Celibacy Archives - Marg Mowczko

Origen on the Montanist Prophetesses

Origen and other church fathers had issues with the Montanists and their female leaders. I give an overview of Montanism in this article.

February 18, 2025 7 Comments

Melania the Elder’s Powerful Influence on Early Christianity

Melania the Elder was a powerful, wealthy, educated woman who influenced and shaped Christianity until her death in 410.

June 30, 2024 4 Comments

saved through childbearing meaning 1 Tim 2:15

What does “saved through childbearing” (1 Tim. 2:15) mean?

There are various interpretations of “she will saved through childbearing.” In this article, I explain how I understand the phrase.

October 30, 2023 37 Comments

Publia and her Plucky Choir of Virgins (AD 360s)

In this post, I quote a story from Theodoret of Cyrrhus’s Church History about Publia, a daring deaconess who lived in Antioch in the 360s, and her brave choir.

October 19, 2023 15 Comments

Revisiting Eshet Chayil (“Woman of Valour”)

I look at the Hebrew word chayil, used in Proverbs 31:10 for an eshet chayil, and at the Greek word andreia (“courageous”), used to describe some Bible and early Christian women.

September 7, 2023 13 Comments

The Holy Spirit as Mother in Early Syriac Texts

In early Syriac texts (2nd–4th centuries), the Holy Spirit and even God are described using feminine and maternal imagery. In this article, I quote from these texts.

March 31, 2023 20 Comments

Junia well known to the apostles Romans 16:7 Priscilla

Paul’s Theology of Ministry: 1 Tim. 3:2 and Priscilla

What did Paul mean when he said “husband of one wife”? What was Priscilla’s role in Ephesus and Rome? What is Paul’s overall theology of ministry and women?

February 27, 2023 27 Comments

Paul’s Theology of Ministry: 1 Timothy 2:12

Here is more from a talk I gave on February 11. In part 2, I look at 1 Timothy 2:12 within its immediate context and within the context of First Timothy.

February 21, 2023 15 Comments

Remembering Theosebia of Nyssa

Theosebia was the biological and spiritual sister of Gregory of Nyssa. Surviving sources show that she was deeply loved and admired.

January 10, 2022 7 Comments

Who are the 144,000 and why are they all men?

Who are the 144,000 in Revelation 7 and 14? What do they symbolise? Are women really excluded from this group?

October 13, 2021 6 Comments

Olympias: Deaconess and Chrysostom’s Friend

Olympias renounced her aristocratic lifestyle to serve the church. She was an ordained deaconess and Chrysostom’s dear friend.

July 25, 2019 27 Comments

Marcella of Rome: Academic and Ascetic

Here’s some information about Marcella of Rome (325–410), friend of Jerome, who dedicated her considerable talents and resources to serving the church and helping the poor.

February 1, 2019 8 Comments