Who were the women at the tomb?

18 snips

Apr 28, 2025

They trace who the women at the tomb were and why their stories were sidelined in church history. They unpack household leadership, anointing practices, and how early Christianity spread through women's ministry. They spotlight Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary of James and examine new scholarship and noncanonical texts that reshape familiar narratives.

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INSIGHT

Hidden Hands Shaped Scripture

Enslaved people and household networks shaped biblical transmission and early Christian growth.
Recognizing these hidden actors reveals how the Bible and early church developed from diverse hands.

INSIGHT

Christianity Spread Through Homes

Christianity spread rapidly because it functioned as a women's religion practiced in homes.
Women acted as church planters through hospitality and household gatherings.

INSIGHT

Anointing Was Women's Craft

The women went to the tomb to anoint Jesus because scent, medicinal practice, and body care were women's craft.
Incense and aromatic mixtures served practical and ritual roles in ancient burial customs.

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The Gospel of Luke says: "Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles." John claims it was Mary Magdalene. Mark and Matthew also have a list of women ... so whatever Gospel you're reading, the Good News of Christ's resurrection was first witnessed and preached by WOMEN. So who were these ladies?? And why is their story so often neglected?

We cover a lot of territory here and would love to know what kind of follow up episodes you want to hear from all the subjects we touched on! Call our hotline or leave a comment on instagram to let us know what you think, and be sure to rate and review the pod :)

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FOR FURTHER READING:

**MOST GROUNDBREAKING: "Was Martha of Bethany Added to the Fourth Gospel in the Second Century?" Harvard Theological Review , Volume 110 , Issue 3 , July 2017 , pp. 360 - 392 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0017816016000213 https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/harvard-theological-review/article/abs/was-martha-of-bethany-added-to-the-fourth-gospel-in-the-second-century/6CBD2C9576A583DD02987FE836C427B7

"The Meaning of “Magdalene”: A Review of Literary Evidence Elizabeth Schrader; Joan E. Taylor Journal of Biblical Literature (2021) 140 (4): 751–773. https://doi.org/10.15699/jbl.1404.2021.6

**MOST ACCESSIBLE: Tell Her Story: How Women Led, Taught, and Ministered in the Early Church by Nijay K. Gupta

The Gospel of Luke, New Cambridge Bible Commentary, by Amy-Jill Levine & Ben Witherington III

**BEST OVERVIEW OF THE NAG HAMMADI TEXTS AND THE GOSPEL OF MARY MAGDALENE: https://breaking-down-patriarchy.captivate.fm/episode/the-gospel-of-mary-magdalene

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More about Father Lizzie:

BOOK: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/762683/god-didnt-make-us-to-hate-us-by-rev-lizzie-mcmanus-dail/

RevLizzie.com

https://www.instagram.com/rev.lizzie/

https://www.tiktok.com/@rev.lizzie

Jubilee Episcopal Church in Austin, TX - JubileeATX.org

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More about Mother Laura:

https://www.instagram.com/laura.peaches/

https://www.tiktok.com/@mother_peaches

St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, PA

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"On Our Own Again" by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue).

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