The Woman Question
A review by Colin Melbourne of Reverend Kenneth Hagin's book
© 01-08 Born-Again-Christian.Info
"All Christian women and men ought to read Rev. Hagin's book, seeking a fresh revelation form the Lord concerning this vital issue. To lovers of the Truth its message will heal the bruises caused by rampant false teaching on submission, and be a source of life-changing healing in your walk with The Lord Jesus Christ".
Let your women keep silence in churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the Law.
And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
What? Came the word of God from you? Or came it unto you only? Holy Bible, 1 Co.14:34-36 KJV
Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over a man, but to be
in silence. 1 Tim. 2:11-12
Adam Clarke, author of a highly respected Bible commentary writes on these verses about silencing women;
They are the only verses in the whole Book of God, which even by a false translation can be made prohibitory of women speaking in the Church. How is it, that by these passages, which according to the best Greek authorities, are wrongly rendered, and wrongly applied. How is it that women's lips have been sealed for centuries. How is it, that these texts have been allowed to stand unexamined, and unexplained for centuries?
Reverend Hagin's book 'The Woman Question', fulfils Adam Clarke's plea perfectly. He explores the Scriptures used to keep Christian women bound, rightly-dividing them to display God's perfect redemption for women, the same as men.
Introduction
Brother Hagin begins by reminding us that Pentecostal Full Gospel believers claim to adhere to the Word of God more than any other Christians, but of course do not 'silence women'. Indeed, they encourage 'women to teach men'.
So, either Full Gospel Christians are wrong, or traditional believers have lost sight of a crucial point.
Must Women Keep Silence in the Church?
Christian women have been restrained since the Dark Ages, and denominations created based on a deep misunderstanding of the passages stating that women should stay silent in Church.
Bro. Hagin emphasises that in Bible Greek only one word for 'man' is used, none for 'husband', a single word for 'woman', and none for wife. This is the key.
It follows that the reader has to use the context to decide if the Holy Spirit describes women generally, or wives in particular.
Let your women keep silence in churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the Law.
And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
What? Came the word of God from you? Or came it unto you only? Holy Bible, 1 Co.14:34-36
For example, verse 34 here simply cannot refer to all women, because not all women have husbands. Obviously, unmarried women are not implicated in this directive.
Therefore here the Greek word gyne is better translated as 'wives'. Likewise, with the verse;
Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over a man, but to be
in silence. 1 Tim. 2:11,12
Paul isn't referring to all women but to wives, specifically, wives learning and asking questions. Translating the Greek word gyne as wife instead of woman, as it should be, removes the confusion over these passages and they fit perfectly with the rest of Scripture.
Now read it where gyne is translated as wife, and husband instead of 'man'. (Both legitimate translations of the Greek).
Let the wife learn in silence with all subjection.
But I suffer not a wife to teach, nor to usurp authority over a husband, but to
be in silence. 1 Tim. 2:11,12
That is the point the Holy Spirit is making. Hagin explains the necessity for this injunction in relation to wives. There being no desire, or need, to stop women in general from teaching men in general, that wasn't the point. However, some wives definitely do try to dictate to their husbands. The Holy Spirit and Paul are simply saying that they must not.
In addition, during Paul's time, women were uneducated, so when they didn't understand something, they would disturb the meeting asking questions. Paul was telling them to ask their husband to clarify it at home.
[Note from Colin the missionary: Preaching in Hill-Tribe cultures where women are sadly still lacking in education, I vouch for this understanding. In meetings with lots of women, usually sitting at the back breast-feeding babies, when one didn't grasp something, she would begin asking, "What's he mean?"
Some other woman would explain to her,
"Well, it's like this..." Followed by another joining in loudly, "No, he means..."
I'd quickly lose their attention, and a noisy distraction developed. That is why God has given us clear instruction for this situation: tell them to be quiet, and to ask their husbands to explain at home.]
Hagin makes a vital point on the Law of Scriptural Interpretation. Every Scripture must be understood in the light of all Scripture on the same topic, and it must corroborate all other Scripture.
Could Paul, writing by the Holy Spirit, 'tell women to be quiet' in First Corinthians 14, then allow them to prophesy (out loud) and pray (out loud) in Ch. 11 of the same letter? Of course not! If they are to be silent and quiet, how can they prophesy and pray?
But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head; for that is even all as if she were shaven. 1 Co. 11:5
Paul would not stop women speaking encouragement from God, he'd allow God's daughters to prophesy. (As Joel prophesied, subsequently first fulfilled in Acts 2.) Nor ought anyone else stop women prophesying by the Holy Spirit.
Rev. Hagin writes that he is certain Paul was saying; "I suffer not a wife to teach or usurp authority over a husband."
With the condition, that should the husband not be a Christian, his wife might well need to teach him. Perhaps even take authority in the family if the husband is not being the godly leader of the household.
The Woman Question covers many more subjects in this revelatory style with chapters on;
Must Wives Always Obey their Husbands?
Proper Dress and Adornment for Christian Women
Must Women have their Heads Covered in Church?
Is the Man the Head of the Woman?
He ends with the resounding point, that, with God, there is neither male nor female, just people. The Biblical distinction is founded on marital status, not gender.
In Church matters, with regard to spiritual matters in the Body, there are no differences between women and men. In God's eyes, there are none.
Many Christians fall into error by missing the focus of these verses. They do not relate to man-and-woman, but to a husband-and-wife.
The husband is the head of his wife in the home. The man is not the head of the woman in the Church.
There is therefore neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Gal.3:26-28
In conclusion: I ask you if you claim to be a Christian, if you thirst for truth, instead of man's tradition, if you are quick to repent when God confronts you... Read this Scriptural unfolding of the 'Woman verses'.
I, as a male Spirit-filled missionary, unreservedly endorse each word of Kenneth Hagin's anointed book The Woman Question.
All Christians should read it, and get a fresh revelation from God on this important subject.
Those ready to repent and follow Jesus will receive a life-changing attitude and anointing in their fellowship with the Saviour.
Women of Faith, Put The Woman Question in your Church library. Give it to your pastor and the women in your life, and the Lord will confirm His Word.
The man is not the head of the woman in the Church. The husband is the head of his wife in the home
