THE WOMAN QUESTION

OMISSION TO MENTION, AS TO PASS OVER A MATTER IN SILENCE

WRITTEN BY:

EVERETT C. ED WEST

NOTICE:   ALL SCRIPTURE USED IN THIS STUDY IS QUOTED FROM THE KING JAMES VERSION UNLESS OTHER WISE NOTED.

SUMMARY OF OUR STUDY

OUR STUDY IS A COMPLETE NEW OUTLOOK ABOUT THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE CHURCH.  "QUESTION, SHOULD A WOMAN PREACH?"    "AND, WHAT EXACTLY DID PAUL MEAN WHEN HE INSTRUCTED THE WOMEN TO KEEP SILENCE IN THE CHURCHES FOR IT IS NOT PERMITTED UNTO THEM TO SPEAK, AND I SUFFER NOT A WOMAN TO TEACH, NOR USURP HER AUTHORITY OVER THE MAN?"

IF YOU ARE CONFUSED AND DON'T UNDERSTAND THE ANSWER TO THESE QUESTIONS, OR IF YOU ARE DEAD SET AGAINST WOMEN PREACHERS, THEN YOU MUST READ, AND STUDY THIS COMMENTARY.   WELL, YOU SHOULD IF YOU ARE SINCERELY INTERESTED IN LEARNING THE TRUTH.

I FIRST BEGAN LOOKING AT THIS MOST CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE SOMETIME BACK IN THE LATE FIFTIES.  THROUGHOUT THE YEARS I HAVE READ THE VARIOUS COMMENTARIES, AND STUDIED MANY THEORIES OF CHURCH DOCTRINE AS TO A LOGICAL EXPLANATION CONCERNING THE WOMAN QUESTION.  HOWEVER, MOST HAVE COME UP CONTRADICTED, OR NOT IN HARMONY WITH OTHER BIBLE SCRIPTURE.   IN OTHER WORDS, THEY JUST DIDN'T GYVE.   I KNEW THERE HAD TO BE A LOGICAL EXPLANATION TO PAUL'S STATEMENTS AS TO WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS SILENCING ALL WOMEN IN THE CHURCH (AS IN FORBIDDING THEM TO SPEAK, PREACH AND TEACH)  BECAUSE IF THIS WAS LITERALLY TRUE THEN PAUL WAS CONTRADICTING HIS OWN SELF, AND CERTAINLY NOT IN HARMONY WITH HIS OWN TEACHINGS.

MY STUDY OF THE WOMAN QUESTION (ALTHOUGH CONTRARY TO MOST CHURCH TEACHINGS) IS NOT SOME NEW CULT DOCTRINE WHICH I HAVE DREAMED UP, BUT IS ONLY A MORE THOROUGH, DEEPER STUDY THAT MOST CHURCHES REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE, LET ALONE EXPLAIN.

I'M SURE THAT SOME OF YOU WILL NOT AGREE WITH THE OUTCOME OF MY STUDY.  HOWEVER, WHETHER OR NOT YOU AGREE WITH MY ANALYSIS, YOUR EYES WILL DEFIANTLY BE OPENED TO SOME VERY BASIC POINTS THAT YOU HAVE PROBABLY NEVER HEARD MENTIONED IN YOUR CHURCH, LET ALONE DEBATED.

IN OUR STUDY OF THE WOMEN QUESTION I WILL BE SHOWING YOU HOW THE WORD SILENCE USED IN THIS TEXT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WOMEN ARE RESTRICTED TO TOTAL SILENCE AS DEFINED BY WEBSTER MEANING (ABSENT FROM ANY SOUND OR NOISE).  HOWEVER, THAT THE WORD SILENCE USED IN THIS TEXT IS REFERRING TO SILENCE AS ALSO DEFINED BY WEBSTER AS IN, "OMISSION OF MENTION, AS TO PASS OVER A MATTER IN SILENCE."

THAT PAUL IN HIS ORDINANCES TO THE CHURCH AT CORINTH WAS SPEAKING TO THE HUSBANDS AS INSTRUCTION FOR THEIR WIVES.  THAT THE WORD SILENCE AND SPEAK USED IN THIS TEXT AS INSTRUCTION FOR THE WOMEN IS CONCERNING A HUSBAND AND WIFE SITUATION.  THUS, IT MERELY MEANS THAT WIVES ARE NOT TO SPEAK IN THE CHURCH AS IN A WAY TO CAUSE CONFUSION, OR CONTROVERSY.  SILENCE, REGARDING SITUATIONS THAT DOES NOT CONCERN THE WIFE AS TO MAINTAIN ORDER AND HARMONY.  THAT THE WIFE IS TO BE DIGNIFIED, UPRIGHT, AND ORDERLY.  THAT THE WIFE IS TO SHOW REVERENCE, AS IN REVERENCE TO HER HUSBAND AND TO ALL THOSE IN AUTHORITY.  

I MAINTAIN THAT PAUL'S INSTRUCTIONS, ALTHOUGH IN THIS PARTICULAR TEXT WAS ONLY DIRECTED TO THE WIVES, DOES INCLUDE ALL WOMEN IN GERNERAL AS FOR KEEPING THEMSELVES IN AN ORDERLY FASHION.  HOWEVER, THIS TEXT IN NO WAY IMPLIES, NOR RESTRICTS WOMEN (WIVES) FROM TEACHING AND PREACHING IN THE CHURCH.  NEITHER CASUAL SPEAKING IN THE CHURCH, NOR SPEAKING ALOUD WHILE WORSHIPING IN A CHURCH SERVICE.  I CONCLUDE, AND WILL PROVE WITH THE BIBLE THAT WOMEN DID PREACH IN THAT ERA, AND ARE STILL CALLED TO PREACH TODAY.  THAT PAUL COULD NOT COUNTER THE LORD'S ORDER CONCERNING THESE WOMEN OF THE GOSPEL.  THAT THE WOMAN QUESTION IS INDEED ABOUT A HUSBAND AND WIFE SITUATION CONCERNING ORDER.  NOTICE WHAT PAUL SAID IN THE VERY LAST VERSE OF THAT SAME CHAPTER.  "LET ALL THINGS BE DONE DECENTLY AND IN ORDER."

THE WOMAN QUESTION

"LET YOUR WOMEN KEEP SILENCE IN THE THE 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 ANYTHING, 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 OUT FROM YOU?"  "OR CAME IT UNTO YOU ONLY".  "LET THE WOMAN LEARN IN SILENCE WITH ALL SUBJECTION, BUT I SUFFER NOT A WOMAN TO TEACH, NOR TO USURP AUTHORITY OVER THE MAN, BUT TO BE IN SILENCE".   (KING JAMES VERSION)

NOTICE THAT THIS WAS PAUL SPEAKING IN 1 CORINTHIANS 14:34-36, AND A SIMILAR STATEMENT IN A LETTER TO TIMOTHY IN 1 TIMOTHY 2:11-14.   IF YOU HAVE STUDIED THE VARIOUS DENOMINATIONAL BELIEFS YOU ALREADY KNOW THESE SEVEN PASSAGES ARE SOME OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL STATEMENTS IN THE ENTIRE BIBLE.   SOME CLAIM THAT PAUL'S STATEMENTS HAVE CAUSED MORE CONFLICT, AND CONTROVERSY BETWEEN THE CHURCHES THAN ANY OTHER CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE.  IT IS TRUE, BROTHERS HAVE TURNED AGAINST BROTHERS, WHILE CHURCHES HAVE TURNED AGAINST CHURCHES, DUE TO THIS MOST MISUNDERSTOOD ISSUE.  

SOME CLAIM PAUL WAS A WOMAN HATER, AND SOME EVEN GO SO FAR AS TO SAY THAT HE WAS A HOMOSEXUAL, AND THAT WAS WHY HE INSTRUCTED THE WOMEN TO KEEP SILENCE IN THE CHURCHES.  HOWEVER, I ASSURE YOU THAT NEITHER OF THOSE STATEMENTS ARE TRUE.  CERTAINLY, PAUL NEVER HAD ANYTHING AGAINST WOMEN, BUT ON THE CONTRARY HE PRAISED, AND HONORED THOSE WOMEN THAT LABORED WITH HIM IN THE GOSPEL.

LOOKING AT PAUL'S STATEMENTS LITERALLY, OR PULLING THEM OUT OF CONTEXT ONE MIGHT ASSUME THAT ALL WOMEN ARE INDEED RESTRICTED FROM SPEAKING IN THE CHURCH.  SO, IF THEY ARE RESTRICTED FROM SPEAKING IN THE CHURCH, THEN IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING, THEY WOULD ALSO BE RESTRICTED FROM PREACHING, OR FOR THAT MATTER, FROM ANY OTHER SPIRITUAL WORKS RELATED TO, OR IN THE CHURCH.  I MEAN ONE CAN HARDLY PREACH, OR LABOR IN THE CHURCH WITHOUT SPEECH.  SO DUE TO MAN'S IGNORANCE CONCERNING THESE PASSAGES, THE WOMEN MINISTERS HAS INDEED HAD TO STRUGGLE FOR HER PLACE IN THE  CHURCH.   HOWEVER, NOT ONLY HAS SHE HAD TO BATTLE OLD SATAN, BUT SHE HAS ALSO HAD TO BATTLE MAN, JUST FOR THE RIGHT TO BATTLE HIM.

WHAT IS THE ACTUAL DISAGREEMENT?

IT SEEMS THAT MOST EVERYONE HAVE THEIR OWN IDEAS, AND OPINIONS AS TO WHAT PAUL'S STATEMENT IS SUGGESTING.   FOR EXAMPLE, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAS FOUGHT TO KEEP WOMEN OUT OF THE PRIESTHOOD.   TO THESE BELIEVERS, PAUL'S STATEMENTS SOMEHOW SUGGEST THAT WOMEN SHOULD NOT BE ORDAINED AS PRIEST.  HOWEVER, THESE WOMEN, CALLED MOTHERS AND SISTERS, ARE PERMITTED TO TEACH IN VARIOUS OTHER  SITUATIONS.  IT'S ODD TO ME WHY THESE WOMEN ARE NOT PERMITTED TO BE ORDAINED AS PRIEST, AS THE BIBLE DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING AGAINST A WOMEN BECOMING A PRIEST.  YET, ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY ALLOW THESE WOMEN TO TEACH, AND TAKEN LITERALLY, THE BIBLE DOES SEEM TO SUGGEST THAT A WOMAN SHOULD NOT TEACH.   AS I SAID, "I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THEIR WAY OF THINKING".

THE VARIOUS BAPTIST DENOMINATIONS ARE ALONG THE SAME LINE AS THE CATHOLICS, BY NOT ORDAINING WOMEN TO PREACH.  HOWEVER, THEY DO ALLOW THEM TO SPEAK IN BUSINESS MEETINGS, TEACH SUNDAY SCHOOL, TEACH IN THE MID-WEEK SERVICE, AND TESTIFY ALL NIGHT LONG, AS LONG AS THEY DON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THEY ARE PREACHING.

THE BAPTIST SEE PAUL'S STATEMENT, "LET YOUR WOMEN KEEP SILENCE IN THE CHURCHES" AS A RESTRICTION EXCLUDING A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO PREACH IN THE CHURCH.  HOWEVER, NOTICE THIS, THEY DON'T PAY ANY ATTENTION TO PAUL'S STATEMENT, "I SUFFER NOT A WOMAN TO TEACH".  THINK ABOUT IT.   I MEAN THEY TAKE ONE SCRIPTURE, AND BASE A BELIEF AND DOCTRINE ON WHAT IT ACTUALLY DOESN'T SAY, THEN TURN RIGHT AROUND, AND LET THE WOMEN DO THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT ANOTHER SCRIPTURE ACTUALLY DOES SAY.  "ISN'T THAT STRANGE?"

OF ALL THE CHURCHES, THAT I'M ACQUAINTED, THE CHURCH OF CHRIST PROBABLY COMES DOWN HARDER ON WOMEN THAN ANY I KNOW.  THEY DO NOT BELIEVE, NOR PERMIT WOMEN TO DO ANYTHING IN THE CHURCH PERTAINING TO SPIRITUAL WORKS, INCLUDING SPEAKING.  THE WOMEN ARE TO REMAIN SILENT IN THE CHURCH, EXCEPT IN SOME CASES CONCERNING CONFESSION, AND PRAISE.  

MOST CHURCHES OF GOD, AS A WHOLE DO ALLOW WOMEN IN THEIR PULPITS.  HOWEVER, SOME OF THE VARIOUS DENOMINATIONS WITHIN THE CHRURCH OF GOD DO RESTRICT WOMEN FROM THE GOSPEL, FOR EXAMPLE THE WORLD WIDE CHRUCH OF GOD DO NOT RECOGNIZE, NOR ORDAIN WOMEN PREACHERS.   THE FULL GOSPEL, OR PENTECOSTAL TYPE CHURCHES ARE PROBABLY THE WOMAN PREACHER'S BEST FRIEND, BECAUSE MOST OF THOSE CHURCHES DO ALLOW WOMEN IN THEIR PULPIT, AND ACCEPT THEM AS CO-WORKERS IN THE GOSPEL.

BECAUSE OF THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE WOMAN ISSUE, MOST OF THOSE WHO DO SUPPORT WOMEN IN THE GOSPEL, WHEN REFERRING TO THEIR FAITH LABEL THEMSELVES AS NON-DENOMINATIONAL.   WELL!  THE TRUTH IS THAT'S AS GOOD A NAME AS ANY, BECAUSE IN REALITY THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A BAPTIST, A CATHOLIC A METHODIST, ETC. ETC. , OR WHATEVER.  YOU SEE, CONTRARY TO BELIEF, GOD DOES NOT RECOGNIZE DENOMINATIONS, NEITHER IS IT SUGGESTED, INSTRUCTED, OR TAUGHT IN THE BIBLE.  THIS IS STRICTLY MAN'S OWN IDEA.  

AS WE HAVE JUST NOTED, THE BASIC ARGUMENT CONCERNING THE WOMAN QUESTION IS ABOUT PREACHING, AND SPIRITUAL WORKS IN THE CHURCH, AND NOT SO MUCH ABOUT CARNAL SPEAKING.  THIS BELIEF, AND DOCTRINE THAT COMES FROM SEVERAL SCRIPTURES IN THE BIBLE IS SO OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD.      HOWEVER,  JUST AS WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY POINTED OUT, THEY  MOSTLY ARRIVE FROM PAUL'S STATEMENTS IN 1 CORINTHIANS 14 AND 1 TIMOTHY 2.

SINCE PAUL'S STATEMENTS TO SOME ARE QUITE CONFUSING, AND SEEMINGLY CANNOT ANSWER, OR EXPLAIN THEIR OWN INTENTION, ONE HAS TO TURN TO OTHER SCRIPTURES, AND GIVE MUCH STUDY FOR THEIR TRUE INTERPRETATION.

WHAT IS A HUSBAND AND WIFE SITUATION?

IN MY STUDY, MANY TIMES YOU WILL HEAR THE TERM, "A HUSBAND AND WIFE SITUATION".  "BUT WHAT DOES THIS MEAN, YOU MAY ASK?"  IT IS IN REFERENCE TO THE ROLE A WIFE IS TO PLAY IN HER MARRIAGE.  YOU SEE THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN CONFLICT, AS TO WHAT THE ACTUAL ROLE A WIFE IS TO PLAY IN HER MARRIAGE.

FOR EXAMPLE, SHOULD A WIFE WORK OUTSIDE THE HOME?  SHOULD SHE BE THE SOUL BREAD WINNER?  SHOULD SHE SPEAK IN PUBLIC PLACES?  SHOULD SHE ATTEND SPORTS?  SHOULD SHE VOTE?  SHOULD SHE SMOKE?  SHOULD SHE BE A MOTHER ONLY?  SHOULD SHE TEACH?  SHOULD SHE PREACH?  SHOULD SHE DO THIS, OR SHOULD SHE DO THAT? 

ACTUALLY, WHAT THIS ALL BOILS DOWN TO ARE SIMPLY CUSTOMS AND CULTURE.  I MEAN THE LIST IS ENDLESS AS TO WHAT SHE SHOULD, OR SHOULD NOT DO.  YOU SEE, THE FACT IS, WHAT'S FITTING IN ONE CULTURE IS NOT PERMITTED, OR CUSTOMARY IN ANOTHER.  CONCERNING THE CHURCH, MAN HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO SEPARATE CUSTOMS, AND CULTURE FROM HIS WIFE'S ROLE AS A WOMAN, AND CERTAINLY NOT HIS WIFE'S ROLE AS BOTH WOMAN AND PROPHETESS, AND THAT'S WHERE THE PROBLEM COMES IN. 

THE QUESTION IS NOW, DOES GOD'S ORDER CONCERNING THE SPIRITUAL WORKS OF A WOMAN N THE CHURCH HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH A HUSBAND, AND WIFE SITUATION?  SO, WHEN TRYING TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE THIS MOST CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE, FIRST WE HAVE TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE GOD'S ORDER FROM MAN'S CUSTOMS, AND CULTURE, WHICH I REFER TO AS, A HUSBAND AND WIFE SITUATION. 

CUSTOMS PREVAILED IN PAUL'S DAY

FIRST, KEEP IN MIND THAT PAUL'S INSTRUCTION CONCERNING THE WOMAN QUESTION ARE IN REFERENCE TO THE CUSTOM OF THAT DAY, AND OTHER TIMES SPEAKING CONCERNING THE SPIRITUAL WORKS OF THE WOMAN.  SO IN ORDER TO TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE GOD'S ORDER, WE MUST ALSO RIGHTLY DIVIDE PAUL'S INSTRUCTION.  IF NOT, THEN CERTAINLY THE SCRIPTURES ARE GOING TO CONTRADICT THEM.

FOR EXAMPLE, TO MERELY CONCLUDE PAUL'S INSTRUCTION IN 1 CORINTHIANS 14:34, MEANT THAT WOMEN ARE TO KEEP TOTALLY SILENCE IN THE CHURCHES AS TO A WOMAN PREACHING CONTRADICTS ACT 2:17, WHERE IT SAYS, "AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THE LAST DAYS, SAITH GOD, I WILL POUR OUT OF MY SPIRIT UPON ALL FLESH: AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY (PREACH).

LET'S GO BACK TO PAUL'S DAY.  YOU SEE, IN THOSE TIMES, CUSTOMS, AND DOCTRINES ALSO PREVAILED JUST LIKE TODAY, AND EVEN MORE SO.  WOMEN WERE NOT PERMITTED TO SPEAK IN PUBLIC PLACES, AND TO DO SO WAS CONSIDERED SUBORDINATE, IN OTHER WORDS TO DO SO WAS SOMEHOW TAKING THE MAN'S ROLE, THUS BRINGING HER HEAD (HUSBAND) TO SHAME.  SO IN THAT DAY THE MEN WERE CHOSEN FOR SUCH DUTIES.  HOWEVER, EVEN INTO OUR DAY (ALTHOUGH WOMEN HAVE COME A LONG WAY) THE CUSTOM (PRACTICE) STILL CONTINUES.  MEN, AS A WHOLE ARE USUALLY CHOSEN OVER WOMEN FOR SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS.

LIKE WISE IN PAUL'S DAY, PROPHETESS MANY TIMES WEREN'T ALLOWED TO  MINISTER IN THE CHURCHES, OR ASSEMBLES, JUST LIKE THEY AREN'T IN MANY OF OUR CHURCHES TODAY, BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS IS LOOKED UPON BY SOME AS TAKING THE MAN'S ROLE, OR TAKING AUTHORITY OVER THE MAN.  ALSO, HAIR AND CLOTHING CUSTOMS HAD TO BE FOLLOWED JUST LIKE IN MANY OF OUR CHURCHES TODAY.  EVEN PAUL, SPEAKING TO THE CHURCH ACKNOWLEDGED THESE CUSTOMS.  NOTICE 1 CORINTHIANS 11:5 SAYS, "EVERY WOMAN THAT PRAYETH OR PROPHESIETH WITH HER HEAD UNCOVERED DISHONOURETH HER HEAD: (HUSBAND) FOR THAT IS EVEN ALL ONE AS IF SHE WERE SHAVEN". 

YOU SEE, THIS WAS NOT NECESSARILY GOD'S WILL FOR ALL TIME, NOR GOD'S ORDER FOR WOMEN EVERYWHERE, BUT ON THE CONTRARY, IT WAS MAN'S CUSTOM OF THAT TIME, IN THAT ERA, AND POSSIBLY THAT PARTICULAR CHURCH.  BEING A PART OF A PARTICULAR CULTURE, ONE HAS TO ABIDE BY THEIR LAWS.   PLAINLY,  PAUL WAS MERELY STATING THE ORDINANCES INTO THAT CHURCH, OR THAT TIME, AS TO THEIR CUSTOMS.  IN A SENSE PAUL WAS SORT OF CAUGHT BETWEEN THE NEW DISPENSATION, (SPIRITUAL FREEDOM) AND THE OLD LAW.   ALTHOUGH PAUL HONORED CERTAIN CUSTOMS TO AN EXTENT LOOK AT WHAT HE SAID IN VERSE 16, "BUT IF ANY MAN SEEM TO BE CONTENTIOUS, WE HAVE NO SUCH CUSTOM, NEITHER THE CHURCHES OF GOD".   IN OTHER WORDS, PAUL WAS SIMPLY SAING THAT HIS RELIGION, HIS GOD, AND HIS CHURCH HAVE NO SUCH CUSTOMS.  

LET ME SAY IT AGAIN, CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS ARE NOT ALWAYS RIGHT, AND CERTAINLY NOT IN GOD'S ORDER.  IN FACT, THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT THE TRADITIONS OF MAN MAKES THE WORD OF GOD TO NONE EFFECT.  HOWEVER, WE MUST SHOW RESPECT (BY KEEPING SILENCE) TO THOSE IN AUTHORITY BY OBEYING THE RULES AND CUSTOMS OF WHAT EVER CHURCH WE MIGHT ENTER.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR BIBLE FOR A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE WOMAN QUESTION

FIRST, KEEP IN MIND THAT THE BIBLE IS A VERY COMPLEX BOOK, AND PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD.  TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, SADLY ENOUGH, PEOPLE SIMPLY DON'T KNOW HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE.   THUS, WITHOUT KNOWING HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE.  WITHOUT KNOWING HOW TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE MAKES THE TRUE INTERPRETATION VERY DIFFICULT.  MANY TIMES TO UNDERSTAND AN INSTRUCTION, OR COMMENT WE HAVE TO RELATE TO OTHER SCRIPTURES FOR ITS TRUE MEANING.  SO, AS ONE WRITER SAID, "TAKE THE WHOLE WORD AND EAT OF IT".

THE BIBLE IS ALSO FULL OF LITTLE WORDS THAT MANY TIMES CHANGE THE ENTIRE MEANING, OR INSTRUCTION OF A SCRIPTURE, AND MOST BIBLE READERS DON'T CATCH THEM.  THERE ARE ALSO TIMES DURING BIBLE STUDY WHEN THE READER HAS TO TRANSLATE WORDS TO GET A TRUE INTERPRETATION OF A PARTICULAR PASSAGE.  THUS, WE HAVE TO STUDY THE CONTEXT TO TELL WHETHER OR NOT THE TRANSLATED WORD IS THE CORRECT WORD FOR A PARTICULAR TEXT.

LET ME EXPLAIN.  YOU SEE DURING THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION FROM THE GREEK AND HEBREW LANGUAGE TO THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE SOMETIMES THERE WAS NO CORRECT WORD FOR THE TRANSLATION.  SO, THE TRANSLATOR HAD NO CHOICE, BUT TO USE THE NEXT BEST WORD.  ( IN OTHER WORDS, THE NEXT BEST WORD FOR THE TRANSLATION).  SOMETIMES THE NEXT BEST WORD COULD CHANGE THE ENTIRE MEANING OF A SCRIPTURE.  THAT WAS WHAT HAPPENED CONCERNING THIS WOMEN QUESTION, AS I'LL EXPLAIN A LITTLE FURTHER IN OUR STUDY.

THE KING JAMES VERSION IS STILL AMONT THE TOP SELLERS, AND CONSIDERED BY MOST, AS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR BIBLES.  HOWEVER, AFTER SAYING ALL THAT, AND BESIDE THE POINT THAT IT IS ALSO MY FAVORITE DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT IT IS THE BEST VERSION FOR COMPLETE BIBLE STUDY.  MUCH LIKE COMPARING SINGERS, ONE MUST SURELY AGREE THAT BEING THE MOST POPULAR DOESN'T ALWAYS MEAN THAT THEY ARE THE BEST.   THE FACT IS, MOST AUTHORITIES ON THE GREEK AND HEBREW LANGUAGE AGREE THAT THE KING JAMES VERSION IS ONE OF THE POOREST IN TRANSLATION, AND ONE OF THE HARDEST TO UNDERSTAND.  SO, SOMETIMES TO HELP YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND (ESPECIALLY A DIFFICULT PASSAGE, OR ISSUE) ITS A GOOD IDEA TO STUDY ALL THE VARIOUS TRANSLATIONS.

HOWEVER, SOME WILL NOT ACCEPT THE HELP THAT OTHER TRANSLATIONS OFFER, BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE, THAT SOMEHOW, THE OTHER TRANSLATIONS ARE NOT TRUE.  I HAVE HEARD SOME GO SO FAR AS TO SAY THAT THE NEWER BIBLES ARE MAN'S OWN IDEAS AND OPINIONS, AND THEY WOULDN'T LISTEN TO ANY PREACHER WHO PREACHED FROM THEM.

OF COURSE THAT'S MYTH, BECAUSE THE NEWER BIBLES AREN'T ANY MORE OF MAN'S OWN IDEAS, AND OPINIONS, THAN THE KING JAMES VERSION IS.  (ALL BIBLES ARE TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK AND HEBREW LANGUAGE INTO ENGLISH).  HOWEVER, IN SOME PASSAGES SOME TRANSLATIONS ARE A LITTLE BETTER, (OR MAYBE I SHOULD SAY DIFFERENTLY EXPRESSED) WHICH SOMETIMES MAKES IT A LITTLE EASIER TO UNDERSTAND.  THIS IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE WITH NEWER BIBLES, BECAUSE SOME PASSAGES ARE STILL HARD TO UNDERSTAND.  ANYWAY, A TRANSLATOR DOES NOT GIVE AN OPINION, BUT ONLY TRANSLATES THE WORDS, OR MEANING FROM ONE LANGUAGE TO ANOTHER.  THE PROBLEM COMES IN WHEN THE TRANSLATOR DOESN'T HAVE MUCH TO GO ON IN CERTAIN ISSUES AND PASSAGES.   IN OTHER WORDS, NOT MUCH TO TRANSLATE, THUS, LEAVING US WITH NOT MUCH TO GO ON, OR UNDERSTAND AS TO ITS TRUE MEANING.  OBVIOUSLY, THE BETTER THE TRANSLATOR THE BETTER THE UNDERSTANDING.  ALL BIBLES ARE GOOD BIBLES, AND HOLY.  SO, IF YOU PREFER THE KING JAMES VERSION PLEASE CONTINUE STUDYING IT.  TO HELP YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND DO NOT BE AFRAID TO USE OTHER TRANSLATIONS RIGHT ALONG WITH YOUR KING JAMES VERSION.

LET'S LOOK AT THE CONTEXT

LET'S LOOK AT THE CONTEXT TO SEE WHAT THE SCRIPTURE IS ACTUALLY IMPLYING.  MANY BIBLE READERS DON'T KNOW WHAT A CONTEXT IS, LET ALONE HOW TO STUDY, OR UNDERSTAND IT.  ONE CAN TAKE SCRIPTURES OUT OF CONTEXT, AND MAKE THEM SAY ABOUT ANYTHING YOU WANT THEM TO SAY.  SOME FOLKS PULL A PASSAGE OUT OF CONTEXT THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PRINCIPLE ARGUMENT, AND USE IT TO COUNTER THE TRUE IMPLICATION. 

FOR EXAMPLE, THIS HAS BEEN PULLED ON ME MANY TIMES CONCERNING THE WOMEN QUESTION.  LOOK AT 1 TIMOTHY 3:2.   A BISHOP MUST BE BLAMELESS, THE HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE.  WHAT DOES THIS REALLY MEAN?  SURELY ANYONE CAN SEE THAT THE CONTEXT OF THIS STATEMENT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WOMEN PREACHERS IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM.  NOTICE THAT THE CONTEXT OF THIS SCRIPTURE IS ONLY IMPLYING TO A MALE (MAN) CONCERNING RESTRICTIONS IN BECOMING A BISHOP.  NOTICE THE DEFINITION FOR BISHOP.  IT MEANS ONE WHO HOLDS THE HIGHEST OFFICE IN A RELIGIOUS ESTABLISHMENT.  HOLDING A HIGH OFFICE IN A RELIGIOUS ESTABLISHMENT, AND PREACHING THE WORD OF GOD ARE ENTIRELY TWO DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS IN THE WORKS OF THE CHURCH. CERTAINLY, ONE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A BISHOP TO PREACH.  SO, PAUL WAS MERELY STATING THAT IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THIS HIGHEST OFFICE IN A RELIGIOUS ESTABLISHMENT THE APPLICANT MUST BE BLAMELESS, AND THE HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE.

LET'S LOOK AT ANOTHER SCRIPTURE THAT'S COMMONLY TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT AND USED TO REFUTE THE WOMAN PREACHER.  IT'S IN TITUS 2:3-5.  IT SAYS THE AGED WOMEN ARE TO BE TEACHERS OF GOOD THINGS ETC. ETC.   THAT THEY MAY TEACH THE YOUNG WOMEN TO LOVE THEIR HUSBANDS, LOVE THEIR CHILDREN, AND TO BE CHASTE KEEPERS AT HOME.  SOMEHOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE SUPPOSED TO NULLIFY ALL WOMEN PREACHERS.  THIS IS RIDICULOUS, JUST BECAUSE PAUL INSTRUCTED THE OLDER WOMEN TO TEACH THE YOUNGER WOMEN GOOD MORALS CONCERNING SEX (THAT'S WHAT CHASTE MEANS) AND DISCIPLINE IS NOT SUGGESTING THAT WOMEN ARE NOT CALLED TO PREACH. 

NOTE:  IF YOU WOULD LIKE A COMPLETE COPY OF BRO.  EVERETT WEST  COMMENTARY, SEE CONTACT US PAGE FOR CONTACT INFORMATION.   GOD BLESS YOU.