1 Corinthians 14:34–35 and what is the role of Women in the Church
We have several indications in the NT that the prophetic gift was bestowed upon and exercised by women no less than by men. In Peter ’s speech on the day of Pentecost he explicitly said that characteristic of the present church age is the Spirit ’s impartation to both men and women of the prophetic gift. Look closely at his citation of Joel ’s promise: “ ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says, ‘That I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy , and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even upon My bondslaves, both men and women , I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit,’ and they shall prophesy ” (Acts 2:17–18; emphasis mine). In Acts 21:9 Luke refers to the four daughters of Philip as having the gift of prophecy. And in 1 Cor. 11:5 Paul gave instructions regarding how women were to pray and prophesy in the church meeting. What, then, does he mean in 1 Cor. 14:34 when he says,