Not all first-century women fit the stereotype of being hidden and housebound. In this discussion I look at how wealthy women were influential and prominent in society and in the church.
Read More
Priscilla, Phoebe and Junia were Christian ministers who sometimes travelled. The NT shows that, at the very least, their paths crossed one or twice. Did these women become friends? I hope so.
Read More
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?
Read More
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.
Read More
In Part 5 of my series on Phoebe, I look at the passage concerning deacons in the church at Ephesus (1 Tim. 3:8-13). I also look at Phoebe as a prostatis (patron), and briefly compare her ministry with that of Olympias (one of Chrysostom’s patrons) and with that of Stephanas (1 Cor. 16:15-18).
Read More
In part 4 I look at the deacons in the Philippian church, and at the development of church offices in the apostolic and post-apostolic church.
Read More
We have only two lines about Phoebe in the Bible, but Theodoret of Cyrrhus has more information about her. Did Phoebe travel to Spain with Paul? Did she deliver his letter to the Romans?
Read More
In Part 2, I look at what Romans 16:1-2 in the ancient Latin texts say about Phoebe. These indicate she was recognised as an official deacon (or deaconess.)
Read More
This is part 1 of an in depth look at Phoebe of Cenchrea who is mentioned by Paul in Romans 16:1-2. Here I look at Paul’s introduction of Phoebe to the church at Rome. I also look at the ministry of certain women in the Gospels, and Tabitha’s ministry in Acts, and compare them with Phoebe’s ministry.
Read More
There is only one verse in the entire Bible that prohibits a woman from teaching and controlling a man. On the other hand, there are many Bible verses that show godly women who did teach men and exercise authority. Here are 15 such women who are 15 reasons why I support women in church leadership.
Read More
“The scriptures … offer an impressive number of examples of women exercising social or political authority without raising any questions as to the propriety of that authority.” ~ Gordon Hugenberger
In this post, I list approximately forty Bible women who were queens, leaders, teachers, and prophets, as well as ministry associates of the Apostle Paul.
This article looks at the women Paul greeted in his letters, including ten women mentioned in Romans 16. His greetings show that Paul did not have a problem with women in ministry.
Read More