Women Witnesses to the Risen Lord
Andrew Simmonds
Under Jewish law, the witnessing of Jesus as resurrected must occur by third-day afterdeath. Later can be corroborative, but is crucial. In Matthew andJohn, sole percipient witnesses on are women, plural in Matthew, a single woman inJohn. This seems to cast doubt Jesus’ resurrection because Greek, Roman, and culture,women were ineligible or considered vastly inferior men. Celsusinveighed, “Who saw this? A hysterical female!” Communicating outsiders, having women witnesscasts aspersions making Christianity appear unthreatening imperial order.However, for Jews aware celebrated exception Pharisaic/rabbinic oral law/tradition thataccepted women’s testimony circumstances found gospels, specifically witness makes their more credible than had been men any combination women. Women risen Lord fits within interstices Law, so that, not just human testimony, Law lends its imprimatur endorsing Jesus.
Verbum Vitae