1 Cor 9,5: The Women of the Apostles 363 Chrysostom’s casual use of the verb for Abraham’s relationship to Sarah, it is not difficult to believe that the women were wives. The conclusion cannot be forced, however, given the diversity of uses of the verb. What the verb does imply is that the relationship of the apostles and the women was very close — creating the educational opportunity that Chrysostom noticed. 3. Chrysostom and periavgein — The Women as Learners Chrysostom supplies an additional building block for the argument of this essay. In a homily on Matthew he describes the full inclusion of women in the Christian community by quoting Gal 3,28. He then mentions the upper room where both men and women were gathered together in an assembly that was of heaven (Acts 1,13-14; 2). After a reference to the purple goods dealer, he quotes Lydia’s words in Acts 16,15 and adds: “Listen to the women who went around with the apostles, receiving male thought, Priscilla, Persis, and the others” (55). His choice of words is unfortunate (male!), but the principle seems nearly undeniable, unless the apostles kept the women away from them when they preached or taught, and I am aware of no such absurd claim in the history of interpretation of this text. Even some interpreters who do not see a role in the mission for the women have been willing to claim that they had a thirst for the apostolic teaching (56). Although it is fictional, the story of Thecla is an interesting comparison. After hearing Paul’s teaching she ends up teaching the word herself as Paul had commanded her to do (57). The women of 9,5 would have heard, on frequent occasions, the apostles’ proclamation and teaching. IX. Greek Women: The Relevance of Hipparchia and Other Philosophers A famous example from the history of Greek philosophy confirms the principle that hearing a teacher can give one the ability to teach (55) Chrysostom, Hom. lxxiii in Matt. 3 (PG 58; 677): ΔAkouvsate tw'n gunaikw'n, ai} perih'gon meta; tw'n ajpostovlwn, ajndrei'on ajnalabou'sai frovnhma, th" Priskivllh", th" Persivdo", twn allwn: ' ' '[ (56) Cf the section on Instruction and LAPIDE, Commentaria, 263 (disciples of a teacher who also provided material support) dependent upon Ambrosiaster, Ad Cor. prima 9,5 (CSEL 71/2, 98,7-11 VOGELS). (57) ActPl 7, 41-42 (240-41; 267-68 LIPSIUS/BONNET).