The Value of a Woman (Romans 16:1-16)
Many moons ago, Tammy and I conducted the Open Bible Study with three teenage girls. These girls were the granddaughters of one of the members of the congregation; while these girls often attended worship, they were not Christians. I asked if we could sit down together and study Scripture, and they readily agreed.
At the conclusion of the Bible study, all three girls looked at Tammy and me and said, “We’d love to be baptized to have our sins washed away, but there’s no point. In the churches of Christ, girls can’t do anything, and we don’t see a reason to be a part of a church where we’re not allowed to serve.”
Honestly, I was flabbergasted. Tammy, a woman, had helped me through the entire Bible study. That congregation had many women who served—teaching Bible class, visiting the sick, helping with door-knocking campaigns, assisting with VBS, and I could go on. Tammy and I explained to those girls that Scripture did prohibit their leading in the worship or shepherding the congregation or publicly teaching men, but there were numerous ways to serve the Lord as a woman. And, after a lengthy conversation, those three girls obeyed the gospel.
Some of you have probably grappled with the issue of women’s role in the church. You may have attended a funeral or a wedding where a female “pastor” officiated. Maybe you know someone who was once faithful to Jesus but left him for the denominational world so that she could publicly lead in worship. Perhaps someone has spoken ill of the church to you: “You don’t let women do anything. You think women are beneath men.” Maybe you’ve been on vacation, walked into a church where you thought you’d be able to worship in spirit and truth, and you found women helping to lead the worship.
You understand that women cannot lead in worship: “I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet” (1 Tim 2:12). Some claim that because we practice that truth here at Deer Park, we believe that women are second-class citizens. Others claim that Paul wrote that because he lived in a patriarchal society or maybe he was just a male chauvinist.
Anyone who entertains such a thought needs to read Romans 16 where Paul wrote about “The Value of a Woman.” Throughout this passage, Paul praised women who served Jesus and his church. On this Mother’s Day where we honor our mothers, I thought it only right to go to Romans 16 where the inspired Word of God praised several women. In this morning’s text, Paul made one truth abundantly clear: “The church will not survive without women.”
Scripture (Romans 16:1-16)
We’re not going to go through this passage and describe every woman; instead, I have chosen to hone in one three women who greatly served the early church and demonstrate: “The church will not survive without women.”
The church will not survive without Providing Women, vv 1-2.
Phoebe was “a servant of the church at Cenchrae.” I know that a few translations attempt to elevate Phoebe to being a church deacon, but she couldn’t have been the husband of one wife (1 Tim 3:12). But you see, the Greek term for “deacon” is the common Greek word used for “servant.” You know the value of service: Jesus said, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all” (Mk 9:35).
Paul told the Roman church to help Phoebe, for “she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.” As a patron, Phoebe would have been a wealthy benefactor who supported Paul and other missionaries. Paul and other missionaries went into the world and preached because Phoebe was a generously Providing woman.
The church will not survive without Perilous Women, vv 3-4.
Paul urged the Roman Christians to great Prisca and Aquila, his “fellow workers in Christ Jesus.” Prisca was a Latin version of Priscilla.
Priscilla, working with her husband, had risked her neck for Paul’s life. The Romans put people to death by beheading, so Priscillia and Aquila risked their necks—their lives—in service to Paul and the gospel.
Priscilla served Paul at the risk of her own life and became a Perilous woman.
The church will not survive without Preaching Women, v 7.
Paul told the Roman Christians to greet Andronicus and Junia, his kinsmen and fellow prisoners, who were “well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before” him.
The most natural way to read the Greek text is how the New International Version translates this verse: “They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.” The Greek text, you see, calls Andronicus and Junia “apostles.”
If I were to ask you to define apostle, you’d probably talk about the Twelve plus Paul. That’s right, of course, but if I were to ask a Greek-speaking person in the first century to define apostle, he would talk about someone who was sent on a mission. The New Testament uses the word “apostle” to mean “missionary.” For example, Barnabas is called an apostle (Acts 14:14). James, the brother of Jesus, is called an apostle (Gal 1:19).
Andronicus and Junia, who were certainly husband and wife, were missionaries. Junia was traveling the Roman Empire sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. She was a Preaching woman.
Application
“The church will not survive without women.” I know that God promised the church would not pass away or be destroyed (cf. Dan 7:14), but I also know the importance of godly women in the church. And I know that God uses women to keep his church from passing away or being destroyed.
We need women like Phoebe, Prisca, and Junia. And yes, we need men like Phoebe, Prisca, and Junia. How can you be like Phoebe, Prisca, and Junia? How can you be a woman or man that the church simply cannot do without?
One: You must be a Providing Woman.
Phoebe was a wealthy benefactor for Paul and other missionaries. She wasn’t the first woman to provide financial support for preaching; Luke mentioned several women who provided for Jesus and the apostles “out of their means” (Lk 8:2-3).
Will you be a Providing woman? Will you financially support the preaching of the gospel? The more you provide the more God blesses: “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Cor 9:6). Do you wish to reap a bountiful harvest of spiritual blessings? Be a Providing woman!
Two: You must be a Perilous Woman
Prisca was a Perilous woman; she—along with her husband—risked her neck for Paul’s life. Paul didn’t give specifics, but Priscilla ignored her own needs and served Paul.
You know the value of serving. Jesus told the disciples, “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave” (Matt 20:26-27). Paul told the Philippians: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Phil 2:3-4).
Christian service means valuing others above yourself. Whom will you value above yourself? Whom will you serve? How will you serve and be a Perilous woman?
Three: You must be a Preaching Woman.
Junia—along with her husband Andronicus—was a Preaching woman. She was a missionary sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.
We have the greatest message in the world, and we’re to share that message with the world. “Go . . . and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matt 28:19-20). With whom will you share the message of Jesus this week? Will you be a Preaching woman?
Conclusion
“The church will not survive without women.” From the earliest days of the church—whether we speak about Lydia or Dorcas or Phoebe or Priscilla or Junia—women have served in their God-given role. Are you, whether man or woman, serving in your God-given role?
This sermon was originally preached by Dr. Justin Imel, Sr., at Church of Christ Deer Park in Deer Park, Texas.