Journal: Priscilla Papers
Volume: PP 33:1 (Winter 2019)
Article: Early Christianity’s Concept Of Sexuality
Author: April Kelly

PP 33:1 (Winter 2019) p. 14

Early Christianity’s Concept Of Sexuality

April Kelly

April Kelly is a graduate of Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, and has earned a Master of Arts in Theology and Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary. She lives with her husband in Austin, Texas, where she works as a nanny.

For much of history, it has not been uncommon for women to be viewed primarily in the context of their ability to perpetuate the human race. One result has been an explicit sexualization of women’s purpose and existence. Sometimes this has led to men using women to satiate their desires, and other times it has led men to fear women because of these desires. Both reactions have dishonored the value that women bring to society. However, certain moments and movements have helped women redefine how sexuality contributes to their lives. While imperfect and even contradictory at times, the church of the first five centuries helped define women’s sense of self, integrating their understanding of sexuality and marriage with the redemptive work of Christ in their own lives and communities, thus encouraging them to contribute to the work of the church.

Greco-Roman Culture

To develop an understanding of why the early church played an influential role in women’s understanding of self in the context of sexuality, it is important to paint a picture of the surrounding society.1

Marriage was a legal transaction and furthered the status of the family. Roman women, particularly matronas (married women), enjoyed an unprecedented level of autonomy in the realm of the household in certain parts of the early Roman Empire.2 Women were allowed to own property, manage large estates, and inherit land.3 However, women were consistently viewed in their relationships to men, whether as a daughter, a sister, a wife, or a mother (of sons).4 Because their status and identity were tied to their relationships, marriage was a highly important event for Roman women. Women were married young, often to significantly older men. Both men and women often viewed marriage as relatively impermanent. Divorce, though not necessarily encouraged, was frequent. Additionally, the probability of losing a spouse to death was especially high. Since men were so much older than their wives, it was highly probable that the husband would die first. The main exception, of course, was the possibility of wives dying in childbirth—the greatest threat to a woman’s life. Therefore, remarriage was common.5