What was the temple in Corinth like that influenced Paul's instructions to women?
The temple in Corinth stood on a bluff and was linked with gross immorality; each night a thousand priestesses came down into the city streets practicing prostitution. Because this brazen, talkative conduct was so prevalent, Paul instructed women to watch their speech and behavior so believers would not resemble those prostitutes or give the world a wrong impression.
Les explains that Corinth was a wicked, wicked city, characterized by gross immorality. The temple up on the bluff was the source of a nightly invasion: a thousand priestesses came down into the streets of Corinth practicing prostitution. This was something the little church had to deal with every day of its existence. Paul therefore laid upon the congregation of believers not to do anything that would smack of being like one of those prostitutes. He told the ladies to watch their languages, speaking, and behavior. If they did anything that smacked of those brazen, talkative prostitutes, the world would get the wrong impression. Les also notes that people have criticized Paul as an anti-feminist, but he says the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write these things for a reason, including verse 34, “let your women keep silence in the churches.”