The Christian faith owes so much to those who made up the early church. We often look to their wisdom and expression of faith as a model for our own. But while there’s no doubt Peter, Paul, James, John, Luke, and others made significant contributions in forming the life and theology of the early church, many women also influenced the foundations of our life of faith and were deeply trusted by their male counterparts. Some we know well, like Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus. But there were many other important women figures in the early church. Read below for a list of five.
Phoebe
Phoebe was an early Christian deacon and benefactor of the church mentioned by Paul in the last chapter of the book of Romans. Paul counted himself among those who benefitted from her generosity and service, lending to her status as a key figure in the early church. Some scholars believe that she is responsible for delivering Paul’s letter to the Roman Church.
Priscilla
Along with her husband, Aquila, Priscilla (or Prisca as she is sometimes known) was a first-century Christian missionary who worked and traveled with Paul. Her husband is traditionally listed among the 70 disciples in the Gospel of Luke. Paul notes his dependence on both Priscilla and Aquila and describes them as “fellow workers in Christ Jesus”. Some scholars believe that Priscilla held the role of presbyter due to her apparent prominence, and could possibly be the anonymous author of the book of Hebrews.
Lydia
We learn about Lydia in Acts 16 when she is converted to Christianity after hearing Paul’s preaching in Thyatira. She is a seller of purple dyes, which were historically reserved for royalty and wealthy clients due to the high cost of production. She is regarded as the first European convert to Christianity.
Tabitha/Dorcas
Tabitha was an early disciple of Jesus mentioned in the book of Acts. She was known for her good deeds and works of mercy, among which was sewing clothing for the poor. When she died, she was mourned by the widows in her community. They sent for Peter who was in a nearby city who came to meet them. After showing him all the clothing she’d made as evidence of her good works, Peter raised her from the dead.
Junia
In the final chapter of Romans, Paul sends greetings to a number of others in the Christian community, about a third of them being women. He specifically greets Junia and names her as ‘outstanding among the apostles and in Christ before I was.’ (Romans 16:7). Although there has been some debate about her gender and status, the majority of Christian history and scholars believe she was a woman apostle, and one worthy of excellent recognition.
Is there anyone else you’d include in this list? Share them below!
