Priscilla
“Little old woman (diminutive of Prisca, meaning ancient)”
Summary
Priscilla was a devout Jewish Christian woman who, with her husband Aquila, traveled with Paul, instructed Apollos in the faith, and hosted house churches in Corinth, Ephesus, and Rome.
☩Identity and Name
Priscilla is the diminutive form of Prisca, a Latin name meaning 'ancient' or 'venerable.' The New Testament uses both forms: Prisca appears in Romans 16:3 and 2 Timothy 4:19 (according to the best manuscripts), while Priscilla is used elsewhere. Such variation in Roman names was common practice. She was the wife of Aquila, a Jewish tentmaker from Pontus, and the couple appears always together in Scripture—never mentioned separately. The consistent pairing of husband and wife in ministry presents a model of Christian partnership in service.
☩Ministry and Travels
Priscilla and Aquila first met Paul at Corinth after being expelled from Rome under Claudius's edict against Jews. They worked together in the tentmaking trade and became close companions of the apostle. The couple traveled with Paul to Ephesus, where they remained while he continued to Syria. In Ephesus, they encountered Apollos, an eloquent Alexandrian Jew who spoke boldly but knew only the baptism of John. Together, Priscilla and Aquila took him aside and 'expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly'—a remarkable instance of a woman participating in theological instruction. Later, they returned to Rome where Paul salutes them in his epistle, and eventually returned to Asia where Timothy greeted them.
☩Prominence and Character
A striking feature of the New Testament references is that Priscilla's name precedes her husband's in Romans 16:3, 2 Timothy 4:19, and in some manuscripts of Acts 18:26. Only in Acts 18:2 and 1 Corinthians 16:19 does Aquila have unequivocal first place. This unusual order has led scholars to conclude that Priscilla was the more energetic character of the two, or perhaps more prominent in their Christian work. Paul describes them as his 'fellow workers in Christ Jesus' who 'laid down their own necks' for his life—language suggesting they literally risked their lives for the apostle. A church met in their house both at Ephesus and Rome, demonstrating their commitment to Christian hospitality.
☩Model of Christian Service
Priscilla exemplifies what married women can accomplish for the Church in conjunction with home duties, just as Phoebe represents what unmarried women can do as deaconesses. Her counsel would have been invaluable to Timothy at Ephesus in dealing with the female members of his congregation, a task requiring particular delicacy and discretion for a young man. She may have advised on matters such as selecting widows for the church's care and identifying suitable deaconesses for ministry. Such female ministry was essential in the early Christian communities given the social conditions of the time. The example of Priscilla shows that theological competence and active ministry were not restricted by gender in the apostolic church.
Related Verses8 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Priscilla," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VIII (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Priscilla," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 3.Richard Watson, "Priscilla," in A Biblical and Theological Dictionary (John Mason, 1831).
- 4.Don Fleming, "Priscilla," in Bridgeway Bible Dictionary (Bridgeway Publications, 1990).