How I CURRENTLY Understand The Bible Saying 'Women Be Silent In The Church'

I am totally open to changing my mind on this passage but I do currently think this is the right way to understand it and I didn't come to this opinion rashly.

My research project on the topic of women in ministry and related issues is going to start once I'm done teaching through the Gospel of Mark (probably less than two months from now) and I hope I can offer real clarity on all this stuff. I know how important the issue is and how important it is that we strip away confusion and truly follow what God is telling us.

[MikeWinger]

I know this topic brings up a TON of good questions but I will tackle those when I do my big teaching on everything the Bible says about women in ministry a few months from now.

[megan]

As a woman the further I get in my faith journey the more beautiful I find these passages. I was taught to be a strong woman, and I believe it takes a strong woman to be a gentle, quiet spirit with self control. Women can often be argumentative and stubborn. I find myself the most at peace and close to God when I’m fulfilling the roles he sets in the Bible.

[bloodsweatphilp]

When it comes to submitting to a husband, I'm being very careful when choosing who I marry. I want to fill our biblical roles, so I need to choose someone fully committed to God.

[youbloodybloodworktimejasper]

When i was a nonbeliever I was a loud, prideful, obnoxious woman. I wish i was born with the knowledge that silence is powerful. Silent can stop a fight in its tracks. Silence can save a marriage or a friendship or even your job or your life. Silence is a true gift. controlling our tongues is wise and takes a lot of self discipline

[rickyhurtado]

"Her submission is intentional." Man, I really love that. It adds value and makes me want to thank my wife in every instance she defers to me for leadership. I acknowledge that her 'submission' is a gift and absolutely conditional, not to be taken for granted.

[Leah-fwkn]

Hey just wanted to say that I owe you an was a Jehovah Witness for 30 years, I'm out now. I struggle with being "judgemental" from being in a cult, a few videos ago, I cast you off as an "idiot" for something you said. I was I AM SORRY FOR THINKING THAT IN MY HEART. I actually like you and Leighton Flowers the most, I appreciate your hard work you put into your videos, I am learning a lot and hopefully will grow in understanding the gospel. Your videos help me. God bless you and your ministry.

[cynthialopez]

I'm a female.
I don't have a submissive personality. The way I see it, is that God's Word is His Word. I don't always agree, however, if I love Him, then I have to obey Him. I don't have to understand or agree, but I do need to obey Him...if I truly love God Almighty. My ways are not His ways.
Over 20 years ago, I heard God's voice, He said submit to your husband. I said " God, I can't do that... I'm an American. We don't submit to our husbands". I didn't do it. I heard His voice one more time. Then, He showed me how my dominant behavior would put my husband to shame in front of other men. I had never noticed it before. I love my husband, so I felt very ashamed and I didn't want that to ever happen again. Our marriage did 100 degree turnaround for the better. I now understand the importance of giving my husband his place as the head of our family. His is my covering. I'm very happy. We have to trust God. We may not understand His rules, but they are for the best.

[lamartz]

I am a woman and in no way did I find this offensive. Right on Mike Winger!

[RayvenneChannel]

As a woman, I am only willing to submit within the Kingdom of the Lord (family), with a Man that has submitted to the Lord. Outside of that, men have no business bothering me!

[curtissmith]

We as followers of CHRIST need to know that GOD overall is the head of the household and when their is a decision that needs to be made, we as men need to go to CHRIST with it at all times. If the head of the household is not grounded in CHRIST, it can cripple the family.

[alisachilders]

Great answer, Mike. Looking forward to your upcoming teaching on this...

[rosethorns]

The enemy preys on our weaknesses. Pride being the first.
My grandfather was a humble man that loved and trusted Christ above all. Because of this, he was the wisest man I have ever encountered in this physical life.
He valued my grandmother’s opinions and strengths. He trusted her with those things he saw she was good at. He had no problems giving her his entire paycheck for her to manage. She made excellent and wise decisions with that money. I won’t go into the details but she brought the entire family very far.
On the other hand, my grandfather would intercede and correct her when she did something he knew wasn’t the best way to deal with something.
I never heard them argue in my life. He was never threatened by allowing her to have a voice or to contribute.
I run into Christian men these days that are so pride filled that they believe that their wife needs to be silent and listen to them on everything. That devalues the wife and shows that he does not submit himself to the wisdom of our Father.

[purpledragon]

I once attended a church that took this verse quite literally. Women were not allowed to give a testimony or even pray aloud. They could only sing, and speaking was only allowed after the service was officially over. Churches really need a biblical interpretation of these verses if they are to successfully represent Christ in their treatment of women.

[BrickbyBrickU]

Having a godly man that honors and loves you as Christ loves the church to lead you...what a beautiful, wonderful thing. Takes a lot of undue pressure out of us women. Less stress...a wonderful thing indeed.

[schmaingd]

Having gone the way of a "strong woman" as defined by society and walked the Biblical role of a woman it's clear to me that we have undervalued the Biblical role of women and womanhood.
Our strength and value as women is degraded when we define it against manhood or frame it as needing to be the same as men.
Womanhood is amazing yet we loose it's meaning away from God's wisdom in it's design to the point when now all one needs to be a woman is a dress and makeup.
Jesus submitted, was he less valuable or weaker for doing so?

[robertpreisser]

Has anyone looked at this passage from the point of view of the husband? Specifically, why is it that Paul says the woman is supposed to ask her HUSBAND at home? If the husband is supposed to be the spiritual head of the household, and yet is failing in that duty, and the wife is left needing to ask questions in the Church, then how does that reflect on his performing his assigned role? I think this passage is in part at least intending to reaffirm the role of the husband and to hold him accountable for being the spiritual head of the household. If the husband is truly submitted to Christ, and is truly feeding himself, when the wife has questions she ought to be able to go to her husband and ask, outside of the service. And if the husband can’t answer, he can go to the elders and teachers for clarification. Doing all of this in front of the whole church short circuits that whole process, and does not let the husband grow in his role or learning or knowledge or leadership.

[danarn]

I happened to stumble onto this video in 2024, and I'm so happy I did! I'll never forget the time I heard a preacher say women should not speak in the church. I was a teen at the time. I looked at my dad, and he said I know, we will talk after. And this being in the Bible has been something in the back of my mind. (I've also seen stuff online saying that there are no women in Heaven bc it says we will be like Christ was when he was resurrected.) And honestly, I decided that I don't have the need to speak in the church, but I also have not been at a church sermon in a very long time and planning to find one in the town I live in. But, also, I've been watching the Chosen and see that women were very important. And that maybe the speaking in church was bc women just had a different role in the church, like teaching Bible school, or perhaps it's helping care for the babies and children bc it comes natural to us usually. Hearing this explanation does not make me feel remotely oppressed. The concern of making women feel less than bc of the text of the Bible feels like it's done a greater disservice to women overall. Being mothers and all the great things about how we are naturally is being watered down, and it does not appear that is making things better. But it does make total sense to not start interrogating or questioning during church. I an attempt to keep this under novel length, thank you for this explanation!

[NMDecember]

As a woman prior to becoming a Christian I would of found this offensive but I don't now as the Word of God is the Word of God even if I don't agree or fully understand it. I've no problems with women not being preachers as I believe God set the order Adam then Eve. I'm sure this is a difficult topic to teach on but let us remember there are many other way to serve God and others. God bless from Dublin, Ireland 🇮🇪

[rhianonthomas]

'Read it in context!'. So good. And what a lovely, gracious spirit you have sir.

[fngyfqx]

Thank you, Mike, for always standing for biblical truth even when it is counter to present day culture/societal beliefs.