Dare we look at both sides of this topic, and in relation to those verses, Major, perhaps we can make some observations. Some of my acquaintances in the scholastic world have told me their thoughts on this from the more liberal perspective:
1) Paul was clearly speaking from his own beliefs rooted in his Jewish background where women are of less value and standing than the men
2) Paul clearly didn't say, "Thus saith the Lord..."
3) Those passages reflect nothing more than what was the cultural norm back then
4) The Bible was written by men
5) Women are more equal today than back then, so we must go along with our modern customs as the norm
6) I don't think God inspired that to be written at all since Jesus treated women as total equals to men
7) Paul was anti-woman
8) The exception of there having been a woman judge in OT times during the time of the Patriarchs, that signals to us today a change to God's thinking about the equality of men and women, and serves as a blanket change to the statements made in the garden concerning women
9) Priscilla was on totally equal footing with her husband in teaching and doctrinal authority over other men and women, even if the text doesn't come right out and state such
The list can go on and on, much of which points to a lack of reliance upon the integrity of scripture and accepting it for what it says; which only goes to saying that the Bible is only reliable if and when interpreted through the lenses of...(fill in the blank, for there are many non-historic methods of interpretations these days).
So, these verses say what they say, and don't need me to defend them in the arena of their clarity. So, each individual is left with choosing a side. Can the Lord still enact today any exceptions to what Paul said? Well, unlike so many others, I have no problems with God's Sovereignty, so He does as He so chooses in all things, but I cannot budge away from what's written on the basis of any one or hand full of exceptions. If anyone claims to be an exception in accordance with the expressed, written will of the Lord, then the Lord will confirm that in His own way, to those of His choosing.
So, as I had said before, what really matters is what the Lord has said, and to date, He hasn't revealed to me any deviations/exceptions from what's written. I fully trust in the Lord to show to us His will in all things that He hasn't already inspired to be written. The testament is closed, so it cannot be said to have been altered.
MM
