by Kevin Madigan (Author), Carolyn Osiek (Editor)
In a time when the ordination of women is an ongoing and passionate debate, the study of women's ministry in the early church is a timely and significant one. There is much evidence from documents, doctrine, and artifacts that supports the acceptance of women as presbyters and deacons in the early church. While this evidence has been published previously, it has never before appeared in one complete English-language collection.
With this book, church historians Kevin Madigan and Carolyn Osiek present fully translated literary, epigraphical, and canonical references to women in early church offices. Through these documents, Madigan and Osiek seek to understand who these women were and how they related to and were received by, the church through the sixth century. They chart women's participation in church office and their eventual exclusion from its leadership roles.
The editors introduce each document with a detailed headnote that contextualizes the text and discusses specific issues of interpretation and meaning. They also provide bibliographical notes and cross-reference original texts. Madigan and Osiek assemble relevant material from both Western and Eastern Christendom.
Front Jacket
In a time when the ordination of women is an ongoing and passionate debate, the study of women's ministry in the early church is timely and significant. With this book, church historians Kevin Madigan and Carolyn Osiek present fully translated literary, epigraphical, and canonical references to women in early church offices. Through these documents, Madigan and Osiek seek to understand who these women were and how they related to and were received by the church through the sixth century. They chart women's participation in church office and their eventual exclusion from its leadership roles.
Madigan and Osiek have produced the best, most comprehensive, and extremely useful documentary history to date regarding the ordination of women in the early church.--Catholic Historical Review
An invaluable resource for all who are interested in the historical evidence relating to the ordination of women as deacons and presbyters in the early centuries up to roughly the sixth century.--Review of Biblical Literature
An excellent resource for deeper study of original texts as well as for informed entry into current ecclesial discussions of practice and polity.--Journal of Religion
A masterful compilation and translation.--Theological Studies
Finally, readers have a single compendium in English of the evidence that women did hold church office as deacon, presbyter, and bishop, not simply as spouses of male officeholders and not in heretical sects but in their own right and in the Catholic Church.--Catholic Biblical Quarterly
--Robin Jensen, Vanderbilt University Divinity School, author of Face to Face: The Portrait of the Divine in Early Christianity "Catholic Historical Review"Back Jacket
In a time when the ordination of women is an ongoing and passionate debate, the study of women's ministry in the early church is timely and significant. With this book, church historians Kevin Madigan and Carolyn Osiek present fully translated literary, epigraphical, and canonical references to women in early church offices. Through these documents, Madigan and Osiek seek to understand who these women were and how they related to and were received by the church through the sixth century. They chart women's participation in church office and their eventual exclusion from its leadership roles.
"Madigan and Osiek have produced the best, most comprehensive, and extremely useful documentary history to date regarding the ordination of women in the early church."--Catholic Historical Review
"An invaluable resource for all who are interested in the historical evidence relating to the ordination of women as deacons and presbyters in the early centuries up to roughly the sixth century."--Review of Biblical Literature
"An excellent resource for deeper study of original texts as well as for informed entry into current ecclesial discussions of practice and polity."--Journal of Religion
"A masterful compilation and translation."--Theological Studies
"Finally, readers have a single compendium in English of the evidence that women did hold church office as deacon, presbyter, and bishop, not simply as spouses of male officeholders and not in heretical sects but in their own right and in the Catholic Church."--Catholic Biblical Quarterly
Author Biography
Kevin Madigan is the Winn Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Harvard Divinity School, Harvard University. Carolyn Osiek is the Charles Fischer Professor of New Testament (retired), Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University.