Noteworthy Early
Christian Women

(The Church Would Have

Suffered Much Without Them)

Christianity as a whole, both past and present, would be severely hurt without the many dedicated godly Christian women that have or are existing. In the New Testament, oftentimes we read of spiritual giants, like Paul and Peter, and overlook the special and precious female godly saints who also made their own significant mark for God when alive. This study will recognize at least some of those important women.

● Phoebe:

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. 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)

She is only mentioned once, but with a very high appraisal from Paul and before the others in the long list of men and women in that chapter. The same word translated servant in Rom. 16:1 is translated deacon elsewhere. Hence, she is an example of a possible female deacon in the early church—the only one in Scripture.

Phoebe was of great help to Paul and many others. The early church would have suffered much without her!

● Tryphena, Tryphosa and Persis:

Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord. (Rom 16:12)

Those three women were hard workers in Christ. Such are always important. We are given no details as to what they specifically did, but certainly the early church would have suffered much without them!

● Mary:

Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you. (Rom 16:6)

Specifically, the church at Rome was spiritually blessed much by that woman. Perhaps, she worked very hard through her powerful intercessions for that church group.

● Priscilla:

Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. Greet also the church that meets at their house. (Rom 16:3-5)

Priscilla was the wife and godly co-laborer of Aquilla, her husband. We read of that special husband/wife team various time and always in a favorable way. No doubt, the early church would have suffered much without her (and Aquilla)!

● Lydia:

On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us. (Acts 16:13-15)

She was a business woman and the first one saved in her family. She brought the gospel to the others in her family. After they were all baptized she invited Paul and his co-laborer to stay at their house.

● Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna and many unnamed women:

After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means. (Luke 8:1-3)

Chances are, those women didn’t have much to give to support Jesus and the Twelve but they were certain helping. Mary Magdalene was also at the cross as Jesus was dying and the first one who Jesus appeared to after his resurrection.

● The mother of Rufus:

Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too. (Rom 16:13)

She must have done special things for Paul for the way she is described.

● Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus:

● Mary, the mother of the Lord Jesus:

Since the details have already been cited elsewhere, there is no need to rewrite them here. Please see http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/maryofbible.htm

Godly and dedicated female saints, we appreciate YOU! You are special and needed.

I personally believe there will be more women in God’s kingdom than men.

I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, (Acts 22:4)

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