Journal: Priscilla Papers
Volume: PP 34:4 (Autumn 2020)
Article: I Tertius
Author: Jeff David Miller

I Tertius

Jeff David Miller

The previous issue of Priscilla Papers was themed, “Conference Papers.” My editorial in that issue explained that much of what we publish has already been read—field tested, so to speak—at an academic or professional conference. I described such gatherings as seedbeds for journal articles. While my description was not wrong, conferences are not the only source for our material.

If we broaden our scope to a global and centuries-long view, it becomes clear that the church’s primary source of biblical interpretation and application has been preaching.

Priscilla Papers began publishing sermons six years ago, for the purpose of serving the church. Since then, we have published nine sermons and ninety-six articles. This ratio (about ten to one) will continue, with the exception of the current issue.

This issue of Priscilla Papers borrows its theme from Romans 10:14, “. . . how will they hear without a preacher?” In the pages that follow, we offer six sermons, three by women and three by men. Following these sermons are a response to Aimee Byrd’s book, Recovering from Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (a response that could indeed be used as a sermon), and a review of Ben Witherington’s book, Priscilla: The Life of an Early Christian.

Because of this theme of preaching, especially women preaching, I am going to continue this editorial by borrowing from two CBE past publications.

*****

The first is a blog entry I wrote for CBE in 2013.

On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison. Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. (Acts 8:1b-4 NIV)

The above paragraph from Acts includes six actions:

• Persecution breaks out. Clearly this persecution is against men and women.
• Believers are scattered. The text says, “all except the apostles” are scattered, which would of course include men and women.
• Stephen is buried. The text clarifies that men do this, perhaps because all other actions in the passage pertain to both men and women.
• Saul begins to destroy the church. Again, men and women.
• Believers are dragged off to prison. Here the text specifies that both men and women are imprisoned.
• Scattered believers preach the word. Given that “all except the apostles” are scattered in v.
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