Article PAUL AND WOMEN LEADERSHIP IN THE EARLY CHURCH: RECLAIMING THE APOSTLE’S VISION FOR GENDER INCLUSIVENESS IN CONTEMPORARY NIGERIA CHURCHES

Abstract

This paper critically examines the Apostle Paul’s vision for women’s leadership in the early church and its implications for fostering gender inclusiveness in contemporary Nigerian churches. While Paul has often been misrepresented as a proponent of patriarchal ecclesiology, a closer exegetical and contextual reading of his writings reveals a more inclusive and liberative theological stance. Key texts such as Romans 16, Galatians 3:28, 1 Corinthians 11, and Philippians 4:2–3 demonstrate Paul’s recognition and commendation of women like Phoebe, Junia, Priscilla, and Euodia, who held significant leadership roles in the early Christian movement. This study argues that Paul’s ecclesiology, rooted in the new creation inaugurated by Christ, transcended rigid gender boundaries and affirmed the active participation of women in ministry. Using a literary-historical and contextual theological methodology, supported by feminist hermeneutics and socio-rhetorical criticism, the paper reclaims Paul’s inclusive vision as a theological foundation for gender-equitable leadership in Nigerian churches. It challenges both theological misinterpretations and cultural barriers that hinder women’s full participation in church leadership. By revisiting Paul through a contextual African lens, the study offers a transformative framework for reimagining leadership structures that reflect the inclusive spirit of the early church.