Hi Roy, I do see what you are saying. What do we do with Paul's "plain statements"? Well, here's how I look at. Applying "first physical, then spiritual" we could approach it in the same way Jesus approached the law. As someone matures in Christ and understands and applies the spiritual meaning inwardly, than the outward application is irrelevant.
For example, we no longer keep a physical Sabbath day because we apply the spiritual meaning of the Sabbath rest and rest carnally from our works inwardly in Jesus Christ, who is our Sabbath. But for a time, while a babe in Christ, many feel the need to adhere to an actual physical day. Is that wrong? No. Is it necessary once you have matured? No. Your growth in the spiritual determines what you do physically.
So, if a person feels the need to apply the physical application than they surely should do that until God convicts them of the spiritual, in which case, they will no longer need the "schoolmaster" because they have graduated (so to speak). And hopefully they will not go backwards to the elementary principles of the world (the physical stuff).
I highly doubt that Paul was speaking in a parable to Timothy, a very young pastor. His intentions was to teach him and prepare him, so why would Paul not speak plainly?
So yes, perhaps there is a place and time at the beginning of one's walk that they could take this and apply it physically. Babes in Christ start in the physical...but all physical things point to a deeper spiritual application. Once God has given you the ability to grasp the spiritual meaning you don't need the type/pattern to help you understand. Once you know and understand how 4 +3 = 7 you don't need the abacus anymore to help you count in out.
Now, if all churches adhered to this instruction and women did not speak, would we have more enlightened churches? Highly unlikely. We know that there were many Jews including Paul "blameless" as to the Law, who faithfully performed all physical requirements and still did not have a clue as to what these physical requirements actually pointed to. So again, the "doing" of the physical is really irrelevant, it is the "understanding" of what the physical means (which comes from God) that is the only thing that matters. I don't have to have ever kept a Sabbath day to the "Tee" according to the Law, to now understand what it means. I can read about it in God's word and take it's instruction spiritually. If God has given someone that ability to SEE than you don't NEED the physical, since the physical only pointed to the understanding you already have. Am I making sense?
Do we void what was intended in this writing?
No, I don't think we void it anymore than we void the Law, it is fulfilled in Christ Jesus. Do we void the Sabbath? No, it is fulfilled in Christ Jesus. Do we void "do not murder"? No, it is fulfilled in Christ Jesus who alone gives us the ability to adhere to an even higher standard and not hate our brothers. If we have come to that place where we are no longer under the law, but under grace within ourselves, than it no longer matters who is silent or not outside of ourselves.
We both know, there is no ideal church that exists today...God's true church is scattered. How then, are we assured that the men in our churches are indeed mature in Christ, able to lead the women? There are women, afterall, that are leaps and bounds ahead of their husbands, spiritually speaking. My husband doesn't even know what he believes! My true husband is Jesus Christ and He alone leads me. I don't need to be silent, here or anywhere else, as long as I am silent in the Lord. At least, that is my desire.
All this makes sense in my own head but I may have not articulated it right. I hope, at the very least, it has given you something to think about.
I will be silent now...
(just kidding...)
Peace to you,
Diana