Women in Early Christianity – secondary or Apostles?

The Role of Women in the Early Church

When Jesus made a "revolution" regarding the perception of women, many began to join the Church’s missionary work actively. In his Letter to the Romans, Paul mentions 29 people, among them 10 women.

Junia and Andronicus are called “outstanding among the apostles.”

“Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives and fellow prisoners, who are outstanding among the apostles, and who were in Christ before I was” (Rom. 16:7).

Paul directly refers to her as “outstanding among the apostles,” indicating her high standing among early Christian missionaries.

Phoebe was one of the first women to hold the role of deaconess in the early Church. Her ministry was not limited to organizational matters but also included missionary work. Paul sends her with an essential message to the Roman Church, which shows the level of trust in her authority.

“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the Church at Cenchreae. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me” (Rom. 16:1-2).

Euodia and Syntyche are mentioned as co-workers of Paul, and John Chrysostom (c. 349–407), in his 13th homily on the Epistle to the Philippians, writes that Euodia and Syntyche were leaders of the Philippian Church, comparing them to Phoebe, a deaconess in the Church at Cenchreae (Rom. 16:1-2).

Priscilla and her husband Aquila played important roles in early Christian communities. She traveled with Paul, helped build communities, and even opened her home for worship. Priscilla taught Apollos, which indicates her deep theological understanding. It is important that a woman taught a man, which was rare in the society of the time.

How the Approach to Women in the Church Changed Due to Hierarchical Shifts

Special attention should be given to Paul’s letters to the Corinthians. Initially, Paul supported and defended the right of women to speak and act in communities, but later texts increasingly reflect restrictive views based on patriarchal notions. For example, in the First Letter to the Corinthians, Paul argues for a hierarchy of genders, theologically justifying it: Christ is the head of the man, and the man is the head of the woman.

Over time, these views became even more pronounced. In later texts, women were forbidden to teach or speak publicly in communities. These letters, attributed to Paul, come from a later period and reflect the growing marginalization of the initially egalitarian structures. Among scholars, these texts have sparked many debates regarding their authenticity. Some believe these lines might have been later insertions into the text because they contradict other statements by Paul, where he notes that women can pray and prophesy in Church, but they must cover their heads.

In later translations, the name Junia was changed to the male form “Junias.” However, research shows that Junia was among the first women to serve as apostles, which speaks to her significance in the early Church. Her partnership with Andronicus and her mention among the apostles show that women had the opportunity to occupy leadership positions in Christian communities, and her role should not have been limited.

Today, scholars and theologians are rediscovering women's forgotten names and roles, restoring their significant contribution to the development of Christianity and the Church. Women's history in the Church is not just pages of the past but also a guide for the future. From the early Christian communities, where they were missionaries, leaders, and witnesses to the Resurrection, to the present, where their voices increasingly resound in theological discourse—this journey is full of challenges but also hope.

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The Philadelphia Archdiocese has launched a new media project dedicated to the role of women in the Church. The project aims to highlight the historical and theological aspects of this topic and create a space for dialogue, mutual support, and the development of women in Church and societal life.

Sources:

• E. Schüssler Fiorenza, In Memory of Her. A Feminist Theological Reconstruction of Christian Origins, 1983.
• H. Küng, Die Frau im Christentum, 1999.
• Marinella Perroni and Pius-Ramon Tragan, “La diaconia nel Nuovo Testamento. Da Gesù alle chiese di Efeso: una traiettoria,” in: Diacone. Quale ministero per quale Chiesa?, 2017.
• Bernadette J. Brooten, Women Leaders in the Ancient Synagogue: Inscriptional Evidence and Background Issues, 2020.
• Richard Bauckham, Gospel Women: Studies of the Named Women in the Gospels, 2002.
• Eldon Jay Epp, Junia: The First Woman Apostle, 2005.
• Ruth A. Tucker, Daughters of the Church, 1987.