Jesus spiritually empowers those
whom he encounters, regardless of
status or gender. A number of
women assumed leadership posi-
tions in the early Christian church,
and are named in Romans 16—
Phoebe, Mary, Tryphaena,
Tryphosa, the mother of Rufus,
Persis, Julia, the sister of Nereus,
Prisca and Junia (some manuscripts
call her Julia). Biblical scholar Janet
Peifer points out that some transla-
tions of Romans 16:7 include the
phrase "men of note," despite that in
the Greek text, the word "men"
is not present and actually reads
"they are of note."
2
This suggests
that translators inserted the word
"men" for their own clarity. What
does this tell us about the biblical
interpretations of women's roles
as opposed to the witness of Jesus
Christ? Jesus' witness empowers
all of us, regardless of status or
gender.
I will conclude by saying that
scripture offers sufficient evidence
to inspire and affirm women and
girls. Throughout scripture, women
demonstrate courage, compassion,
love, bravery and outstanding per-
suasive and intellectual capacity,
often in dangerous situations. These
are not fluke incidents or one-hit
wonders. Women are empowered
through God's design, Jesus' affir-
mation and the fuel of the Holy
Spirit.
Sadekie Lyttle-Forbes is an ordained
minister in the United Church in
Jamaica and the Cayman Islands,
currently serving as guidance
counselor at Knox Community College.
She has a passion for advocacy on
subjects such as the protection of the
rights of children and ministry with
youth and young adults.
Notes
1. Scripture is from The Inclusive Bible: The First
Egalitarian Translation. Priests for Equality,
(Lanham, MD: Sheed & Ward, Rowman &
Littlefield, 2007).
2. Janet M. Peifer, "The Biblical Basis for Women
in Church Leadership and Pastoral Ministry: A
Review of Women in Leadership in the First-
Century Church and the Apostle Paul on Women
in Ministry"; retrieved from www.bic-
church.org/women/resources/foundations/peifer_
part3.asp.
March/April 2015
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