Modern Woman. Modern Life. And GodSýnishorn

Coworkers in the Kingdom

Women in the New Testament were not spectators. They played an active, vibrant and vital role in the day-to-day function of the church. God poured out his Spirit upon both sons and daughters (Joel 2:28; Ac 2:17–18), and Spirit-empowered women ministered using the full spectrum of gifts. Besides evangelism, prophecy, teaching and discipleship, women were involved in countless other ministries, together with service to their families (1Ti 5:10), according to their respective spiritual gifts (Ac 1:14; 12:12; 1Co 12:8–10; 1Ti 5:5; Phm 2). Women were an active part of the assembly in Philippi (Ac 16:11–15) and were involved in the establishment of churches in Thessalonica (Ac 17:4) and Berea (Ac 17:12).

Paul often referred to women as his “co-workers.” He specifically acknowledged Mary (Ro 16:6), Tryphena, Tryphosa and Persis (Ro 16:12), Euodia and Syntyche (Php 4:2) and Priscilla (Ro 16:3) as women who had labored hard for the gospel. The coming of the kingdom revolutionized the involvement of ordinary people in the work of God. Whether Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female—kingdom ministry became the responsibility of all.