Yes, well there's about ten heresies or so that threatened the early church with Gnosticism being the greatest threat. And in Gnosticism, the female presence was prominent in its very theology. Gnostic sects allowed women to serve in the highest ecclesiastical roles. As these pagan women began to enter small Christian house churches which began themselves to grow exponentially; some couldn't resist marrying their pagan philosophies with Christian theology and seeking authority to teach it in these orthodox assemblies!
That's how Christian Gnosticism came into being with ancient manuscripts from the period revealing many new syncretic heretical "theologies" such as heresy of the Holy Spirit being female and women being light-and wisdom-bearers of the Divine in feminine form, for example.
Orthodox Christian (e.g. Catholic) assemblies were opposing the activity of women in the heretical sects such as Gnosticism, Montanism, etc... because they opposed the heresy and heretical sects themselves. It was NOT because they opposed women.
If you're looking for actual historical citations showing this, they're available. It's late here so I'll have to dig them up for you but a few come to mind immediately. Tertullian (160-220) identified the false teaching at Ephesus as an early form of Gnosticism; for example, describing and denouncing the goddess Artemis syncretistic heresy some women were introducing using Paul’s own expression of “myths and endless genealogies” adding, “which the inspired apostle [Paul] by anticipation condemned, whilst the seeds of heresy were even then shooting forth" (see Against the Valentinians by Tertullian). So did Ireneaus and Eusebius.
That's how Christian Gnosticism came into being with ancient manuscripts from the period revealing many new syncretic heretical "theologies" such as heresy of the Holy Spirit being female and women being light-and wisdom-bearers of the Divine in feminine form, for example.
Orthodox Christian (e.g. Catholic) assemblies were opposing the activity of women in the heretical sects such as Gnosticism, Montanism, etc... because they opposed the heresy and heretical sects themselves. It was NOT because they opposed women.
If you're looking for actual historical citations showing this, they're available. It's late here so I'll have to dig them up for you but a few come to mind immediately. Tertullian (160-220) identified the false teaching at Ephesus as an early form of Gnosticism; for example, describing and denouncing the goddess Artemis syncretistic heresy some women were introducing using Paul’s own expression of “myths and endless genealogies” adding, “which the inspired apostle [Paul] by anticipation condemned, whilst the seeds of heresy were even then shooting forth" (see Against the Valentinians by Tertullian). So did Ireneaus and Eusebius.