Women Leaders in Early Christianity with Dr. Susan Benton

What if our understanding of women in the early church is far too small?

In this episode of The Faith (In)Forming Podcast, Travis Jamieson sits down with Dr. Susan Benton, New Testament scholar and Lecturer in Religion and Ministry Guidance at Baylor University. Drawing on her deep academic research and pastoral background, Susan helps us reimagine the roles of women like Phoebe and Prisca—not as footnotes in the New Testament, but as vital leaders in the early Christian movement.

We explore:

How Greco-Roman inscriptions shed light on women’s leadership roles

What the Apostle Paul may have seen in Phoebe and Prisca

Why recovering these histories matters for the church today

Susan’s own journey from ministry to academia

Dr. Benton holds degrees from Baylor, Duke Divinity, and Fuller Seminary, and her forthcoming book, Women Patrons and Mothers in Greco-Roman Associations and the New Testament (Mohr Siebeck), promises to reshape how we read the early church.

Whether you're a pastor, student, or thoughtful Christian seeking a deeper understanding of Scripture, this episode offers a rich, scholarly, and accessible conversation on women in ministry, New Testament context, and faithful interpretation.

👉 Subscribe for more conversations on theology, ministry, and formation.

🎧 Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

#FaithInForming #SusanBenton #WomenInMinistry #EarlyChristianity #NewTestamentScholarship #Phoebe #Prisca #BaylorUniversity #BiblePodcast #ChristianFormation #WomenInLeadership #BiblicalStudies