Margaret Y. MacDonald

A great book to begin the discussion of the process of institutionalization. I really liked the categories of 1. community establishing, 2. community building and 3. community protecting. This is a great way to decipher the stages. I was however disappointed with the lack of practical application from the book. Secretly, I wanted her to unlock the process of institutionalization in the church today. She only approached it primarily from a textual point of view. She higlighted the hints and show more indicators of institutionalization in the texts of Paul. I am looking for a book on the practical end of things with a prophetic tone. show less

Confined, clear, and readable.

A study of how women figured in public reaction to the church from New Testament times to the second century CE. MacDonald shows the conviction of pagan writers that female initiative was central to Christianity's development, and the belief that women inclined toward excesses in religion. Concern in the New Testament and early Christian texts about the respectability of women is seen in a new light when one appreciates that outsiders focused on early church women and their activities as a show more reflection of the group as a whole. show less

From Amazon:

This focused look at women in the household context discusses the importance of issues of space and visibility in shaping the lives of early Christian women. Several aspects of women's everyday existence are investigated, including the lives of wives, widows, women with children, female slaves, women as patrons, household leaders, and teachers. In addition, several key themes emerge: hospitality, dining practices, and the extent of female segregation.