Prisca (Priscilla)

Prisca (Priscilla)

from Praying with the Women of the Bible

by Bridget Mary Meehan

When Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome, Prisca

(or Priscilla) and her husband Aquila moved to Corinth where they joined Paul in his work and ministry. Like Paul, they were Jewish Christians and tentmakers. Like Barnabas, Prisca and Aquila were missionaries and coworkers with Paul. Their house churches in Corinth, Ephesus, and Rome were centers of missionary activity and Christian life.

Prisca is mentioned six times in the Christian scriptures. Though Prisca and Aquila worked together as a ministry team, in four out of six places her name is mentioned first. This indicates that she is the more prominent of the two in the first-century Church.1

The Church gathered in their home, in Rome (Rom 16:3–5), and in Corinth and Ephesus (Acts 18:18; 2 Tm 4:19; 1 Cor 16:19). Prisca, in addition to being a coworker of Paul and a partner in ministry with Aquila, is a missionary apostle, a teacher of a missionary apostle, and an important leader in the development of house churches.

Romans 16 uses the word eklesia—“church”—to describe the group gathered in their home: “Greet Prisca and Aquila, who work with me in Christ Jesus, and who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.





Greet also the church in their house” (Rom 16:3–5). This text reflects the courage of these missionary coworkers of Paul who were willing to endanger their lives because of their love for him.

When Paul left Corinth for Syria, Prisca and Aquila accompanied him on a missionary journey to Ephesus where he left them (Acts 18:18–19). There Prisca and Aquila encountered Apollos, an eloquent and learned missionary. After hearing him speak in the synagogue, they realized he had only a superficial knowledge of the Christian faith and needed further instructions in the Way of God. So they became his teachers (Acts 18:24–

28). “Prisca, in particular,” observes Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza, “became the teacher of

Apollos, whose Sophia and Spirit theology might have been derived from her catechesis.”2

John Chrysostom attributes to her “the whole merit of having instructed Apollos correctly in

Christian Doctrine.”3

When Paul returned, about a year later, he discovered that this couple had developed an effective, strong community in Ephesus. Later, Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians from Ephesus, included their salutations: “Aquila and Prisca together with the church in their house, greet you warmly…” (1 Cor 16:19). In his exhortation to Timothy before his approaching death, Paul sends final greetings to Prisca and Aquila: “Greet Prisca and Aquila…” (2 Tm 4:19).4

Historical records, not found in the Bible, describe Priscilla’s renown. Tertullian writes, “By the holy Prisca, the Gospel is preached.” Coemeterium Priscilla, one of the ancient Roman catacombs, was named after her. A Roman church, “Titulus St. Prisca,” was built in her honor and her name was inscribed on monuments in Rome.5

There is much that contemporary Christians can learn from Prisca and Aquila about team ministry, preaching, eucharistic sharing, and community building. This couple ministry team traveled together and created house churches for converts. Prisca and Aquila modeled partnership in the gospel and a vision of caring community that is as important in our times as it was in their era. They did not, like Paul, separate the proclamation of the Word that focuses on conversion from the eucharistic table-sharing that builds community.6

One of the positive signs of our times is that the Church is rediscovering the importance of vibrant Christian communities for faith-sharing and spiritual life. The difficulty, however, is that for many people, the Word and Eucharist have become separated because of the shortage of ordained priests. What seems to be needed is a whole new theology of ministry in the Church. Prisca and Aquila provide a female/male partnership ministry model that can inspire and challenge us. Likewise, we need creative reflection and serious discussion on the effectiveness of our female/male experience of team ministry today, as well as a deeper understanding of Eucharist as the Christ presence in our midst.







Reflection



“After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them, and they worked together—by trade they were tentmakers” (Acts 18:1–3).

“The churches of Asia send greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their





house, greet you warmly in the Lord” (1 Cor 16:19).

“Greet Prisca and Aquila who work with me in Christ Jesus, and who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles” (Rom

16:3–4).

“Greet Prisca and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus” (2 Tm 4:19).







Discussion Starters



1. Prisca and Aquila provide a model of female/male partnership in ministry. How do you think their ministry helped them to grow in their relationship with one another? How do you think their relationship with one another helped them to grow in their ministry?

2. In what ways is female/male partnership in ministry effective today?

3. Compare and contrast the house churches of first-century Christianity with the Small Christian Community Movement in our Church today. What are the similarities? What are the differences?

4. Have you ever been a member of a Small Christian Community (such as “Renew,” “Gather,” Charismatic prayer group, Bible study group, faith-sharing group, Woman Church, Marriage Encounter, Cursillo, and the like)? If so, describe your experiences. If not, describe the kind of community that would appeal to you.







Prayer Experience



1. Quiet your mind and your body…. Take several deep breaths…. With your eyes closed and your body relaxed, journey to your still point where God dwells…. Be still in God’s presence.

2. Read the scripture texts about Prisca and Aquila slowly and thoughtfully.

3. Imagine Prisca and Aquila as a loving couple…affectionate with one another… passionate about the gospel…willing to travel anywhere with missionary zeal to share the Good News…desiring to do anything…risking everything to proclaim Christ… nurturing community in their house church…committing all their energy to the Christian mission….

4. Be aware of times in your life when you experienced female/

male partnership in ministry…. Be conscious of the advantages you experienced…and disadvantages you experienced…. Be conscious of ways your female/male team ministry helped you to grow…helped your partner to grow. … Be conscious of ways this partnership ministered to the needs of others…enriched the Christian community….

5. Draw an image or symbol of this partnership in ministry…. Hang it in a prominent place in your place of ministry…. Perhaps you may wish to share your reflections and this symbol or image with your partner….

6. Reflect on your vision of female/male partnership in ministry in the Church today…. Get in touch with your feelings…hopes…frustrations…dreams…challenges….

7. Write down your vision…images…insights…thoughts…

feelings…in a journal, poetry, art, song, dance, or in some other creative way.