Contents

The Role of Women in
Early Christianity

by Jean LaPorte
Published by the Edwin Mellen Press, New York, 1982
Published on our website with the necessary permission

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  INTRODUCTION 1
Ch. 1 WOMEN IN MARTYRDOM 7
  The Martyrdom of Blandina 11
  The Passion of Perpetua 13
Ch. 2 WOMEN IN CONJUGAL LIFE 23
  Tertullian 26
  Clement of Alexandria 30
  Augustine 40
  ---- Monica and her son Augustine 40
  ---- Augustine and women 44
  ---- Augustine on marriage 45
  Chrysostom 46
CH. 3 WOMEN IN CONTEMPLATIVE LIFE 53
  Women in Prophecy 53
  The Widows of the Church 58
  ---- Didascalia Apostolorum 60.
  ---- Jerome 65
  The Virgins 70
  ---- Independant Life of the Virgins 71
  ---- Development of Convent Life for Virgins 77
  ---- The Life of Macrina 81
  ---- The Rule of Paula's Monastery 88
  ---- The Rule of Augustine for Women 92
  ---- Basil's Canon on Fallen Virgins 100
  Mystical, Liturgical and Active Life 102
  ----Mystical and active life 102
  ---- Liturgical Life 105
CH 4 WOMEN IN MINISTRY 109
  Deaconesses 111
  ----Didascalia Apostoloroum 112
  ---- Apostolic Constitutions 115
  ---- Other sources related to Deaconesses 118
  ---- Chrysostom 119
  Widows in Office 126
  Conclusion 130
CH 5 WOMEN IN SYMBOL 133
  Philo of Alexandria 133
  Women as a Symbol of Virtue or Vice in Early Christianity 135
  ---- The Shepherd of Hermas 138
  ----Tertullian 139
  ---- Origen 140.
  ---- Methodius Olympus 143
  The Church as Mother: Cyprian, Augustine 147
  Women as Speculative Wisdom 149
  Symbolism of the Blessed Virgin Mary 151
  Conclusion 156

For related online Libraries see:  

The ORDINATION OF WOMEN in the Catholic Church

Catherine of Siena VIRTUAL COLLEGE
THE BODY IS SACRED MYSTERY AND BEYOND

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