Prominent Women

As a result, many of them [religious people of Berea] believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men. – Acts 17:12 (NIV) 

I wonder what the criteria was for the women of Berea to be “prominent.” The current Secretary of Defense wants to test for prominence—aka leadership—by measuring testosterone levels of all military personnel. Some Christian pastors likewise proclaim that the right chromosomes are crucial.  

Yet contrary to such tests, neither Jesus nor Paul ever made hormones or chromosomes the plumbline for a person’s worth, capacity for leadership, or faithfulness. Jesus continually crossed cultural and religious lines to honor women’s intellect (Mary of Bethany) and wit (the Gentile woman advocating for her daughter). In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus and the disciples depended on Mary of Magdala and other “women of means” for financial support. Moreover, in all four Gospels, it was the women who stayed to the crucifixion’s bitter end, went first to the tomb, and were the first to experience the Risen Christ and proclaim the Resurrection.  

Yes, those pesky lines in First Corinthians silencing women raise questions about Paul’s assessment of women. But scholars of all genders argue the passage was added later by someone other than the apostle. Like Jesus, Paul depended on women’s leadership—whether it was Lydia offering her house for the first church in Philippi, Prisca the tentmaker turned Christian teacher, Phoebe the diakonos (minister) of the Roman church, or the unnamed “prominent women” of Berea. 

Truth is, without such prominent women, Christianity would never have made it past the first century. So, the next time you hear a Christian government official or religious leader question a woman’s worth, leadership, or intellect, please gently refer them to the Bible they’re likely holding.  

Prayer
Thank you, God, for all the prominent people of all genders and generations who strengthen our faith and give us hope. Amen.

About the Author
Talitha Arnold is Senior Minister of the United Church of Santa Fe (UCC), Santa Fe, New Mexico. She is the author of Mark Parts 1 and 2 of the Listen Up! Bible Study series and Worship for Vital Congregations.