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lCor.l4;34...37 ‘Let the women be quiet in the assemblies; for it has not been permitted for them to be talking. But let them be in submission, as the law says…. It is shameful for a woman to speak in" church. If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or a spiritual person, let him recognise the things which I write to you that they are the command of the Lord.”

Paul used to write his letters with spiritual terms he had adopted from the Old Testament using the same symbolical lanquage. It was an exception for him to “speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh” to understand spiritual lanquage (Rom. 6:19); that is he “couldn't speak to you as to SPIRITUAL MEN, but as to MEN OF FLESH, as to babies in Christ.” I Cor. 3:1 So “ we ( Paul and God through Paul) speak, not in words which men's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.” I Cor. 2:13

So let us first study the spiritual meaning of “woman” in the Old Testament by some of the examples.

Prov. 9:13 “The woman is (spiritually) simple and knows (spiritually) nothing.”

Is. 3:12 “As for my people, (spiritual) children are their oppressors and (spiritual) women rule over them.”

....same with the Living Bible... “O my people. Can’t you see what fools your rulers are? Weak as women. Foolish as little children playing king. True leaders? No misleaders...” Nahum 3:13 (Modern lanquage) “Observe the warriors among you; they are women."

King James: “Your people are women in your midst.” The negative spiritual meaning of “woman” in the Old Testament is synonymous for the meaning of “FLESH” or “MAN OF FLESH” ' The Lord’s commandment Paul asks us to recognise is: “Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord” Sech. 2:13 Mat 26:41 “Watch and pray, that you don't enter into temptation; the Spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (like a woman) I Cor. 11:3... “But I would have you to understand that Christ is the head of every (spiritual) man and (spiritual) man is the head of a (spiritual) woman” (for guidance to the Lord). Every spiritual man praying or prophesying, having Christ covered (Who should live and reign instead of himself), dishonors Christ.

But every woman (fleshly Christian) who has her (own fleshly human) head uncovered... shames the head of her (own) as well as bring shame for her possible tutor. If woman does not cover her fleshliness and put on Lord Jesus Christ, she is the one and the same with her whose head is shaved; she is naked without wedding clothes.

Members of the church of Laodicean were spiritually blind to recognise their nakedness (fleshly state). Who will save them fiom the body of this death which is visible without covering (wedding clothes).

“I ( Christ) was naked (in them) and you didn’t clothe Me.” “I (God) want you to know how great struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are (spiritually) at Laodicea (who have the Spirit but not the clothes)” Col. 2: 1 '

But now Christ has been raised from the death (in you). “For all you who were baptised (through born again experience) into Christ -have clothed yourselves with Christ”.

We all got one talent of His godliness and holiness (grace) as your birthday-present. If you have lost it.,..” the woman shall be saved through bearing of the Child” Tim. 2:15 “My children, of whom I (God) am again in labour until Christ is formed in you” (Gal. 4:19) first as a baby and then “TO THE MATURE MAN, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ”.

Eph. 5:23 “A man is the head of the woman as also Christ is head of the church.” That is, A spiritual person should lead the one who does not understand the Way‘ “Edify each other”; Unfortunately in many cases blind is leading the blind. “The prophets prophesy falsely’ and the priests rule by their own authority” Jer. 5:30 New American Standard Bible

Mat. 23:7 “Do not be called by men Rabbi”... Do not be called by men to be something special as separate and opposite to your sisters....Do not even consider yourself to be better than your sisters. It’s only Christ and the measure which He can operate through us. There is no distinction between men and women in this regard for we are all brothers‘ Pharisees love the place of honour and the chief seats in the churches. Competition against their position is seen as an act of resisting the ordinances of God.

If we really love God and your sisters we are only happy to see God using someone in the ministry.

“A man is head of the flesh” means too that by spirit we must put to death the deeds of body; (“not to walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit). Not like Potiphar (Gen.39) who listened his lying wife (flesh) instead of Joseph (Christ).

Commandment of God : “Husband shall rule over his wife” (Gen 3:16) happened after the Fall. But now after the resurrection of Christ: lf Christ lives and rules in me instead of myself and Christ lives in my wife instead of herself, which “Christ” must be subject to the other one? Answer is: “Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ” Eph. 5:21 Of course the one which is more mature and spiritual in Christ observes this commandment more carefully.

I personally think, one of the reasons God uses figurative language is for us to evaluate the spirituality, knowledge and understanding of your fellow Christians. It is like an invitation to penetrate into the secrets of the Lord. Some food might be too strong at the start for them who just nurse babes and haven’t matured much.

So women can preach and teach if she is matured into the manhood of Christ expressing what is from God and man is not allowed to teach if he is man of flesh (woman) disclosing his own opinions.

So also spiritual women is head of less matured man for guidance to Christ.

Erno Miettinen

Unless stated otherwise the verses in this bible are referenced from a public domain bible.