The Priscilla New Testament is a comprehensive text for believers who are new to their faith or who want to start over with a fresh perspective. Readers will find clear explanations of core beliefs, helpful overviews at the beginning of each book, and careful attention to details like grammatical constructions. The most important thing we can teach anyone is how to understand the Bible for themselves.
The Priscilla New Testament is the most faithful edition of the Greek text available for English readers. The text of this classic edition closely follows the Greek New Testament as was produced in 1898 by Caspar René Gregory and published in 1903 by Oxford University Press, but has been carefully edited by Matthew Black, who revised it using modern critical tools. Included are an updated translation so that readers can have access to a faithful translation within an elegant, accessible layout with classic page numbers and cross-references.
Priscilla New Testament
The Priscilla New Testament is the most faithful edition of the Greek text available for English readers. The text of this classic edition closely follows the Greek New Testament as was produced in 1898 by Caspar René Gregory and published in 1903 by Oxford University Press, but has been carefully edited by Matthew Black, who revised it using modern critical tools. Included are an updated translation so that readers can have access to a faithful translation within an elegant, accessible layout with classic page numbers and cross-references.
Although most of the people we encounter in the Bible are men, we do run into a handful of strong female characters throughout the Old and New Testament.
In the New Testament, a woman by the name of Priscilla spent time with the Apostle Paul. She and her husband Aquila not only risked their lives for Paul (Romans 16:4) but showed an example of a godly marriage.
Who was this friend of Paul? Why are she and Aquila a true power couple in the Bible? And what can we learn from this godly woman in a world that increasingly dissolves the concept of marriage and godly living?
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What Is the Context of the Biblical Story of Priscilla?
What Is the Context of the Biblical Story of Priscilla?
We first meet Priscilla in Acts 18. She sometimes also goes by the name of Prisca (2 Timothy 4:19).
She and her husband leave Italy by the decree of the Roman Emperor Claudius who commanded all Jews to leave Rome. The Emperor did so because of a certain man named Chrestus who had caused havoc, according to Suetonius.
In 41 AD, Jews couldn’t meet in Synagogues and were eventually expulsed from Rome in general on account of Chrestus. We don’t exactly know what Chrestus did, but this article argues the disputes arose about Jesus.
No matter what the case, Priscilla and Aquila meet Paul in Corinth. The three of them bond over the trade they all do as a main job (Priscilla and Aquila) and a side hustle (Paul): tentmaking. So they make tents together. Or, as this article argues, they more likely worked with leather.
Later, they set sail together toward a place called Antioch (Acts 18:18), and continue with him to Ephesus where they meet an apostle named Apollos. Apollos has a great talent for public speaking, but doesn’t quite have his theology correct, so Priscilla and Aquila guide him on some of the teachings.
In Ephesus, the two of them establish a church in their home (1 Corinthians 16:19). During the Early Church, many Christians would hold church in their homes.
Throughout their ministry the couple exemplifies kindness, hospitality, and hard work, no matter where God plants them.
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Who Was Aquila in the Bible?
Who Was Aquila in the Bible?
Aquila has a Jewish background, hence why Claudius expelled his family from Rome. We don’t know the cultural background of Priscilla, but we do know both exercise a Christian faith by the time they meet Paul.
Apart from that, we don’t have many distinguishing factors about Aquila. The couple appears attached at the hip throughout Scripture, and Scripture presents them together as equals.
Perhaps this goes to show that two can become one in marriage, making the other stronger through a strong relationship with Christ at the center (Ecclesiastes 4:12). And to show the Bible had a culturally divergent view of women than typically seen in Roman society (as well as Jewish society back then).
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Priscilla Gives Us a Strong Portrait of Biblical Womanhood
Priscilla Gives Us a Strong Portrait of Biblical Womanhood
During that time period, a woman mainly served as an offspring-giver and nurturer. They could not own property, didn’t have much of a say on marital or familial affairs, and were encouraged to serve as wallflowers, not contributing much to conversation.
Although some women did work, it was mostly those of poorer classes who needed to provide for a household (such as widowers or those in a lower social strata).
Here we see a stark contrast with Priscilla.
The Bible depicts her as an equal to Aquila, she works alongside her husband as a tentmaker, and the Bible does not focus on whether she produced offspring or managed the household.
She and her husband start a church together, and they continue to preach the Gospel late into Paul’s ministry, and likely beyond after Paul is beheaded.
Not to mention, they also start a church in one of the most morally corrupt areas of the world, as we can see in Paul’s letters to Corinth. And yet, their church thrives.
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What Can Christians Learn from Priscilla?
What Can Christians Learn from Priscilla?
Christians can learn a great deal from this woman from the first century AD.
- God Can Accomplish Great Things During Difficult Circumstances
The origin of Aquila’s name shows they likely came from a prominent family in Rome. The fact Claudius ejected them gave them every reason to worry that God had thrown them into a frightening situation as strangers in Corinth. Not to mention they have to move around frequently from Rome to Corinth to Antioch and Ephesus.
Nevertheless, God continues to move through Priscilla. She helps Apollos refine his theology so that he can preach the Gospel more effectively. She originates a church in a difficult area in the ancient world and helps it to thrive.
No matter what circumstances we encounter, God can help us bloom wherever he places us.
- God Can Use the Talents of Anyone
Most women didn’t work in the ancient world, and yet, Priscilla had a mastery for tent making, hospitality, and theology. God used all three to help bring many to him.
The misfits, the outcasts, and those who don’t quite fit a certain mold are often the ones God chooses in Scripture. This applies especially to women in Scripture. He has the women find the tomb, give birth to the Savior of man, lead Israel as a formidable judge (Judges 4), and to accompany apostles on their journeys.
If you feel as though you have nothing to offer or don’t fit the stereotypical definition of normalcy, God can use your talents to bring others to him.
- God Values Hospitality and Loyalty
Priscilla may not have had a Jewish background, but she follows her husband into Corinth. From riches to rags and making tents, she continues to remain faithful to her husband, exemplifying the common mantra for marriage “for richer or for poorer.”
She also provides for Paul, and those she later has in her house for church, to the best of her ability. We don’t know how quickly Priscilla and Aquila had to flee from Rome, but expulsions of this kind often mean they didn’t have a chance to grab all of their material possessions. They likely had to start at square one or something close to that.
But whatever they have, they share. They offer Paul a home, companionship, and friendship during his journeys. Paul sees Priscilla as an equal to Aquila and entrusts her with tasks such as building a home church in Corinth (and running it).
We can also see that the Bible had rather radical ideas about the treatment of women, opposed to the Roman culture of the day. Paul has no qualms with Priscilla working alongside her husband as a tentmaker.
All Christians, whether men or women, can learn a lot from Priscilla. Priscilla exercised extreme hospitality and kindness, even when she’d lost her riches as an esteemed family in Rome. Nevertheless, she continues to walk faithfully with God and her husband, and excels in whatever task she has set before her.
From this power couple, we can understand the importance of loyalty and obedience to our calling. And that God can use any circumstance, personality, or social and cultural standing to bring glory to him.
Lessons from Priscilla in the bible
Today we are looking at another woman who was involved with the early church.
You can read about Priscilla in Acts 18:1-3, 18-19, 24-28; Romans 16:3; 1 Corinthians 16:19; and 2 Timothy 4:19
Priscilla, or Prisca, is a Jew from Pontus. She is married to Aquila and they are both tent-makers.
Paul meets them in Corinth. Aquila and Priscilla are in Corinth because the Jews had been run out of Rome by Emperor Claudius. Because they all work in the same trade, Paul lived and worked with Aquila and Priscilla as tent-makers. When Paul leaves for Syria, Aquila and Priscilla go with him. In Ephesus Paul leaves them there and goes on to Caesarea.
While they are in Ephesus, Aquila and Priscilla meet another Jew, Apollos. Apollos was “mighty in the Scriptures” and had been instructed “in the way of the Lord” but he only knew the baptism of John (Acts 18:25; Lk. 7:29; Mk. 1:4). Apollos was speaking boldly in the synagogue. “But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:26; Acts 19:1-7).
Paul later references Aquila and Priscilla in his letters to the church in Rome (Rom. 16:3), the church in Corinth (1 Cor. 16:19), and to Timothy (2 Tim. 4:19). These references show that Aquila and Priscilla were both very active in the work of the Lord with Paul. Aquila and Priscilla send their greetings to the church in Corinth along with the greetings from “the church that is in their house”. In Romans 16:4 Paul says this couple risked their lives for him. He also mentions to give greetings to them along with the church that meets in their home.
This couple was BUSY for the Lord. In both Ephesus and Rome they opened their home to be used as a place of worship for the church in that area. They were well-versed in the truth because they were prepared to teach Apollos.
Priscilla was blessed with a good marriage. There is no reference to her that her husband is not also included. They are equally referred to as “Priscilla and Aquila” and “Aquila and Priscilla”. The picture we are given is of a couple gladly working together in everything that they do.
Priscilla was knowledgeable of the scriptures. When Apollos needed to be taught “the way of God more accurately”, Priscilla participated along with her husband. Apollos accepted the teaching from them and went on to teach the baptism of Christ.
Priscilla was a hard worker. Tent making would be rough work, I imagine. The goats’ hair they used would not be gentle to the hands. But scripture says “they were tent-makers”, not just Aquila.
She traveled with her husband wherever they needed to go. All of the commendations about them indicate a contentment like Paul’s (Phil. 4:11). She was prepared to open her home to others. Our family has moved quite often. We have had times where we were living in hotels for a stretch. It is hard work to keep a “home” under those conditions. To keep a home that you want to open up to others is even harder, even living in simpler times. Priscilla did what was needed to be able to have their home, wherever it was, available to their brethren.
Having the home open for those in the church also indicated active service in teaching and strengthening the church. Everywhere they went they helped the church to grow. Like Paul told Timothy to be, Priscilla and Aquila were ready “in season and out of season” to spread the gospel (2 Tim. 4:2).
We are not told the circumstances, but BOTH Priscilla and her husband, risked their lives to help Paul (Rom. 16:3-4) and the churches in Gentile areas knew of it.
Nowhere do we see Priscilla putting herself above men. She was able to be the woman described in 1 Timothy 2:9-12 and still participate in teaching Apollos the better way. Because of Paul’s regular commendations of the couple, I am confident that their marriage fit the mold of Ephesians 5:22-33.
Unlike many of the women we have studied, we are not shown any bad days for Priscilla. It does not mean she did not have them. I believe it shows that her attitude was such that those bad days were not what defined her. What defined her was always looking to serve the Lord – because that is what is told about her repeatedly. Not just once – five different times in scripture. No other “fellow workers” are named as often, other than Timothy and Titus, by Paul. God holds her up for us to see the way a woman who lives by an obedient faith functions. Her example gives all of us reason to be confident. If our desire is to serve the Lord and others – we will be able to do so. No need to insert ourselves into the roles men are given to fill, our own roles will keep us quite busy.
Strive to be the woman, wife and Christian that Priscilla was. If you are not yet married, seek a man who will walk along with you in the life of a Christian. A man who will study with you and see you as “one in Christ Jesus” with him (Gal. 3:28). Prepare your heart to seek the Lord (Ezra 7:10), to be content (1 Tim 6:7-8; Phil. 4:11), and to be a worker (2 Tim. 2:15)
