A Week in the Life of a Greco-Roman Woman - by Holly Beers (Paperback)

About the Book

In first-century Ephesus, life is not easy for women. In this gripping novel, Holly Beers introduces us to the first-century setting where Paul first proclaimed the gospel. Illuminated by historical images and explanatory sidebars, this lively story not only shows us the rich tapestry of life in a Greco-Roman city, it also foregrounds the interior life of one woman--and the radical new freedom the gospel promised her.

Book Synopsis

In first-century Ephesus, life is not easy for women.

A young wife meets her daily struggles with equanimity and courage. She holds poverty and hunger at bay, fights to keep her child healthy and strong, and navigates the unpredictability of her husband's temperament. But into the midst of her daily fears and worries, a new hope appears: a teaching that challenges her society's most basic assumption. What is this new teaching? And what will it demand of her?

In this gripping novel, Holly Beers introduces us to the first-century setting where the apostle Paul first proclaimed the gospel. Illuminated by historical images and explanatory sidebars, this lively story not only shows us the rich tapestry of life in a thriving Greco-Roman city, it also foregrounds the interior life of one courageous woman--and the radical new freedom the gospel promised her.

Review Quotes

"A Week in the Life of a Greco-Roman Woman is a fantastic way to engage any student of the Bible with the real people, real places, and real challenges of the first-century church. Beers animates the story of Paul's impact at Ephesus by telling the tale through the eyes of young Anthia--a commoner's wife pregnant with her second child. The reader is drawn into Anthia's story from the very first page, and then--almost without noticing--educated in the realia of life for a woman in the Greco-Roman world. Not only do we walk away with an all-too-rare woman's lens on the impact of the Gospel on her world, we are left with a deeply personal testimony of the confrontation of Artemis's city with the Way of Jesus."

--Sandra Richter, Robert H. Gundry Chair of Biblical Studies, Westmont College

"With its captivating story and attention to detail, A Week in the Life of a Greco-Roman Woman paints the ancient world in vivid color. From the sounds in the public and private spaces to the smells of ancient bread and fish, readers will find themselves learning about the ancient world while immersed in a compelling story about a woman, her community, and her journey of faith. Whether for personal reading or as a course textbook, Holly Beers's story will leave a lasting impression on every reader!"

--Beth M. Stovell, associate professor of Old Testament, Ambrose University, National Catalyst for Theological and Spiritual Formation for Vineyard Canada

About the Author

Holly Beers (PhD, London School of Theology) is associate professor of religious studies at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. She is the author of The Followers of Jesus as the Servant: Luke's Model from Isaiah for the Disciples in Luke-Acts.