If it’s anything that raises temperatures and stirs up rage in the Church, it is a conversation about women’s roles in the Church. And specifically speaking, a heated debate about Paul’s words regarding women being silent in the Church is sure to stir up hurt, harm, discord and division. Regardless of the biblical translation that one reads, there’s no way to deny that the words are written in 1 Corinthians 14:34. Yet, it’s Paul’s words written thousands a of years ago that a patriarchal system has used to silence, stifle and suffocate women, who sense God’s calling them to preach. What if there’s another way to read and understand this highly controversial text? Jackson proposes that there is another way to read and understand this text if one is willing to immerse one’s self into the world of the text. Using an exegetical approach, Jackson dives into the culture, customs and characters of 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 to offer a fresh perspective that will give voice to women rather than silence them. Jackson provides an alternative to the traditional reading of the text and allows women to see themselves preaching and leading as God gives them grace to do so.
