Do you really want to know??

Many have come to think that women were misaligned or mistreated in the New Testament!  

But the following outline would go to show that The Apostle Paul who wrote much of the NT was a Feminist supporter!
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Paul was not a misogynist: he did not hate or mistrust women.

Paul valued Priscilla, Euodia and Syntyche as his co-workers in gospel ministry.

He refers to Junia as his relative (or fellow Jew), his fellow prisoner, and as outstanding among the apostles.

He commends Phoebe to the church at Rome as “our sister”, a patroness of many, a minister of the church at Cenchrea, and he probably sent his letter to the Romans with her.

He acknowledges the ministry labours of Mary of Rome, Tryphena, Tryphosa, and Persis.

He warmly mentions no less than ten women in Romans chapter 16.  Paul had met some of these women when his and their journeys had intersected.  Other women in Romans 16, such as Julia, hosted house churches in Rome.

He took seriously a report from Chloe of Corinth‘s people.

He passed on greetings from Claudia of Rome, and sent greetings to Apphia of Colossae.

He recognised the house church of Nympha in Laodicea.

He accepted the hospitality of Lydia in Philippi and held meetings in her home.

He respected the faith of Lois and Eunice.

Paul valued the ministry of women and even compared his own apostolic ministry to that of a breastfeeding woman.

Here is a list, in alphabetical order, of all the women in Paul’s letters, plus Lydia.

Apphia (Phm. 1:2),
Chloe (1 Cor. 1:11),
Claudia (2 Tim. 4:21),
Euodia (Php. 4:2-3),
Julia (Rom. 16:15),
Junia (Rom. 16:7 NIV),
Lois and Eunice (2 Tim. 1:5),
Mary (Rom. 16:6),
Nereus’ sister (Rom. 16:15),
Nympha (Col. 4:15),
Persis (Rom. 16:12),
Phoebe (Rom. 16:1-2 NIV),
Priscilla (Rom. 16:3-5; 1 Cor. 16:19; 2 Tim. 4:19 cf Acts 18:1-3, 18-19, 26),
Rufus’ mother (Rom. 16:13),
Syntyche (Phil. 4:2-3),
Tryphena and Tryphosa (Rom. 16:12).
 Lydia is mentioned in Acts 16:13-15, 40.

I believe that if these verses were the starting point and focus in discussions on women in ministry, more so than 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 and 1 Timothy 2:12, the church and the world would be in a much better state.
** See  (My articles on 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 here, and on 1 Timothy 2:12 here.)

Image credit: Mosaic of Paul presenting St Praxedes (who was martyred in 165) to Christ – Basilica Santa Prassede, Rome. © Sr Anne Flanagan (Source)