Forget what you think you know about women in the early church. In this learned yet accessible book, the author introduces first-century primary sources to illuminate readers' understanding of New Testament women. Perfect for clergy, spiritual reading groups, and all curious minds, this book combines incisive scholarship and instructional sensibility to encourage readers to develop their own informed interpretations of Scripture. Contrary to popular conceptions of biblical womanhood
as passive and silent, women often served as leaders and prophets in their communities. Women owned one-third of all property during the period, granting them access to civic power through patronage. Many women worked outside the home and were educated according to the needs of their professions. Through careful examination of modesty
and silence
in the Greco-Roman world, the author reveals the centrality of these virtues to both men and women practicing self-control in service of communal good. This work will challenge readers to free their minds of modern preconceptions and consider New Testament women on their own terms. This practical book includes historical context, scriptural evidence, and questions for discussion.