Half of Christ’s church, perhaps more, are women. Yet, whilst doors swing open and glass ceilings shatter in the world around us, Jesus’ people remain conflicted about the calling, role and status of women. Consequently, women and girls are offered diminished visions of themselves and their purpose, and God’s kingdom is denied the rich and full contribution of all.
When I began in ministry, the trajectory of Christian belief and practice was firmly headed towards the full recognition of women’s leadership and ministry. I never imagined that years later the case would need restating. Yet this continues to be a hot-button issue, and women’s contributions continue to be limited in too many places.
I wonder what Paul might think of our opinions? I wonder if he would be bewildered by the way we perceive him and present his teaching on the role of women? Rather than tackle the go-to verse that seemingly silences women (spoiler alert- it doesn’t) in 1 Timothy 2, this Sunday we will have a look at how Paul actually relates to women leaders in Romans 16. After all, we should interpret the tricky texts from the clearer context, the obscure from the plain. In Rom 16, Paul, in giving his vote of appreciation to key Roman Christians, lists 10 women as having a crucial role in the life of the house churches in that city.
They represent a whole bunch of women leaders, whom the New Testament shows Paul working alongside. In fact, he describes many of these as co-labourers for the gospel.
For example, women like Chloe (1 Corinthians 1:11), Nympha (Colossians 4:15), Apphia (Philemon 2) and Julia with her husband Philologus (Romans 16) all led churches. Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa, and Persis (Romans 16:6, 12)—described as having “worked very hard in the Lord”, a term often used to describe the work of gospel ministry.
The apostles took seriously the effects of Pentecost when the Spirit was poured out on both women and men, equipping them equally with power from on high to proclaim the gospel and build the church.
The apostles lived out the transformative power of the gospel, believing that the cross and resurrection had broken the dividing walls between slaves and masters, Jews and Gentiles, and men and women (Gal 3:28).
These relationships of equal dignity became a social reality and embedded themselves in the way churches were formed across social, racial and gender divisions. Such that the intellectual scourge of Christians, Celsus in the 2nd century reviled the early Christians for being Pro-Woman, Pro-Child, and Pro-Slave!
This transformative position rooted itself so deeply in culture that historian Tom Holland claims we are all now the beneficiaries of the Christian revolution in attitude towards male and female relationships:
“Christianity has bequeathed to the world a testimony about the equal value of women, launched a trajectory that would take us towards equality even if it evolved into secular forms of feminism.”
What about you, what examples can you give that show that Christianity has been/is good for women?
What women can you think of who have been great examples of gospel witness and church leadership?
Of course, the legacy of these first apostles is still to be fulfilled in its completeness. There is work for us all to be done.
Yet what if we were all mobilised fully, women and men? Perhaps we might show that the good news of the gospel causes both male and female to flourish, such that Jesus might be seen more clearly in this world?
Iain