Recently, attention has been given to understanding the status of woman in early Christianity. As expected, the light has been focused on Saint Paul, Saint Jerome and Saint Augustine, but so far, no one has examined one of the most fascinating movements of the second century—Montanism. Perhaps this is because Tertullian is remembered as both a Montanist and a notorious misogynist. Given the boldness and originality of Tertullian's thought, however, it would be perilous to assume that Tertullian's view of women was identical to that originally held by the Montanists of Asia Minor. Indeed, as this study of Montanism in Asia Minor will show, it is highly probable that from the beginnings of Montanism, women were permitted to rise to ministerial status through their role as confessor-martyrs in the early Christian church.