A Woman's Place: House Churches in Earliest Christianity
- John Scoble
- Oct 2, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 26
Osiek, Carolyn; MacDonald, Margaret Y.; Tulloch, Janet H.
A recommendation by Diarmuid O’Murchu in one of his videos led me to this book. It provides a detailed account of the political, social and religious environments within which early Christianity flourished, despite persecution. It takes a female lens to the study, which is refreshing given that most of our inherited wisdom was written through a male lens.
The authors point out the difficulty of being definitive about the role of women. Problems included translation from Hebrew and Greek, the paucity of stories about women in the literature, and the cultural bias of male writers. There is a significant degree of assumptions and suppositions in the authors' conclusions. Nevertheless, one is left with the clear impression that women played a far greater role in the nurturing of the early church than history recorded, and the male hierarchy of the church acknowledged down through the ages.
I finished the book with the following conclusions:
women, in their primary roles of house maker and hospitality provider, were more often than not the organisers and leaders of the Eucharistic celebration.
it was common for married couples (like Prisca and Aquila) to act as community leaders and evangelisers.
women, female slaves and nursemaids were often primary educators of children in Christianity.
compared to Western society today, there were more widows, abandoned children, and, of course, slavery.
divorce and re-marriage by the husband would often leave the first wife destitute.
the social hierarchy in the Greco Roman world was husband as head of the household, wife, children, male slave, female slave, slave children.
There was enormous complexity of relationships and difficulties in the daily expression of faith, where for example, the husband was not a Christian, but the wife was, or especially where the female slave Christian was required to accommodate the legally accepted demands of the non-Christian male head of the household.
I found the book enlightening and worthwhile, if at times overly speculative.
FAQs: A Woman’s Place: House Churches in Earliest Christianity
What role did women play in the house churches of earliest Christianity?
Women in the early Christian era often hosted, led, and supported house churches - spaces of worship, scripture sharing, and community care in private homes. They were not sidelined spectators but key participants. In many cases they facilitated gatherings, managed resources, and formed the backbone of early Christian networks. Scholars note that Christianity was unusually attractive to women partly because these house churches offered roles and agency not typically available in pagan society.
(Source: Women and Their Roles in Early Christianity, Smith College document)
Were women in early Christianity merely assistants, or did they hold leadership positions?
Women held leadership positions more often than commonly assumed. For example, Phoebe is described by Paul in Romans 16 as a deaconess and benefactor to many. Junia is lauded as “outstanding among the apostles” in Romans 16:7. There are also inscriptions from the 3rd and 4th centuries where women are identified as presbyterae (female elders). These roles suggest both spiritual and organizational leadership.
(Sources: Stark, Reconstructing the Rise of Christianity; historical biblical texts)
How significant was the contribution of women in spreading Christianity in its earliest centuries?
Very significant. Numerous studies show that women were disproportionately among first converts in many communities. Because they often converted first, then influenced household members, children, neighbours, etc., their faith became contagious in social networks. Rodney Stark notes that Christianity was especially appealing to women during the early centuries, and that this appeal mattered for the faith’s spread.
(Source: Stark, Reconstructing the Rise of Christianity)
Why were house churches particularly important for women in early Christianity?
House churches offered women space to lead, to support others, and to worship without the restrictions of formal, patriarchal religious structures. In many households, worship took place in homes owned or managed by women; women hosted or organized gatherings. These settings allowed spiritual leadership, prophetic speech, teaching, and caring roles that formal church settings later restricted.
(Source: Women and Their Roles in Early Christianity, Smith College; Women in the World of the Earliest Christians)
What changed over time regarding women’s roles in the church, house churches and leadership?
Over time, as Christianity gained formal structure and hierarchy (bishops, clergy, fixed liturgy, etc.), many of the roles women held in house churches were diminished or redefined. Offices that were once more flexible became more rigid. Some roles women held (like presbyterae or deaconess) were reduced or became symbolic. Inscriptions and texts suggest that by around the 4th-5th centuries many churches began limiting women’s leadership in public worship.
(Source: inscriptions of early Christian women presbyters; scholarly studies on early Christian gender roles)
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About the Author - John Scoble
John's journey began in the heart of a traditional Roman Catholic family in Sydney, where he was raised with steadfast faith and reverence. Now residing in the serene surroundings of St Lucia, Brisbane, alongside his beloved wife, John finds solace and inspiration in the tranquil rhythms of life. With four adult children and a cherished grandchild also calling Brisbane home, John's family is his anchor, providing love, support, and a sense of belonging.
While spirituality has always been a cornerstone of his life, it was three transformative events in 2012, including a sacred pilgrimage to the Holy Lands, that ignited a profound shift in John's spiritual trajectory. Embracing retirement as an opportunity for deeper exploration, John immersed himself in extensive reading and soulful reflection.
Over the course of a decade, this journey of self-discovery has led John to reevaluate and transcend many of his traditional beliefs, embracing instead the timeless wisdom and cosmic perspective inherent in Christianity. Influenced by luminaries such as St. Francis of Assisi, St. Teresa of Avila, and Richard Rohr, John's spiritual evolution has been marked by a deepening resonance with the essential truths of his faith and a profound connection to the divine unfolding within and around him.