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The Women disciples of Jesus There are those who claim the disciples were made up of just as many woman as there were men. That just as much ministry came through these women who followed him, than the men. Luke 8:1-3:“Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities--Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance.’ The women took from the things belonging to them, they supported him from their livlihoods. Does this passage mean what certain women are saying today, that women joined with the disciples and traveled everywhere with them or is this passage about two different matters? First it is speaking of the 12 who traveled with him and then those who supported him and the ministry? It depend how one reads it. Interpreting the scripture it says, the 12 were with him as he went everywhere and then says certain woman were providing for the ministry. The fact is that Jesus appointed Judas to care for the funds for the ministry, not a woman. What some are saying from this passage is that these women traveled everywhere with the men, the 12 disciples, and that they too were disciples. This scripture does not give any evidence that women did this all the time. How could they support him and the ministry traveling, without working? They may have shown up occasionally, this does not give credence to them being among the men as they traveled all over the land. The Pharisees as the keepers of the Law (their own laws), would have much to say and certainly would have used it against Him if this were commonplace among the disciples. They certainly complained when at a house many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. In fact they complained about nearly everything, but there is no mention of this, why? Matthew 12:46-50 : “While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Most likely there were women in the crowd for him to point to, saying this. But that is different than they are traveling with him and the Disciples everywhere they went. Some of this influence of error comes from a certain popular show on TV about Jesus, and from modern day interpreters that want to show women were fully equal to men in positions in the church. As Scripture interprets Scripture, we should be careful not to read into it or make up doctrines from silence. Some point to this particular Passover meal where Jesus only counted a group of 12 men as being simply historically inaccurate, that women resided at the table. Lets look at what is said on this. Mark 14:12-13 “Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, "Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover ?" And He sent out two of His disciples. ” In Luke 22:8-9 we read he sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat." So they said to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare?" Here the men prepare the meal, there are no women mentioned. In Mark 14:17 on the Pesach meal “In the evening He came with the twelve.” The intent is that I may eat the Passover with My disciples?" (Luke 22:11) V.14 “When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him.” Matt .26:20 “ When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve.” The number 12 is said over and over showing the Passover is with his chosen disciples that would be apostles. Was Passover usually a family meal, yes, but here we do not even see Jesus’ mother there. Where we do find women were in the upper room praying with the men. Acts 1:14 “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”But none of these women were considered an option to replace Judas as one of the 12. Acts 1:21-22 the requirement is very specific “ of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us.” Some have gone as far as to say Mary Magdalene is commissioned by Jesus to be the “Apostle to the Apostles” [because “Apostle” means “sent one] because she was sent by Jesus to testify to his resurrection to the other apostles. Again this is an argument made from silence with nothing to validate it. Luke 23:55-56 “and the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.”After he was buried “When the Sabbath was over, bMary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome , bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Him.”’ Were women appointed to be Deacons, Elders, Prophets, Teachers, [as Apostles], throughout the later ministry of Paul and the other Apostles. No. Women Prophetess Luke 2:36 “Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess , the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age.” (approx 100 years old) Notice that she is not a new prophetess she was a prophesying before John came. v.37 she served God with fastings and prayers night and day. Mary and Joseph meet Anna, an old widow she is prophesying, speaking of the coming of the Messiah. The Talmud specifically recognizes 7 women in the Hebrew Scriptures. Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, Huldah, and Esther. Three of these women, Miriam, Deborah and Huldah, are explicitly called prophets (or prophetess’) in the Bible. There are a few female prophets named in the Old Testament, one is Mariam Moses’ sister (Exod. 15:20, another is Huldah a prophetess in Jerusalem during King Josiah’s reign (Jeremiah 1:1-2; 2 Kg. 22:14). In the New Testament time, Philip was one of the seven deacons of the Jerusalem church had four virgin daughters known for their prophecies. Luke records Paul met four of Philip’s unmarried daughters who had the gift of prophecy (Acts 21:8-9). We do not have content of their prophecies, or any woman in the New Testament, none are scripture. As Paul stayed at Philips house after many days a man comes to prophesy. Agabus comes from Judea takes “ Paul's belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.' " those who heard this pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Paul responded he is willing to die at Jerusalem if need be they being persuaded said "The will of the Lord be done." (Acts 21:10-14) The only other prophetess’ mentioned is in Rv. 2:20 “you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess”Possibly used as an example for all the women false prophetess.’ Though it is a possibility a woman by this name was in the Church at Thyatira, but unlikely. The name Jezebel is a Phoenecian name, so it is probably meant as a representation. Joel predicts a time when women will prophesy along with men: quoted by Peter at Pentecost 'Your sons and daughters will prophesy' (Joel 2:28), however both men and women (Acts 1:14,2) did NOT prophesy at Pentecost, this is to take place specifically when all of Israel is saved. We do not find the women mention in Luke as having offices in the church, not as a deacon or a prophetess. Deacon (diakoneo) is one who serves the elders and the Church. Paul says he does not allow a woman to teach (as a pastor) 1 Tim. 2:12-14 “ And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve.” Paul refers to “the order of creation.” “created first” does not mean “first in importance” but of authority. This is the conduct insie the Church’s leadership. 1 Cor. 14:34-35 he says this again to the Corinthians, “ Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says.” In fact these are offices for a ‘he.’1 Tim 3:1,2 “if a man desires the position of a bishop,…the husband of one wife,Titus 1:6 again for this office one is to be blameless, the husband of one wife.” The same requirement for adeaconis for a pastor, the husband of one wife.” Paul says to Timothy 2 Tim 2:2 “the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others.” Titus 2:3-5 we read of the older women instructing younger women not men. the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things-- that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.”In other words teaching other women of the family. Womwn can teach women. “Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners,who are outstanding among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.” [Romans 16:7] Meaning her works of being a servant was recognized by the apostles she is among. They did not changed her name to a man’s in later centuries, neither one are called an apostle. We do not see any woman heal another human being, or do miracles which certainly would be included if there were women among the apostles. They hosted Lydia of Philippi, a wealthy dealer in purple cloth, hosted a gathering of the saints in her home (Church or Ekklesia),Acts 16:11-15 Later on the same trip, after Paul and Silas were released from a Philippi’s prison following illegal persecution, these two men “went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them, and then left. Phoebe, Chloe and the mother of Rufus are also named by Paul as being among those women who served as Deacons [ Diakanous or “servants”] in the early Church. To the Corinthians, Paul said, “For members of Chloe’s household have made it clear to me, my brothers and sisters, that there are quarrels among you(1 Cor. 1:11). Chloe’s household refers to letting Paul know what is taking place in the house-church she hosted. It does not mean she was the teacher, or pastor, but a host. Apostle Paul wrote, “ Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters who are in Laodicea and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house” (Col. 4:15). It means she opened up her house not that she was the head of its meetings as pastor or teacher. Then we have the mention of Mark’s mother. The angel releases Peter from prison, Peter goes to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark. Where “many people had gathered together and were praying” there. This again is a house church being hosted Acts 12:12. We are told before Saul, is converted he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women , committing them to prison. Acts 8:3. Acts 5:14 the church was filled with multitudes of both men and women.” Priscilla and her husband Aquila are referred to by Paul as “my fellow workers in Christ Jesus.” [Rom. 16:3], Priscilla and Aquila as a team heard Appolos speak and “ they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.” [Acts 18:26] this is not inside a church and it mentions both husband and wife as a team, not just the woman. The conclusion is that in our day and age many are trying to reinterpret this to conform to modern cultures promotion of women's equality. Jesus having the women testify to the disciples that he had risen before they believed shows an equality. They were equal in Christ but they could not hold the same positions that men were appointed to, as is clearly taught in Scripture. Can women teach, write evangelize? Of course however a position in church to rule over the men is not taught. Luke tells us that “Mary sat at the Lord’s feet” (Luke 10); is often an expression used of a disciple of a Jewish rabbi. However this is done with her being in her own home. John records Martha’s confession: “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world” (John 11:27), which is similar to that of Nathaniel and Peter in Matthew 16. Some say use your imagination, Matt 4:19"Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. This word men, "anthropos means “people,” mankind. What it does not mean only “men” are fishers . This being said, in this context in both instances he is speaking strictly to men who are called to be his disciples, that will be apostles (Mk.1:17). That those they fish for are both men and women to be saved. And last we find only men are selected to be in the 144,000 during the Tribulation in Rev .14:4 we read of these men not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men. So what we see taking place is a shift to lift up women to the appointed positions of men that God himself ordained, an action that cannot be proven biblically and should not be entertained as God said. |
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