Why were women asked not to preach in church?

The questioner may have the following scriptures in mind when asking this question.

1 Timothy 2:11-13 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. (KJV)

1 Corinthians 14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. (KJV)

There are many brilliant women among the Lord’s people, well studied in scripture, and quite able to present, so why would there be a prohibition on women being permitted “to teach” in the church? We do find a clear hierarchal order laid out for us in the Bible. One instance of this can be found in the following text.

1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. (KJV)

This represents a top down order of authority, God, Jesus, man, woman. The fact that many women would be quite capable to be teachers, yet not permitted to teach, must indicate that there is another lesson that God wishes us learn. These lessons would include; obedience, submissiveness, and humility. These are basic principles that every Christian must learn. (Even Jesus was so proven.

Hebrews 5:8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. (NAS) While Jesus was always obedient, the test he faced was to maintain perfect obedience under suffering.)

Respecting this order of authority must have been so important for us to learn that God decided to exemplify it in this manner, in the everyday activities of life. This should serve as a constant reminder for Jesus disciples, that God is above all, and we are all under Jesus as our head.

In the case of the Corinthian church the circumstances may have been somewhat unique. This was a church that needed some strong restraints placed over them due to the social setting and typical behaviors that they were accustomed to. That said, if we look at the words “to speak” from 1Corinthian 14:34 we find the following definition.

Strong’s Dictionary on "to speak" #2980  laleo (lal-eh'-o); can have the meaning of “an extended or random harangue.” So Paul is not saying a woman cannot say a word, but rather that the women in Corinth must not take a leading role over the men. Why? Again this would be disruptive to the order of authority that God has established in His creative wisdom.

One final point that should be noted. While there are established hierarchal roles in our earthly lives, the high calling to be members of “the Christ” carries forward no such roles in the resurrection. In other words, once we have finished our earthly life as male or female, if we are found faithful in our walk, and are raised to be with Jesus, there will be no such gender distinctions that carry over from this life.

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (KJV)

This is teaching us that any that are “called of God” can “run the race for the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14

Observing these Biblical principles is one of the many ways that we can exercise obedience to God.