Journal: Priscilla Papers
Volume: PP 13:3 (Summer 1999)
Article: Partners In Mission
Author: Dan Gentry Kent

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PP 13:3 (Summer 1999) p. 10

Partners In Mission

Dan Gentry Kent

Dan Gentry Kent Is a Professor of Old Testament recently retired from Southwestern Baptist Seminary after 19 years. He holds degrees from Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Seminary. This article was adapted from a plenary address delivered at the 1999 CBE International Conference, where Dr. Kent received a Priscilla and Aquila award for outstanding service to biblical equality.

Have you noticed how much competition is part of modern life? It is all around us, influencing us in ways in which we are not even aware.

There is competition between academic and athletic teams of various high schools and colleges. There is competition between politicians, political parties, political philosophies, and sometimes between the various branches of government. There is competition between businesses, and between labor and management.

Often there is competition between denominations, and sometimes between churches within a denomination. At times, unfortunately, there is competition within an individual church between various groups, or between individuals.

And all the while we realize that the emphasis in the New Testament is not on competition—it is rather on such qualities as unity, cooperation, and teamwork.

These qualities remind me of my favorite Bible couple, Aquila and Priscilla. I admire them. I look up to them. I always have. The Bible does not tell us everything about them, but it tells us enough so that we can learn a great deal from their example.

Partners In Mission

Aquila and his wife Priscilla were partners in mission, a ministering team. Shouldn’t we allow them to be our pattern for life together and for service in Christ’s name?

Aquila and his wife Priscilla (also called Prisca) were a remarkable couple. He was a Jew from the Roman province of Pontus on the southern shore of the Black Sea. She was a Roman Gentile (Acts 18:2), some say of noble birth. She was a person of great ability in her own right. Priscilla and Aquila are named together six times in the New Testament, and she is named first four of those six times, suggesting she may have been the more distinguished of the two.

Despite their different backgrounds, Priscilla and Aquila were a devoted wife and husband. Their marriage surely faced many difficulties. They were never able to settle anywhere or put down many roots. Both of them had to work rather hard to make a living. But despite these difficulties, they let their light shine for Christ.

The Team Formed, Acts 18:1-3

I am a teacher. And if I had to give...

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