Female Disciples?!!

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Jan 19, 2021
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#1
Hi everyone, I hope you are all well, I last night watched a documentary claiming there were female disciples!! It stated that Mary Magdalene was not a prostitue but a strong and independent woman. It was claimed many women were called Mary and usually got a nickname from male relatives yet Magdalene comes from Migdal Nunya (tower of fish) which was where she came from near the Sea of Galilee (Jesus was here early on in his mission) Furthermore they claim Mary Magdelene was equal to the male disciples in Jesus eyes as he gave the disciples nicknames such as Peter the rock and Mary the tower is equivalent to that. It was also claimed there were in fact 12 female disciples as in The Mission of the Twelve the phrase ‘two by two’ was claimed as used in Noah’s Ark and thus they drew the conclusion there were 12 males and 12 females! They ended the documentary by stating that Joanna and Mary Magdalene as well as the other women provided financial stability for the disciples and that this is stated in Lukes Gospel! What do you think of these claims ?
 
L

Live4Him

Guest
#2
Well, there is an element of truth to the last part because certain women did minister unto Jesus of their substance:

Luke chapter 8

[1] And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,
[2] And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
[3] And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.
 
L

Live4Him

Guest
#3
As far as the rest of those claims are concerned, it depends on what you mean by "disciples".

Any follower of Jesus could technically be called his disciple, and, in that sense, we're all equal in his sight.

However, if by "disciples" you mean the select group of twelve that Jesus sent out, and you seem to have indicated that this is the group of "disciples" that you're actually asking about, then, no, scripture doesn't teach that any women were included in their numbers.
 

Lucy-Pevensie

Senior Member
Dec 20, 2017
9,386
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#4
Do you mean disciples or Apostles?
There were only 12 Apostles. They are all named and all men.
It sounds like you have been watching a feminist revision.

Mary Magdalene was a disciple or follower of Jesus but she wasn't one of the 12 apostles.
I don't think she is named as a prostitute but a woman whom Jesus set free of 7 demons. (Luke 8:2)
 

notuptome

Senior Member
May 17, 2013
15,050
2,538
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#5
All believers are to be disciples of Christ.

Ga 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
 
Mar 1, 2021
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#6
It does sound like they mixed up "disciples" and "Apostles." I surely hope there were at least 12 female disciples and many more! But I agree the 12 Apostles were all male according to the Bible. I'm sure there were untold numbers of disciples (followers of Christ) of both genders just as there are today.
 
Oct 19, 2020
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#7
Luke 10 also mentions 72 Disciples. Were those all male? There's no specifics to who all 72 were.

10 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two[a] others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go
 
L

Live4Him

Guest
#8
Do you mean disciples or Apostles?
There were only 12 Apostles. They are all named and all men.
It sounds like you have been watching a feminist revision.

Mary Magdalene was a disciple or follower of Jesus but she wasn't one of the 12 apostles.
I don't think she is named as a prostitute but a woman whom Jesus set free of 7 demons. (Luke 8:2)
You're correct.

Mary Magdalene is not named as a prostitute in scripture, but this is where some people get that belief from:

Luke chapter 7

[36] And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.
[37] And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
[38] And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
[39] Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
[40] And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
[41] There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
[42] And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
[43] Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
[44] And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
[45] Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
[46] My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
[47] Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
[48] And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
[49] And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?
[50] And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

Although both this woman and her specific sins are unnamed or unspecified, some claim that this woman was Mary Magdalene and that her sins were the sins of a prostitute.
 
Oct 19, 2020
723
161
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#9
Luke 10 also mentions 72 Disciples. Were those all male? There's no specifics to who all 72 were.

10 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two[a] others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go

Just to throw this out here..

One of these Disciples, or believed to be one of the 72 from Luke 10 is a man named [Simon bar-Jona (Šim`ôn bar-Yônâ, 'Simon son of Jonah')] is also credited for passing down the New Testament in the complete Semitic Aramaic Language. If this [tradition] is factual, using the Aramaic New Testament would be a useful tool And in theory, it comes from one of Yeshua's 72 Disciples found in Luke.
 
Jan 19, 2021
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#10
Hi everyone, whilst in the documentary they were called disciples they were indeed referencing the 12 apostles.
 
Sep 15, 2019
9,991
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#11
Hi everyone, I hope you are all well, I last night watched a documentary claiming there were female disciples!! It stated that Mary Magdalene was not a prostitue but a strong and independent woman. It was claimed many women were called Mary and usually got a nickname from male relatives yet Magdalene comes from Migdal Nunya (tower of fish) which was where she came from near the Sea of Galilee (Jesus was here early on in his mission) Furthermore they claim Mary Magdelene was equal to the male disciples in Jesus eyes as he gave the disciples nicknames such as Peter the rock and Mary the tower is equivalent to that. It was also claimed there were in fact 12 female disciples as in The Mission of the Twelve the phrase ‘two by two’ was claimed as used in Noah’s Ark and thus they drew the conclusion there were 12 males and 12 females! They ended the documentary by stating that Joanna and Mary Magdalene as well as the other women provided financial stability for the disciples and that this is stated in Lukes Gospel! What do you think of these claims ?
Does it make much difference? Of course there were and are female disciples - both men and women need salvation.

Females in the bible could do pretty much all the things men could do - go to war, own land, command slaves, become leaders... even perform religious conversions.

However, the focus of the gospels is primarily on Jesus, and His teachings to the 12 (male) apostles.
 

Lucy-Pevensie

Senior Member
Dec 20, 2017
9,386
5,725
113
#12
You're correct.

Mary Magdalene is not named as a prostitute in scripture, but this is where some people get that belief from:

Luke chapter 7

[36] And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.
[37] And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
[38] And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
[39] Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
[40] And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
[41] There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
[42] And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
[43] Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
[44] And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
[45] Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
[46] My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
[47] Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
[48] And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
[49] And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?
[50] And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

Although both this woman and her specific sins are unnamed or unspecified, some claim that this woman was Mary Magdalene and that her sins were the sins of a prostitute.
I've seen Mary Magdalene conflated with the woman accused of adultery in John 8 as well.
Perhaps because it's one of the more well-known passages of scripture.
 
B

Blackpowderduelist

Guest
#13
I believe what scripture says, which means yes! there were female disciples, which is simply student, both to Jesus, and to the Apostles. Later Paul names a couple, and we see them operating in many ministerial roles.
The only role that is with held from women is that of an authority figure over men and Paul explains that to Timothy in his letter.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#14
haha dont be so surprised
Just read your Bible you will find a lot of people that followed Jesus were indeed...shock horror...female!
 

BettyCarol

New member
Mar 5, 2021
8
7
3
#15
Hi everyone, I hope you are all well, I last night watched a documentary claiming there were female disciples!! It stated that Mary Magdalene was not a prostitue but a strong and independent woman. It was claimed many women were called Mary and usually got a nickname from male relatives yet Magdalene comes from Migdal Nunya (tower of fish) which was where she came from near the Sea of Galilee (Jesus was here early on in his mission) Furthermore they claim Mary Magdelene was equal to the male disciples in Jesus eyes as he gave the disciples nicknames such as Peter the rock and Mary the tower is equivalent to that. It was also claimed there were in fact 12 female disciples as in The Mission of the Twelve the phrase ‘two by two’ was claimed as used in Noah’s Ark and thus they drew the conclusion there were 12 males and 12 females! They ended the documentary by stating that Joanna and Mary Magdalene as well as the other women provided financial stability for the disciples and that this is stated in Lukes Gospel! What do you think of these claims ?
I do not believe there is any mention of female disciples in the Bible. Perhaps there was, but they are not mentioned, only the 12 Apostles. There were certainly female followers of Jesus, but original disciples is another question.

Its quite an interesting suggestion though.... I suppose it is possible that there were, but they remained unnamed!
 
Jan 19, 2021
28
16
3
#16
I do not believe there is any mention of female disciples in the Bible. Perhaps there was, but they are not mentioned, only the 12 Apostles. There were certainly female followers of Jesus, but original disciples is another question.

Its quite an interesting suggestion though.... I suppose it is possible that there were, but they remained unnamed!
Yes I agree, I also wonder why women seemed to have been pushed out and erased from senior roles in the church until recently
 

BettyCarol

New member
Mar 5, 2021
8
7
3
#17
Yes I agree, I also wonder why women seemed to have been pushed out and erased from senior roles in the church until recently
Corenthians 14:34-5 the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says

This has sparked much controversy and what I attribute the erasure of women in senior roles in the church to, but I believe as we live in a more progressive times, perhaps this shouldn’t be taken as literally as it has been.
 

Lucy-Pevensie

Senior Member
Dec 20, 2017
9,386
5,725
113
#18
Hi everyone, whilst in the documentary they were called disciples they were indeed referencing the 12 apostles.
The 12 Apostles are also disciples so that might make things a bit confusing.
I hope I haven't added to that. :geek:
Every apostle was a disciple, but not every disciple was an apostle.
Disciples being followers of Jesus but Apostles being those disciples who were chosen by Jesus and sent out by his authority.


Since we know from many other scriptures that Jesus wanted women included as baptised believers,
it's safe to say that his devoted followers may be called disciples even if they are female.


"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,"
Matthew 28:19