Brad Alles

The Christian church’s attitude toward women as people worthy of respect and consideration was modeled by Jesus Himself.  It is no wonder that the Christian Church followed the example of Christ and elevated the status of women.

In the Early Church, women were instructed with the Word of God.  They were baptized into the body of Christ, and worshipped along with men.  There was no segregation or treatment as lower class member of the body of Christ.  According to various passages, women were leaders in house churches, although not the pastor.  Paul mentions the leaders by name in the following verses.

Romans 16:1-2 says, “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae.   I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.”

1 Corinthians 16:19 states, “The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.”

Colossians 4:15 says, “Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.”

Philemon 2 states, “To Philemon our beloved brother and fellow worker, and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house.”

In the Early Church, women were more active in churches than men.  The Romans saw this as a threat to the family and the nation’s stability.  If anything, it was an indictment on the spiritual level of the men.  Yet a transformation had occurred in the Christian Church—and the next to change was the Roman culture itself.  More on that in the next blog.