Paul included women as ministry partners and used the same ministry terms for his male and female co-workers. He didn’t restricts the ministry of godly and gifted women.
Not all first-century women fit the stereotype of being hidden and housebound. Some were influential and prominent in society and in the church.
If Paul had meant for only men to be leaders and teachers, why doesn’t he mention this in his lists of ministries in Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:28, and Ephesians 4:11?
The social world of the Roman Empire was patriarchal. Women were typically thought to be less capable than men, yet they were able to lead in certain contexts. This article describes four of these social contexts.
In this article, I show that some women church leaders in the New Testament functioned in Ephesians 4:11 ministries: apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor-teacher.
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© 2021 Marg Mowczko