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{en} Nijay K. Gupta. Tell Her Story: How Women Led, Taught, and Ministered in the Early Church. Downers Grove, Illinois : IVP Academic, an imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2023.

Abstract

"For centuries, discussions of early Christianity have focused on male leaders. But there is ample evidence in the New Testament that women were respected leaders at the frontier of the gospel ministry. Nijay Gupta shines light on the inspiring contributions of women like Phoebe, Prisca, Junia, Nympha, and more"-- "Women were there. For centuries, discussions of early Christianity have focused on male leaders in the church. But there is ample evidence right in the New Testament that women were actively involved in ministry, at the frontier of the gospel mission, and as respected leaders. Nijay Gupta calls us to bring these women out of the shadows by shining light on their many inspiring contributions to the planting, growth, and health of the first Christian churches. He sets the context by exploring the lives of first-century women and addressing common misconceptions, then focuses on the women leaders of the early churches as revealed in Paul's writings. We discover the major roles of people such as: Phoebe, Paul's trusted coworker ; Prisca, strategic leader and expert teacher ; Junia, courageous apostle ; Nympha, representative of countless lesser-known figures. When we understand the world in which Jesus and his followers lived and what the New Testament actually attests about women in the churches, it becomes clear that women were active participants and trusted leaders all along. They were welcomed by Paul and other apostles, were equipped and trained for ministry leadership, instructed others, traveled long distances, were imprisoned--and once in a while became heroes and giants. The New Testament writers tell their stories. It's time for the church to retell them, again and again --

Contents

Foreword / by Beth Allison Barr -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction: Hidden figures - Part one: Before the women leaders of the early churches -- Deborah: prophet, judge, mother over Israel -- Going back to the beginning: Genesis 1-3 -- Women in the New Testament world -- The women in Jesus' life and ministry -- Part two: The women leaders of the early churches -- The early churches -- Women co-laborers in ministry leadership -- Phoebe, Paul's trusted proxy -- Prisca, strategic church leader and expert teacher -- Junia, venerated apostle and imprisoned hero -- Conclusion: Putting it all together -- What about...? -- What about Paul prohibiting women from teaching in the church? -- What about the submission texts in the New Testament household codes? -- Postscript -- General Index -- Scripture Index.

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