Greet Andronicus and Junia, my associates and my fellow prisoners. They are distinguished among the missionaries and were in Christ before me. (Romans 16:7: our translation) In his letter to the Romans, Paul identifies Junia as a distinguished senior missionary wife. Her joint mention with Andronicus likely means they were a married couple, like Prisca… Read More
Phoebe: Prominent Woman in the Church
“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.” (Romans 16:1-2 ESV) Paul’s epistle to the… Read More
Priscilla: Valued Partner in the Church’s Mission
Priscilla was a valued partner in the church’s mission and one of the most prominent women in the early church. She is mentioned in four passages of Scripture, every time in the company of her husband Aquila. Luke refers to her as Priscilla, whereas Paul calls her Prisca. References to Priscilla in Scripture Acts 18:1-4:… Read More
The Proverbs 31 Woman
Who is the epic woman of Proverbs 31? It has been said that she possibly could be Ruth, King David’s grandmother. More likely, though, she is an ideal woman—a picture of a perfect type of woman—not an actual person. She is one of four fictional women in the book of Proverbs that are upheld as… Read More
10 Things You Should Know about the Bible’s Teaching on Men and Women
We were created male and female by divine design. According to the Genesis creation account, God created humanity male and female (Gen 1:26–28). Maleness and femaleness are creational, not contractual. They are divinely instituted rather than socially defined. Thus our gender identity cannot simply be renegotiated the way in which we refinance a mortgage or… Read More