Feminist theologian Meggan Watterson brings fresh attention to a largely unfamiliar first-century female saint whose story was cut from the biblical canon in the fourth century. Watterson, author of The Girl Who Baptized Herself: How a Lost Scripture About a Saint Named Thecla Reveals the Power of Knowing Our Worth (Random House, July), writes that a woman from an ancient era can model ways for modern women to awaken a deeper understanding of God. She uses the life of Thecla—a maiden who miraculously survived executions by both fire and wild animals to become a teacher alongside the Apostle Paul—to call for reclaiming a Christian tradition that not only acknowledges female experiences with oppression, shame, and marginalization, but also affirms women’s spiritual authority. We spoke with Watterson about Thecla, what makes a text “sacred,” and more.
Why was The Acts of Paul and Thecla excluded from the canon?
Tertullian, who's known as the father of theology, was affronted that it implies that women have the spiritual authority to baptize and to teach. He was so outraged at the idea that women might have that power that he campaigned against it being included in the New Testament. But all throughout that time, The Acts of Paul and Thecla was popular. It wasn’t included scripturally, canonized, or officially understood to be sacred, but it was popular among people because it’s a story about the ascendancy of the powerless. Thecla’s voice really says we’re meant to question unjust laws, systemic power, and anything that suggests that any one of us is less worthy than another. If you want to control people and oppress certain groups, that’s not a message you want to get out.
What struck you the most when you first heard Thecla’s story?
Instantly when I heard her story, it allowed me to understand that I had no idea what Christianity was. I didn't yet fully understand what it meant to be Christian in those early years, so it also allowed me to start from scratch and expand my idea of it. And part of what is so astounding is that I had already been through three years of studying at Harvard—I had my master's theological degree—and had never heard of The Acts of Paul and Thecla before seminary at Columbia. I wanted to make sure I corrected that, that I somehow shared her voice and made sure her story got out.
In the book, you write that Thecla’s ability to turn inward without outward action helped you reconnect with your own inner wisdom and sense of worth. Why did you include your experience in following Thecla's example alongside commentary about her?
Telling the truth about my personal experience of a sacred text is the way that I do theology as a woman. It’s important, because what makes a text sacred for me is by demonstrating the way that knowing it has literally impacted my life. It changed me to have learned about Thecla. My hope is that, in sharing my personal experience, it might be possible for readers as well.
What's the most important thing you want readers to learn from Thecla’s story?
That our worth is unconditional. I already know I'm worthy—you know your voice matters. So one of the most powerful questions is, what do I want for my one brief life? It's a story about how Christ is an inspiration for us to believe in something more than our individual lives.
