Overshadowed by the Twelve

Holly Carey focuses on highlighting the important role played by women as the most loyal followers in the gospels.

Every time I install a new television, I ensure that the screen’s brightness is well-adjusted. If the screen is too dim, I might overlook some of the visible details that are hard to make out. Raising the brightness enhances the quality and perspective of the picture, exposing things that I may have otherwise missed.

My experience reading Holly Carey's new book was very relatable to me. When I was growing up, the gospels were taught as stories about men and their experiences with Jesus and the original 12 disciples. While my mindset has since changed, I still questioned why women weren't called to be Jesus' disciples in the gospels. Fortunately, Women Who Do helped me realize that women were present throughout the gospels. They had faith in Jesus, served Him, followed His teachings, and shared their knowledge of Him with others. In contrast, the Twelve disciples, who are typically highlighted in the gospels, were often portrayed as confused, worried, or even dismissive of Jesus.

The four evangelists do not mention any women as followers of Jesus, nor are any women among the Twelve. However, Carey argues that Jesus had a larger group of students than just those twelve men. This is evident at the end of Matthew's Gospel when Joseph of Arimathea is identified as a disciple of Jesus. What's interesting is the word "kai" which suggests that Joseph is being included in a group of disciples that was mentioned before. And who is mentioned just before Joseph? The women who were present at the crucifixion. Therefore, Joseph is being counted as a disciple of Jesus along with these women.

The Women Who Do book sheds light on the gospels and gives us a clearer view of the numerous women in them. The author, Carey, examines each chapter of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and the book of Acts. Carey reveals that each gospel depicts women's existence, lifestyle, beliefs, and actions differently, but all acknowledge women who have faith in Jesus, serve him, and follow his teachings - the fundamental principles of discipleship.

The book written by Carey is full of deep knowledge about literature, culture, and history. For instance, in one of her chapters about Luke, she not only talks about the women who followed Jesus such as Mary, Joanna, and Susanna, but she also disproves the idea that women following a male leader would have been seen as problematic in early Judaism. Carey points out that women were involved in various Jewish groups like the Essenes and Bar Kokhba rebellion. Although the book titled Women Who Do is relatively short, it provides a comprehensive study on the topic.

Numerous experts have brought attention to the fact that there aren't many female followers mentioned in the book of Acts. However, Carey approaches this issue with tact. Although she acknowledges that Acts doesn't highlight women leaders, she believes it features more female disciples than people give it credit for. Carey emphasizes the significance of Pentecost occurring in a house as opposed to a temple, where males usually hold authority. In those days, the home was a space where women had the most responsibility and sway. Carey also highlights the importance of Tabitha, who is referred to as a disciple (mathētria) in Acts 9:36. Her death causes deep sadness in Joppa, and her astonishing revival through Peter leads to widespread conversions in the city.

The author, Carey, believes that only focusing on Jesus and the male Twelve can result in overlooking significant characters and parts that showcase faithful discipleship and spiritual acumen. In one chapter of the book centering on John, Carey dedicates ample space to scenes in the Passion narrative featuring Mary Magdalene. When Mary recognizes that the Lord has risen, she refers to him as "Rabbouni", indicating she perceives Jesus as a teacher and herself as a student (i.e., a disciple) (20:16). Carey highlights that when Jesus sends Mary out to declare his resurrection, she knows precisely where the men are hiding (20:19). Whereas the men display fear and timidness, Mary demonstrates her dedication, not only going out of her way to locate Jesus ("Tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away" 20:15) but also obeying Jesus' instructions after greeting him post-resurrection.

Carey's book is both informative and enlightening. It encourages readers to not only absorb the valuable knowledge presented within its pages, but also to develop a deeper understanding of the scripture and those mentioned within it. While reading Women Who Do I couldn't help but revisit the gospels and Acts to further explore the intriguing perspectives that had been revealed. I was pleasantly surprised to find that these insights were indeed present, and that I had previously overlooked them. I am very thankful for the illuminating effect of Carey's book.

You can find this assessment published in the edition of April 2024.

Nijay K. Gupta holds the position of professor in New Testament at Northern Seminary. He has authored various books, such as "Paul and the Language of Faith" and "A Beginner's Guide to New Testament Studies."

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