1 Corinthians 14:35

εἰ δέ τι θέλουσιν μανθάνειν : “But if they want to learn something” if this is the motive that prompts them to speak. This plea furnishes an excuse, consistent with the submission enjoined, for women raising their voices in the Church meetings; but even so P. deprecates the liberty. As between μανθάνειν and μαθεῖν after θέλω and the like, El [2198] thus distinguishes: “when attention is directed to the procedure of the action specified, the pr [2199] is commonly used; when simply to the action itself, the aor [2200] ” In bidding the Cor [2201] women of enquiring minds to “ask at home of their own husbands,” P. is laying down a general rule, not disposing of all cases that might arise; since the impv [2202] of 1 Corinthians 14:35 admits of exceptions, so may that of 1 Corinthians 14:34 : the utterances of Pentecost (Acts 2:4) proceeded from “all,” both men and women (cf. 18 f.); there is also the notable instance of Philip's “four daughters which did prophesy” (Acts 21:9). At Cor [2203] there was a disposition to put men and women on an equal footing in public speaking and Church leadership; this is stigmatized as αἰσχρὸν (turpe, inhonestum; cf. 1 Corinthians 11:6; 1 Corinthians 11:13 ff.); it shocks moral feeling. For ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ, see 1 Corinthians 11:18.

[2198] C. J. Ellicott's St. Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians.

[2199] present tense.

[2200] aorist tense.

[2201] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[2202] imperative mood.

[2203] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.