An excellent article dealing with this passage as well as others can be found at
www.ptmin.org/women.htm Frank Viola's site, Present Testimony Ministry.

God Bless,

You are right that there is a more to this passage than meets the eye of most readers. The reason is that most do not realize WHAT CHURCH GATHERING is in view! It is also because of this misunderstanding that many seek to downplay, ignore or explain away the instructions of I Cor.14 and I Tim.2 on cultural grounds!

The N.T. uses the word "church" in 3 ways relative to Christians:
(1)There is the church which is Christ's Body (Eph.1:22,23; Col.1:24) This church includes all believers in Jesus Christ who have lived since the resurrection of Christ. But this church has never yet been gathered together and will not be gathered until Christ returns from heaven.

(2)There is the church of God. (Always used in the singular of the church in a city):
-(Acts 20:28) the elders of the church at Ephesus were overseers of the church of God there;
-(I Cor.1:2, II Cor.1:1) All believers at Corinth composed the church of God in that city;
-(I Cor.15:9; Gal.1:13) Paul persecuted the church of God, the church at Jerusalem ,
There are churches of God. (Used in the plural of a number of city churches in a province or state or of the totality of all churches of God):
-(I Thess.2:14)the churches of God in Judea
-(I Cor. 11:16; II Thess.1:4) the churches of God in their totality
While men would say there are many churches in any city (scores if not hundreds of denominations and congregations) the church of God does not belong to men but to God! He has only one and it includes every born again, sanctified saint in that city! (See I Cor.1:2) It is God's purpose that His church in each city should gathered together periodicly. See Acts 2:44-46; 6:1-7; 15:4,12,22, etc

(3) There are churches in people's houses: (Romans 16:5, I Corinthians 16:19, Colossians 4:15, Philemon 1:2 Such a church includes all the believers which gather in one's house.

Now, back to I Cor.14:
Which church is dealt with in the broader context of the whole book? To which church is the letter addressed? The church of God at Corinth. (1:2) In the narrower context of chapter 14 which church is in view? (see verse 23) It is "the whole church gathered together into one place". The church which is Christ's Body cannot be the one in this context. And the church in the house cannot be the one either because a whole different set of regulations guide such gatherings (I'll explain below.)

You will notice that I Tim.2 (the only other passage that speaks of women's silence) is found in the context of "behaviour in the house of God which is the church of the living God" (the church of God) See I Tim.3:14,15.

In order to understand the vast differences between how gatherings of the church of God in a city function in contrast to gatherings of the church in someone's house please take careful note of what scripture SAYS relative to each:

There are 15 regulations which are to be observed when the whole church (the church of God in the city) is come together into one place I Cor.14:23-40:

All the regulations from the first to the last are addressed to "brethren" i.e. "males" contrasted to "sisters" See verse 26 Not one of these regulations is addressed to women!
(1)Let all things (the giving of a psalm, a doctrine, a tongue, a revelation, an interpretation) be done unto edifying (the upbuilding of the saints and of any unbelievers who may also be present) verse 26 (See 23-26)
(2)No more than 3 are to speak in tongues and they must speak by course (one at a time). verse 27
(3) One is to interpret what is spoken in tongues. And if there is no interpretter present, there is to be no tongues speaking. verses 27,28
(4)No more than 3 prophets are to speak and the others are to judge what is spoken by a prophet. v.29
(5)If one prophet is speaking and something is revealed to another who sits by, the first is to be silent. v.30
(6)All the men have the same opportunity to prophesy. Not that all WILL prophesy, but all MAY (they have the liberty to do so). In other words there is no pre-appointment of speakers which effectively prohibits all the rest! verse 31
(7)Prophets are to speak one by one. verse 31
(8)No prophet can claim, "I HAD to speak, I just couldn't help myself!" "The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets." verse 32
(9)Verse 34 is NOT DIRECTED TO THE WOMEN, "Let YOU WOMEN keep silence...it is not permitted unto YOU to speak." But rather it is addressed TO THE MEN! "Let YOUR WOMEN keep silence...it is not permitted unto THEM to speak."
(10) Nor is verse 35 addressed to women, "And if YOU will learn anything, ask YOUR husbands at home..." But rather it is addressed to the men! "And if THEY will learn anything, let THEM ask their husbands at home for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.".
(11)One mark of a genuine prophet, or one who is a spiritual believer is that they will acknowledge that these (the above regulations) are the commandments of the Lord. verse 37
(12)If anyone be ignorant (doesn't know, doesn't understand) let him be ignorant.
The final instructions are also addressed to "brethren" and not to "sisters" verse 39
(13)Covet to prophesy, verse 39
(14) Forbid not to speak in tongues. verse 39
(15) Let all things be done decently and in order. verse 40

It is after such a gathering that men are to allow their wives to ask questions at home and to be prepared to answer those questions!

Now, Gus, you have asked a good question, "How do the women who are not married receive instruction if they have a question?"

This is where the importance of the house church gathering comes in!!!

Hebrews 10:24,25 and I Peter 4:8 to 11 and many other scriptures (which contain instructions to be followed by "one another", "every man" and "any man") set forth the basic principles by which ministry takes place in such gatherings:
Hebrews 10:24,25 "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

The book of I Peter is completely taken up with the matter of interpersonal relationships of
believers and also how to deal with suffering within those relationships.
I Peter 4:8-11 is no exception to this general theme "And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen

Please notice the use of the expressions: "one another", "every man", and "any man" (the generic terms for "human kind", not the term for the "male").

These terms, where ever they are used in scripture, do NOT exclude women but are always inclusive of them! "One-anothering" always involves mutual, two way, reciprocal and participatory ministry. Our sisters have received spiritual gifts by which they are to minister to us men just as we have received gifts by which to minister to them! This kind of mutual, two-way, reciprocal and participatory ministry is what characterizes house church gatherings. But if such was the "order of the day" in gatherings of the whole church of God in a city, there would be mass confusion and no one would be edified!

Gatherings of the church of God in one's city and gatherings of the church in someone's house have vastly different regulations because they have very different purposes in view! (For example: breaking of bread (eating of meals in remebrance of the Lord Jesus) takes place in house church gatherings but would be impossible in gatherings of thousands in gatherings of the church of God in most cities!)

It is in gatherings of churches in houses that unmarried sisters (along with any one) may voice their questions and hopefully receive scriptural answers to their questions!

I trust that careful examination of thes scriptures and taking careful heed to what scripture actually says will bring the light of the truth of God on these matters to our minds. If we continue in God's word, we are His disciples indeed and we shall know the truth (relative to specific questions or problems we face) and the truth shall make us FREE! John 8:31,32

Just a personal note in closing: My family background has been among those who teach that women are to be silent in ANY church meeting. So you may be sure that coming to understand the truth of the scriptures (above) has brought great freedom (liberty) for my wife and daughter as well as myself and our son to minister and to be ministered to by other believers (men and women) since we have been blessed with the tremendous privilege to be part of a house church which functions according to the Word of God! We also pray fervently and look forward to the day when the church in our community will actually gather together as I Cor.14 instructs us to.

God's continual purpose and objective is to bring us from where we were to where He wants us to be (just like His Son!) That has required much change in me and will continue to require much more before I will be conformed to the image of Christ. So differences of opinion or perspective need not separate us one from the other but rather should be motivations to learn from each other.

With this in view, I'm sending a copy of the above post to Frank Viola. I trust that our communication with each other will be for mutual profit, clearer understanding of the scriptures, greater liberty in putting them into practice, and ultimately closer comformity to the image of God's Beloved Son!

Thanks again for your contribution to this forum and your evident desire to be obedient to what God teaches you from His Word!