Paul relied on many Christians all over the Mediterranean to help him continue his ministry to the Gentiles. But what was the relationship between Paul and his co-workers? How and in what way did they function? Were they also itinerant missionaries or was their sphere of influence primarily local? What was the relationship between Paul's co-workers and the local church leaders in various places? To ask these questions is also a way of asking, What was Paul's vision of the Christian community and its structure, and what roles could women play in that community? If we are to assess such texts as Phil. 4.2 – 3 and Rom. 16.1 – 16, which speak of women who were Paul's “co-workers,” we must first ask how the Pauline communities were structured and what roles various parties assumed.

The church – spirit and structure

Traditionally the Greek work ekklesia has been translated as church or churches, but this is debatable. The Old Testament word likely in the background is qahal, a term used of either the assembling or assembly itself of God's people. This is also its meaning in the writings of Philo and the historian Josephus. Paul is flexible in his usage and can speak of the church/assembly of God meaning the whole Church, the church/assembly in a particular locality (Thessalonica, for example), the church/assembly in a particular household, or the church in a particular region.