Women in Early Christianity

Contemporary scholars have done a lot of research to help position the women fairly in the literary works as far as their societal participation is concerned (Gillman 2012). The surface look of the role they play is more than an understatement. In a glance, they the women are mothers, wives, deaconesses, prophets and martyrs in the history of the church. Though scanty the content of their lives in their biographies, church orders, biblical epistles of Paul and other authority texts, we are able to connect the dots of the significant roles they played. Roles Women could take in the Early Church One of the outstanding roles the women played were in the worship services. Their boldly act encouraged other thousands to take courage in joining the faith of Christianity.

At one point she asks for a vision and consequently receives it. It is about a dangerous bronze ladder with weapons all over including a serpent in at the foot. It symbolizes the persecution the faithful were faced with which they had to overcome. Other roles included the role of mothering. The moral code of the society treasured greatly pure relations in spite of the domineering environment of the male gender. The elderly women were widows were exhorted into good works. This included bringing up the children she was left with, treating strangers warmly by offering them hospitality and washing the feet of the saints. All these were merits to receive the benevolence the Early Church was organizing (1Tim 5:9-10). Since sexual purity was highly encouraged Paul in 1Tim 5:11 sets at liberty the young women whose husbands have died to get married if so they wish.

Early Christianity’s Conflict on the roles traditionally expected of Women The church formed a hub of character transformation from the hard-lined patriarchy into a system of mutual understanding. Esteeming of the men more highly than the women is not a religion of Jesus Christ. By consistently entreating people to treat women as equal and valuable co-workers with Paul (Phil 4:3), the epistles are elevating the status of a typical woman in the Greco-Roman dispensation. The driving force behind this is the mission of the church that brings all people on board as equal team players. Another huge contrast is about sacrifice and courage. Works Cited Gillman, Florence Morgan. "Women in Early Christianity. " The Encyclopaedia of Christian Civilization (2012). Miller, Patricia Cox, ed.