Your Women Did Prophesy

The book Your Women Did Prophesy
documents evidence for biblical and
historical precedent for womens
participation in preaching and
prophesying ministries. It cites
specifi c activities of women as
recorded in the New Testament,
apocryphal writings, and a selection
of early church fathers that refer to
the fi rst two centuries. The focus of
the book is on the activity of women
rather than on opinions expressed
about the role of women.
This book uses the historical critical method of interpretation
applied to ancient primary sources. The attempt has been to
view these sources in light of their contexts with comment from
secondary sources. It refl ects upon preaching issues and practices
of today as they grow out of the research.
The fi ndings are of a rich heritage of women preachers within the
Christian tradition. To date, the church has neglected this aspect
of its history. To the extent that the church includes women in the
foundation of the teaching and preaching ministries, the stronger
and more balanced the structure of the church will be. Clergy and
laywomen particularly benefi t from an inclusive church in that
their own rootedness in the faith is strengthened by knowledge
of these foremothers. The whole church will benefi t from this
knowledge as it will begin to see itself as growing in wholeness
as refl ected in creation (Gen. 1:27).
The information contained in this book is suitable for studies in
the local church. It is also useful for preaching, as it enlarges the
churchs concept of women in the scripture.