“Paul's First Letter to Timothy — Prisoners of Hope — Part 7”

We are finishing today our series on “Prisoners of Hope” and how women were in the very center of that hope in more ways than one, just as Paul in 1 Tim. 2:15 was highlighting.  We have looked carefully at how this was proven down through history in Old Testament times and also in New Testament times before Paul was raised up as apostle of the Gentiles.  But what about after that, what about during Paul’s ministry?  What does the Bible say about that?  In our study today we see that there are 18 women referred to by name in the Acts and in Paul’s letters, about one third of all of those listed by name by Paul. That in itself would not be too remarkable perhaps in itself, but that in nearly all cases the women mentioned are highlighted in the strongest of “positive” terms.  Even the last words he wrote in 2 Timothy, his final letter, were about a woman, Claudia.  What a fitting way to finish our study of “Prisoners of Hope”, to see Paul so strongly exalting the many women who served with him in ministry!