that isn't even biblical? The same Paul who called the law "the administration of death" (2 Corinthians 3:7, NKJV)? The same Paul who said "the law is the strength of sin" (1 Corinthians 15:56, NKJV)?
It makes no sense. Unless... he's quoting what they were saying.
The Smoking Gun
Now look at verse 36. In Greek, it starts with a disjunctive particle—a strong grammatical break indicating sharp disagreement with what was just said.
The King James translates it as "What?" Some translations render it "Or." But one scholar suggests the best translation would be "Nonsense!" It's Paul's strong repudiation of what was just stated.
Most translations don't know what to do with it, so they just skip over it or smooth it out. But it's right there in the Greek: a sharp break, a strong objection.
Then Paul continues: "What? Did the word of God come from you only? Or are you the only ones it has reached?" (1 Corinthians 14:36, paraphrased).
Paul isn't silencing women. He's silencing the Corinthians who were trying to silence women!
He's saying: "Who do you think you are? Did God's word originate with you? Are you the only ones who received it? You don't get to make this rule!"
The Pattern Throughout the Letter
This fits perfectly with everything else in 1 Corinthians:
In chapter 11, Paul talks about women praying and prophesying (1 Corinthians 11:5, NKJV). Can't do that while being completely silent.
Throughout chapters 12-14, Paul emphasizes that everyone has a role: "When you come together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation..." (1 Corinthians 14:26, ESV).
The whole letter is about the body functioning together, with every part contributing.
Then suddenly in verse 34, we're supposed to believe Paul says, "But not the women. They stay silent"? It completely contradicts everything he just said.
Unless he's quoting the false teachers, then correcting them.
Why This Matters
When we misread this passage, we silence half the body of Christ. We amputate gifts. We suppress callings. We tell women that God doesn't want to hear their voices in the assembly.
But when we read it correctly—when we see Paul shushing the shushers—everything changes.
The women of Corinth weren't the problem. The people trying to silence them were the problem. And Paul was having none of it.
The Hermeneutical Gymnastics
Here's what's ironic: Those who say we're "not taking Scripture seriously" are the ones who won't actually practice what this verse literally says.
They have to do hermeneutical gymnastics—"Well, it just means women can't have authority..." or "It only applies to wives..." or "It's about orderly worship..."
But that's not what it says. It says: No sound. Not even a question. Complete silence. "It is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church" (1 Corinthians 14:35, NIV).
If we're going to claim we believe the Bible, we need to either practice this literally or admit we're interpreting it. And if we're interpreting it, we need to use good hermeneutical principles—like recognizing when an author is quoting and then refuting false teaching.
What Paul Actually Taught
Paul recognized women as:
Apostles (Junia—Romans 16:7)
Deacons (Phoebe—Romans 16:1-2)
Teachers (Priscilla teaching Apollos—Acts 18:26)
Prophets (Philip's daughters—Acts 21:9)
Co-workers in ministry (many examples throughout his letters)
The idea that he suddenly forbids all women from speaking contradicts his entire ministry practice.
But when we see him quoting the Corinthian false teachers and then strongly refuting them? Now everything lines up. Now it all makes sense.
An Invitation to Honesty
I understand if this interpretation challenges everything you've been taught. It challenged me too.
But I invite you to:
Look at the Greek yourself (tools like BlueLetterBible.com make this accessible)
Examine the pattern of quote-and-respond throughout 1 Corinthians
Consider the historical context
Notice the disjunctive particle in verse 36
Ask why we don't practice the literal meaning if we believe it's a timeless command
Most importantly, ask Holy Spirit to show you the truth. God isn't afraid of our questions. Truth can stand up to examination.
The women weren't the problem in Corinth. Silencing them was the problem. And two thousand years later, it's still a problem.
Maybe it's time we let Paul's actual words—his defense of women's voices in the church—finally be heard.
What's your experience with this passage? Has it been used to silence you or someone you love? Or are you just now discovering this interpretation? I'd love to hear your thoughts and questions in the comments.
Blessings,
Susan 😊