358 John Granger Cook Murphy-O’Connor, using the proverb “eat, drink, and be merry”, attempts to explain Paul’s decision to introduce wives into the discussion (33). The fact that Paul does not name the wives of the apostles probably indicates that they had a subordinate role (if any) in the mission (34). VII. Partners in Mission in the Pauline Epistles The literature on the role of women in early Christian mission has drawn a clear focus on missionary couples such Priscilla and Aquila (Rom 16, 4; 1 Cor 16,19; Acts 18,2.26). Why has Priscilla, for example, not been defined as “providing material support” to Aquila in his work of mission? Here Paul is explicit. He calls them “my fellow workers in Christ Jesus” (Rom 16,3 tou;" sunergouv" mou ejn Cristw/' - ΔIhsou') who have risked their necks for him (Rom 16,4). They have a church in their home (Rom 16,5) and earlier had one in Asia (1 Cor 16,19) (35). Although the episode cannot be used to determine Paul’s view of the couple, Luke willingly portrays Priscilla (along with Aquila) providing instruction about “the way” to Apollos in Acts 18,26. Both Luke and Paul mention Priscilla first in two texts (Acts 18,26, Rom 16,3). One also cannot assume the specific nature of their marriage. Margaret Y. MacDonald, for example, in a discussion of women as missionary partners in the Pauline churches, argues that it is possible that even those who understood themselves as “husband and wife” had “given up sex for the sake of the gospel” (36). Andronicus and Junia (Rom 16,7; well known among the apostles) were also possibly couples active in the mission. Paul similarly mentions several pairs of women. Tryphaena and Tryphosa have 403. C.K. BARRETT, The First Epistle to the Corinthians (BNTC 7; Peabody, MA 1993) 203. KREMER, Der Erste Brief, 185. (33) J. MURPHY – O’CONNOR, “The First Letter to the Corinthians”, NJBC 798-815, esp. 806 with reference to BAUER, “Uxores”, 99-100. (34) See M. HENGEL, Der unterschätzte Petrus. Zwei Studien (Tübingen 2006) 209, n. 441, for the names given Peter’s wife and children in Syriac writers. The name WEISS (Der erste Korintherbrief, 234) mentions (Concordia) ultimately depends on a forged volume, but here is not the place for such an investigation. (35) Possibly Ephesus as in 1 Cor 16,8 (and Acts 18,26). (36) MACDONALD, “Was Celsus Right?”, 157-184, esp. 163 (with reference to 1 Cor 7,5.36-38).