day no. 14,175: a husband must have answers

1 Corinthians 14:33-35

God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, 34 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. 35 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.

 

I have read these verses many times and interacted with them often with respect to the ongoing women in leadership, complementarian discussion. But I never before today noticed the tremendous weight and responsibility this puts upon the husband. A good, godly weight, but an intense one nevertheless. If a wife has questions, who is she instructed to ask? Her husband once they are home. So who needs to have answers? Her husband. And if she is eager, zealous to learn and grow, he must keep up with her and even more so to be out ahead of her in order to field her questions and pastor his little flock. He is under Biblical obligation to answer her, not simply buy her books or send her off to someone else's house to a woman's group to learn. He MUST answer her which means he MUST know. He must do the work of study, meditation, contemplation, etc… in order to be the best pastor of his home. The godlier the wife, the more of a man he will be required to be. The godlier the man, the further onward and upward he will be able to lead his own home. If it is shameful for a woman to speak in church, how much more shameful is it for a man to be silent in his own home?

UPDATED BELOW (10/28/2022)

1 Corinthians 14:33-35

God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, 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.

Set aside the obvious sticker shock for a second. Curb your reaction to these verses long enough to notice what is hidden in plain sight: i.e. the tremendous weight and responsibility this puts upon the husband… not the wife. Yes, it is heavy for a wife to hear, but what it presupposes for husbands is heavier. And rightfully so. Men were made for gravitas. A good, godly weight is placed upon him and here that glory is highlighted. But like all glories, it is intense nevertheless.

If a wife has questions, who is she instructed to ask? Her husband. Where? Once they are home.

So, who needs to have answers? Her husband. And if she is eager, zealous to learn, and growing; he must keep ahead of her in order to field her questions and pastor his little flock. Not merely keep up, but keep out in front. 

A godly wife might have some questions, but a godly husband must have some answers.

He is under Biblical obligation to answer her, not simply buy her books or send her off to someone else's house or God forbid some rando woman's group to learn. He MUST answer her. At HOME. Which means he MUST know. He must do the work of study, meditation, contemplation, etc… in order to be the best pastor of his home. The godlier the wife, the more of a man he will be required to be. The godlier the man, the further onward and upward he will be able to lead his own home.

If it is shameful for a woman to speak in church, how much more shameful is it for a man to be silent in his own home?