Women in Church History

For two millennia, ordinary women have spread the gospel story.

We, too, are called into this same ministry.

Hi, my name is Lauren. October is the time of year when I take a month to focus on church history, specifically women throughout church history. This year, I thought I’d take a broad sweep of Christian women throughout the centuries.

We stand on the shoulders of women who have faithfully followed Jesus in all circumstances. The women we will get to know are not superheroes or saints to idolize but ordinary women who have faithfully followed Christ. May God’s faithfulness in their lives spur us on to good works and point us to Christ!

Why study women in church history?

Church history usually has highlighted men. I grew up in a Christian family, but even then, I didn’t realize there were many women in church history besides missionaries like Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong. So, while many believers can rattle off names of prominent Christian men like Augustine, Martin Luther, Hudson Taylor, or Billy Graham, they may be less familiar with women like Katharina von Bora or Maria Taylor.
Over half of Christians are women. The Bible teaches that men and women are co-partners in life and ministry. However, due to socioeconomic factors, most Christian writings have been from men and about men. When we neglect to share about Christian women, it can lend to unbiblical ideas such as “Christianity is a white man’s religion.” We know this is not true because 1) the Anglo-Saxons didn’t receive the gospel for over 500 years, and 2) there are more Christian women than men.
Women have served Jesus for two millennia. The church today would not be what it is without faithful ordinary women sharing the gospel, serving others with compassion, writing, teaching, discipling, going to foreign countries, and supporting the work of pastors and abolitionists. If we don’t hear how women have spread the gospel where the Lord had them, many men and women today may conclude that “a woman’s place is only in the home.” We also miss hearing the amazing testimonies of God’s faithfulness in their lives, in and out of the home.
It promotes male and female partnership, not competition or intimidation. Church history gives us glimpses of what a healthy partnership between men and women can look like. Paul, in Romans 16, valued the gospel work of his women coworkers. We see men and women laboring together during the Reformation. Overall, we see a beautiful picture of men and women serving alongside each other as partners in ministry to bring glory to God. This gives us a healthier view of the church, and a reminder that women aren’t threats, but sisters.
Finally, women need the model of women. There is a reason why Paul commands older women to teach what is good to younger women. Women need to see and hear from other women teaching and serving Jesus because women need the perspective and emphatic word that these mothers and sisters in Christ have to offer.