"MyrtleTrees, said
LET THE WOMAN LEARN IN SILENCE - WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS MEANS?
I will add the following similar scriptures, before saying what I think.
1. Wives submit yourselves unto your own husbands as unto the Lord for the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the Church and he is the savior of the body. Therefore, as the Church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything ( Ephesians 5:22 -24) -- old KJV
2. Likewise, you wives be in subjection to your own husbands that if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be worn by the conversation of the wives. Likewise husbands dwell with them according to knowledge giving honor unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel ( Peter 3:1,7)---old KJV
There is a deeper spiritual meaning of these scriptures but I believe Apostles Paul and Peter used the literal meaning because they understood well that the young established churches of their time were not well enriched with the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus and were enormously battling with the foolishness of the flesh and wisdom of men, having converted from Paganism and Judaism. Therefore, there was need to ensure peace and orderliness in the church and home for the edifying of the church until they grow in the knowledge of God and his word. In this way, it becomes a means to an end for those who walk without higher knowledge of the scripture or the Son of God whom we profess to be our Lord and savior.
God gave us a model of perfection which should be our focus and emulation. When we claim to be a new creature, or born again, why do we still hold on to the literal interpretation of these scriptures as a mandate for a husband and wife relationship, or for the church knowing, with higher understanding, that in Christ, there is no gender (male or female, Jew or Greek, Americans or Africans etc) or inequality of any sort. No subjection of one to the control of another for everyone is one. When we join ourselves unto the Lord, we become one spirit. ( 1 Corinthians 6:7). It is only when we uphold this oneness in the home and by extension in the church and society at large that husband and wife can act with spirit, one love, one purpose , one will, one hope, one direction, everyone walking and working in unity with one another, expressing one voice to the glory of God. In the absence of this oneness, we shall continue to have divisions in the church, marriage problems leading to divorces among those who call themselves Christians.
When we cleave unto God as a girdle cleaves unto the loins of a man ( as God has caused us to cleave unto him, Jeremiah 13: 11), the holy spirit which he has spread in our hearts overshadows our fleshly hearts, minds, thoughts, desires and leads us to unite with God and walk in unison with one another in love as our natural inclination. ( no ego involved). Before we can unite with one another, we must first unite with God.
It baffles me sometimes that after 2000 years the gospel was handed down to us, we are still drinking the milk of the gospel instead of eating the strong meat, if I may borrow Paul''s words. When will we grow as Christians?
When we teach the right understanding, people will walk towards it to achieve the right purpose and not walk in ignorance. The teachings echoing from the Pulpits should be for better education, enlightenment and elevation of mankind.