1 Corinthians 14:34, "churches"

1 Corinthians 14:34

In the churches;

This command, "to be silent", does not just apply only to the Corinthian church or to a specific situation or circumstance, but to all the churches within Christendom. This is also made clear in 1 Corinthian 11 and 2 Timothy 2. To assume that it is only applying to a situation within the church at Corinth and only to the Corinthian church would be a serious error to the facts of this verse and other verses. Paul is clear that this was the custom and command in all the churches, "The women are to keep silent".

Some would say that 1 Corinthians 14 and 2 Timothy 2 only apply to a formal church meeting, however, the early church met in settings that were informal and in small groups. The idea that this does not apply in other church settings such as small groups (or "life groups, "city groups", or any other term) is not a biblical or a historically accurate view of the church. These commands apply anytime the church is assembled together.