DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- IN PRAISE OF GODLY WOMEN

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – IN PRAISE OF GODLY WOMEN

"Greet one another with a holy kiss." (Romans 16:16)

As the Apostle Paul comes to the end of his letter to the Romans, he gives recognition and greetings to the believers who are in Rome. It is quite a list. While it is mostly men mentioned in this salutation, it is noteworthy the number of women who are also listed.

There is Phoebe, a servant of the church who was a great helper. The word for servant is the Greek word "diakonon" which is usually translated as a minister or servant, and sometimes as the office of a deacon. Whether or not she was recognized as filling the office of the deacon, she certainly was doing the ministry of a deacon.

Then there is Priscilla. Paul worked with Priscilla and her husband Aquilla in their tent-making business while was in Corinth (Acts 18:2), and they were used to mentor the preacher Apollos in his understanding of the Gospel. So Paul had a special relationship with her.

There was Mary, about whom we know nothing except that she worked hard in the church (vs. 6). There was Junia, probably the wife of Andronicus. They were early believers before Paul was saved, and also suffered in prison like Paul (vs. 7). Paul wrote of Tryphyena and Tryphosa, two women who worked for Jesus (vs. 12), and the mother of Rufus, whom Paul considered as his own mother (vs. 13). There were also others, like Julia, and the sister of Nereus (vs. 15).

I, for one, am grateful for all the ministry and labor of women in the work of the Gospel. Many churches would have closed their doors if it had not been for the faithfulness of the women who carried on the ministry when the men were lax in their devotion and service to Christ.

So this is in thankful praise to the ladies who do so much labor in the church. May God bless them abundantly. They may not get their names written in the Holy Scriptures, but God keeps good records and will reward them for their faithful service.

Love, Dad