Category:Jesus & Women (subject)

Jesus & Women (see Historical Jesus Studies)

There are no recorded instance where Jesus disgraces, belittles, reproaches, or stereotypes a woman.

Even in the story of the Syrophoenician woman, Jesus refers to her as a "dog not as a woman but as a gentile, and then he is open to listen to her and change his mind.

From the beginning, Jewish women disciples, including Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna, had accompanied Jesus during his ministry and supported him out of their private means (cf. Luke 8:1-3). Jesus explicitly refer to female disciples: "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" And stretching out his hand towards 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." (Matthew 12:46-50).

Women are healed (forgiven) as often as man. The "lost sheep" of the House of Israel include both males and females. Women are presented as models of faith.

Women are not presented only as "serving" Jesus but engaged in his message.

Mary Magdalene

For centuries, Mary Magdalene was identified in Western Christianity as an adulteress and repentant prostitute, although nowhere does the New Testament identify her as such. In the late 20th century, discoveries of new texts and changing critical insight brought this into question. Mary Magdalene is now seen as a prominent disciple and leader of one wing of the early Christian movement that promoted women's leadership.