Dorcas, a disciple of Christ, is known for her charitable nature and rising from the dead by the faith of Peter. She is an example of a charitable woman and the role of women in Christianity. Her story is interpreted differently depending on the sect of Christianity. Her name should not be confused with the offensive term “Dorkis.”
Dorcas, also called Tabitha, is a woman described in the New Testament Book of Acts. She is significant because of her charitable nature, because she was a disciple of Christ, and also because she, by the faith of Peter, she rose from the dead. Dorcas can be used as an example of a truly charitable woman in daily life and to pursue a lifestyle consistent with strong Christian values.
The only mention of this woman in the Bible is in Acts 9:36-42. Only a few verses are dedicated to her, which, however, tell the reader a lot about her. First, she is especially known for helping the poor, and when she dies, widows are depicted showing off all the clothes she made for them, all the while mourning and mourning her death.
Peter prays at Dorcas’ bedside and calls for her to get up. She revived and became a living testimony of God’s presence. In the New International Version of the Bible, the verses about her end with “This became known throughout all Jaffa, and many people believed in the Lord.”
There is great significance in this small passage, as Dorcas is one of the only women in the Bible who is specifically called a disciple of Christ. Many women are labeled followers of Christ, but this woman is one of the only ones to actively spread the word of Christ, albeit quietly, through his charitable works. Some sects of Christianity may interpret the story in various ways to support the role of women in their churches. This role can be given more or less importance depending on the interpretation.
Dorcas/Tabitha is known for performing traditional women’s work, such as making clothes as a charitable gesture. This can be used to argue that women should follow Christ by pursuing traditionally female roles. Alternatively, some Christian feminists argue that being called a disciple gives women permission to seek greater leadership roles in their churches, since there is scriptural basis for these roles. How history is interpreted depends a lot on the particular sect of Christianity a person comes from.
This disciple’s name should not be confused with his modern namesake, Dorkis. This is usually an offensive term, meant to imply stupidity. In reality, both names attributed to this woman were once frequently chosen as female names, especially before the mid-20th century. The former has fallen out of favour, particularly with the rise in popularity of “dorkis” as an insult. The latter name is still considered a good name for girls.
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