From the Editor

By Dr. Jay Zinn

For centuries, women have been clobbered by the interpretation of 1 Timothy 2:11-12: “A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.” On the basis of these verses, women have been denied a vote in church affairs, rejected as worship leaders or teachers of adult Bible classes, prevented from going into the mission field, excluded from the duties and privileges to serve in the role of leadership, and forbidden to use their gifts for leadership. This scripture has also been used to suppress women from any speaking or leadership roles in the marketplace.

I’ve wrestled with the Pauline passages that leave us with the impression women are prohibited to speak or lead in the presence of men in the church. Two views prevail in the church today: the egalitarian view (equal ministry opportunity for both genders) and the complementarian view (ministry roles differentiated by genders). I began my ministry career on the side of the complementarian view and felt strongly about my convictions. But as time progressed, I studied the subject with greater intensity, reading books from both sides of the argument. After thirty-five years as a pastor, I have come to the conclusion that 1 Timothy 2:11-12 needs to be viewed within the historical and cultural context of the time it was written.

When it comes to establishing doctrine through scriptures, I’ve always believed in the maxim, “When the plain sense of scripture makes sense, seek no other sense.” But in the case of this subject, I discovered the necessity of digging deeper into what forced Paul to address this particular issue and the way he addressed it in regard to women. Too much is at stake on this subject, because it impacts and affects the lives of billions of women and their potential to bless the body of Christ. On this controversial subject, I would rather err on the side of grace and be held accountable to God on the day of judgment than to hold any woman back from her destiny to edify, build and strengthen the saints through her gifts.

In this issue I have our other columnists weighing in on this topic. In addition, I’ve interviewed Lily Yang, the president of KRC Magazine, for her perspective on women involved in kingdom businesses. I pray you will keep an open heart and mind. If you’re a pastor, consider what I share in my column and examine both sides of the debate. Don’t just succumb to tradition; seek out what the Holy Spirit says to you through your studies. Your convictions on this matter impact countless lives: those who are set free, and the recipients who can receive from the gifting of women once suppressed. I hope you will join me in becoming a champion for women and release their God-given talents and graces to the body of Christ and the world.

Jay Zinn