The evidence against 1 Corinthians 14:34 – 35

Critics identify interpolations in the New Testament using a multi-pronged approach.  They analyze ancient manuscripts for inconsistencies.  They compare verses in question to the authors normal speech patterns, theology, and life, and identify differences which indicate other authorship.

Paul was the target of many pseudepigraphic writings.  Out of the 13 writings attributed to him, the Pastoral Epistles, which include 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus, are largely thought to be falsely attributed to Paul, and 2 Thessalonians, Ephesians and Colossians, are widely debated.  Hebrews was traditionally thought to be authored by Paul, but because the writing style is different than Romans, Galatians, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Philemon, Philippians and 1 Thessalonians, few scholars ascribe it to Paul.

Many theologians frown upon criticizing scripture, ignoring obvious inconsistencies, leaving the Bible and Christianity itself open to criticism from other religions and atheists.  Most of Christianity adhere to the Church structure and Patriarchy found in the Pastoral Epistles, ignoring the equality Paul spoke of in Galatians 3:28, and Yahshua in Matt 23: 8 & 10.  Paul spoke of all members of the body exercising their spiritual gifts in an organized fashion in 1 Cor 14: 1 – 32, not the structure found in all Churches with one Minister or Priest teaching and members silently accepting what is taught.

It is prudent to consider various opinions, weighing the evidence provided, giving full consideration the scriptures used in support and critiques of scripture, we should pray for the Spirit of truth to guide us in all truth as Yahshua stated in John 16:13, because we need to protect ourselves from the spirit רוח of error/confusion תועה as warned in 1 John 4:6.

The evidence against 1 Corinthians 14:34 – 35 is significant. First, these verses were not in the original text, but written in the margin.  Secondly, the idea that women are to remain silent, contradicts the fact that all members of the congregation exercise their gifts of the spirit received on Pentecost, in fulfilment of Joel as recorded in Acts 2:16 – 21.  Thirdly, it states “as also the law says” but there is no such law.  This evidence should cause many to question the authorship of the text, but they do not, largely because all members are silenced in Christian churches.

The final evidence against 1 Corinthians 14:34 – 35 is the Hebrew נשי translated ‘woman’ means ‘debt, creditor’, as נשה is translated in Luke 7:41 & 16:5, and בעל is translated ‘husbands’, but is translated ‘Baal’ in Romans 11:4, from the Hebrew H1168 that means ‘a heathen god’.