Women's ministry in the Christian Scriptures

The Christian scriptures tell us of a number of women who had a significant role in the Christian ministry. The first of these is Mary of Magdala who, according to Mark, was the first person to whom Jesus appeared after his resurrection. It was Mary who proclaimed the good news (see Mark Chapeter 16 verses 9-10).

Priscilla

We learn of Priscilla first in the Acts of the Apostles, the account written by Luke of the first spread of Christianity and, especially, of the role of Paul.
It was Paul who met Priscilla and her husband, Aquila, at Corinth. They were already Christians and, like Paul, they were tentmakers by profession. Paul took the couple with him to Ephesus where they became leaders of the church. In his epistles, Paul speaks of Priscilla as a 'fellow worker' and refers to the church meeting at Aquila and Priscilla's house. Paul never suggests that Priscilla had a subservient role; rather he portrays her as an active co-worker.

Lydia

Again in the Acts of the Apostles we learn of Lydia, the seller of purple-dyed stuffs, who lived in Philippi. She and her household heard Paul's teaching and were baptised. Following Paul's imprisonment there and his release, he and his companion Silas, found hospitality with Lydia. It would seem that members of the Christian church met at Lydia's home.

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