Many regard vv33b-36 as a gloss, an interpolation, i.e. an addition made by someone later than Paul. The reasons are
it is a contradiction to 11:5 where Paul says women may pray and prophesy provided that they keep their heads covered or their hair tied up in a bun.
v37 would follow on naturally from v33a if we excluded vv33b-36.
· Some of the ancient manuscripts have moved these verses from their present location to the end of chapter 14 showing the copyists’ doubt about the authenticity of the text. As a result some recent translations have these verses in brackets. Against that, however, the manuscripts with these verses at the end are not the oldest that we have, the oldest manuscripts of 1 Cor have these verses in their present location.
These verses are similar to 1 Tim 2:11-12 which is not considered to have been written by Paul but by second or third generation Pauline interpreters.
· Furthermore women had active roles in the Church: Phoebe (Rom 16:1-2), Prisca (Rom 16:3-4, see Acts 18:18-28), Junia (Rom 16:7) and finally Euodia and Syntyche (Phil 4:2-3).
While that is the good news it still leaves us with the problem why it is
there, why it was added. It is a
reminder to us that there are contradictions in the Bible. We have no problem in saying that some
parts of the Bible are less inspired than others, and conversely that other
parts are more inspired. That is
why we reverence the Gospel at Mass more than the other readings. With this text in question, would you
say that it is not inspired at all? It
is best to regard these verses as coming from a later time when the freedom Paul
gave to women was being removed once again.