Your Women Did Prophesy

The book Your Women Did Prophesydocuments evidence for biblical andhistorical precedent for womensparticipation in preaching andprophesying ministries. It citesspecifi c activities of women asrecorded in the New Testament,apocryphal writings, and a selectionof early church fathers that refer tothe fi rst two centuries. The focus ofthe book is on the activity of womenrather than on opinions expressedabout the role of women. This book uses the historical critical method of interpretationapplied to ancient primary sources. The attempt has been toview these sources in light of their contexts with comment fromsecondary sources. It refl ects upon preaching issues and practicesof today as they grow out of the research. The fi ndings are of a rich heritage of women preachers within theChristian tradition. To date, the church has neglected this aspectof its history. To the extent that the church includes women in thefoundation of the teaching and preaching ministries, the strongerand more balanced the structure of the church will be. Clergy andlaywomen particularly benefi t from an inclusive church in thattheir own rootedness in the faith is strengthened by knowledgeof these foremothers. The whole church will benefi t from thisknowledge as it will begin to see itself as growing in wholenessas refl ected in creation (Gen. 1:27). The information contained in this book is suitable for studies inthe local church. It is also useful for preaching, as it enlarges thechurchs concept of women in the scripture.