Priscilla Papers | Academic Journal | Spring 2025
An interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed academic journal exploring Bible interpretation, theology, church history, and other disciplines as they address a biblical view of women’s equality and justice in the home, church, and world.
"Priscilla and Aquila instructed Apollos more perfectly in the way of the Lord." (Acts 18:26)
Academic JournalsThe opinions expressed in these articles are those of the authors. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of CBE International or its members.
Spring 2025
Volume: 39 | Number: 2
Extraordinary Vocations
In the Bible and in the history of the church, women have—often at great risk to themselves—taken on extraordinary vocations, encouraging us to follow their example.
Contents
This issue of Priscilla Papers highlights the courageous stories of women who boldly pursued extraordinary callings. Their work, often considered radical or unconventional, invites us to reflect more deeply on the transformative role of women in advancing God's Kingdom.
Michaela Rollins introduces us to the “prison diary” of Perpetua and Felicitas, who, in the early third century, fearlessly embraced the calling to be martyrs for their new faith in Jesus.
Joan Brown traces the chronology of the “extraordinary call,” the condition under which women could be permitted to preach in exception to what was understood as the Pauline rule that women “ought not to teach” (1 Tim 2:12).
Jenn Gash studies how the group of women who played a saving role in the infancy narrative of Moses ended up subverting the rule of Pharaoh.
Daniel Schwabauer reads the injunction that women cover their heads (1 Cor 11:3-5) in the light of the orant, the males and females in the early centuries of the Church who stood before a congregation to offer up prayer.
Ian Randall tells the story of Annie Royale Taylor (1855-1922), a missionary adventurer who dared the icy perils of Tibet.
Patrick Oden unpacks the court trial Anne Hutchinson (1591-1643) who with extraordinary courage stood her ground on her insight into pneumatology.
This book is a valuable, balanced, and thoughtful treasure for embracing the gifting and talents of the wives of pastors and of Christian women in general for the furtherance of the church around the world, now and in the future.