The passages in the letter to the Corinthians that deal with women's leadership in the churches are considered by MANY (most?) reputable scholars to be interpolations inserted by later redactors OR at the very least compromises by Paul with his culture for the sake of the broader acceptability of Gospel in Roman/Greek society. I personally believe that they are interpolations. here are my reasons:
1. They contradict Paul's clearly understood theology (as expressed in Galations and elsewhere) that in christ there is no longer male and female.
2. They are at odds with the greetings to colleagues that Paul includes in most of his authentic letters. from these greetings it is clear that Paul relies on and values the leadership, courage, and spiritual insights of women to accomplish his ends.
3. If you read Corinthians with those passages excised there is no interuption in the flow of the language. In fact, the text reads more smoothely without them. Its really pretty clear that they were not part of the original composition.
Paul was a radical egalitarian, even by todays standards. By first century standards he was a TOTAL WHACKO!! (God bless him!) It is no surprise that his followers, translators, copyists, etc felt the need to tone him down a little. Even in Ephesians 5 where he seems to be blessing Roman Patriarchal culture, if you read carefully what he says about the ideal relationships between master/slave husband/wife and father/child you have to realize that even while he is affirming those relationships he is tearing the guts out of them and completely redefining them.
When Paul is done with Patriarchy in Ephesians its like a Marcino Cherry. The basic cellular structure and shape is still intact but NOTHING of the substance of the original cherry remains.
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