This week's installment in my series on women of purpose in the Bible focuses on a woman who was never named apart from her husband, but was always mentioned first and appeared to be an equal to her husband as they taught, traveled, and pastored. Her name was Priscilla, and her husband's name was Aquila. Let's look at what we know about this woman.
THE INTRODUCTION
We first meet her in Luke's Acts 18 account:
After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them (1-3).
After Paul got to know this couple, Luke reported,
Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken. They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila (Acts 18:18-19).
Priscilla and Aquila then made a major contribution by equipping a powerful minister named Apollos who needed more depth of understanding about the Way:
He [Apollos] began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately (Acts 18:26).
Luke made it clear that this was not a man who was supported by his wife. No, this was a ministry team and when he thought of them, Luke (as well as Paul) listed them together with Priscilla's name mentioned first. That is quite a statement about her worth and anointing in ministry, but there's more.
THE ENDORSEMENT
Paul wrote his letter to the Romans and had this to say about Priscilla and Aquila: "Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-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" (Romans 16:3-5).
Paul stated that Priscilla was his co-worker who he trusted to pastor, teach, and lead the believers wherever she and her husband were, which included Corinth, Ephesus, and Rome (that also made them missionaries). When Paul wrote to the Corinthians and to Timothy, he mentioned the married team: "The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house" (1 Corinthians 16:19), and "Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus" (2 Timothy 4:19).
THE LESSON
Priscilla was a valuable asset to Paul as was her husband. He saw them both as effective ministers and was not including Priscilla as a concession to Aquila. Her ministry was not endorsed simply because she was married to Aquila; her ministry was sanctioned because God had gifted her. If God had gifted her, then no one had the right to diminish her call simply because she was a woman.
The Church has tried to do its work with one arm tied behind its back when it has attempted to limit or ignore women with Holy Spirit gifts. The same can be said for many other walks of life, like business, academics, and politics. The answer is not to launch a feminist movement so that women in general can be promoted or recognized. The answer is to treat women as men are treated: examine their lives for purpose and gifts and then empower them to operate as God intended.
The lesson from Priscilla is not that every woman married to a man in ministry should be his co-worker in that ministry. That should only happen when she is gifted to do so. When she is, she should be recognized, honored, and utilized as such. When she is not, then she should be released to the purpose God has for her, and equipped by the church for success.
If you are a woman, are you shying away from a role God has for you? Are you trying to embrace one He does not have for you? If you are a man, do you recognize women as equals when God has gifted them to do what you do? Are you empowering women where you work or minister without bias or envy? As you ponder these questions and others that this series may have raised in your mind, have a blessed week!
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