Co-labourers of Paul
Recent studies of early Christianity suggest women played a much more important role than our historical records indicate. What we have seen so far in this series is women have shared the labour of birthing, living, and sharing Jesus Christ in the world. The Apostle Paul recognized this in his letters when he highlighted, addressed, and praised women whom he sometimes called his co-labourers in Christ. There is a significant disconnect between Paul’s recognition of women as leaders in the church and the use of his letters to silence and relegate women to subservient roles. Paul’s teachings about the silencing of women also contrast the evidence found in his letters which mention women who are part of his ministry team. Some of the more prominent of these women, Junia, Priscilla, Phoebe, and Lydia, will be examined today and in the weeks to follow.