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All Evangelize; Not All Evangelists
A woman was the first witness (John 20). She was the first to tell of the good news. Christian Apologists see this as significant, since women were not considered reliable witnesses. Egalitarians see this as significant, calling this woman, the first “evangelist.” Complementarians also see this as significant, but not with the application made by egalitarians. Consider a different approach, why would anyone be surprised that a woman was the first to see Jesus resurrected?
- In Matthew, who was first to know of Mary’s conception? Not Joseph.
- In Luke, who did the angel Gabriel appear to? Mary.
- In Luke, who between Elizabeth and Zechariah is the first to confess Jesus? The wife.
Knowledge has never been the property of men only. Mary Magdalene being the first to see Jesus after coming forth from the tomb is not shocking when recognizing women were the first to know about Jesus when He came out of heaven to become a baby.
What’s the significance of this? Having women as witnesses before Jesus birth, and after his resurrection is counter to culture, but not counter to the Bible. Was there anyone more counterculture than Jesus? Women were the first to “evangelize” (to use the word egalitarians want to use concerning Mary Magdalene) concerning Jesus’s birth.
Now the question becomes, what to do with such information. The answer is simple, nothing more or less than the rest of the NT books and actions of Jesus do. Although none were both as counterculture as Jesus while obedient to the Law, Jesus chose men as apostles, because that was a position of authority. Jesus used women to “evangelize” such as the Samaritan woman. Today, all are to evangelize; only some are evangelists (Ephesians 4:11). Anyone who wants to restrict a woman’s right to teach outsiders is restricting women beyond the revealed word. Anyone who wants to open roles of authority such as apostles, evangelists, and elders is likewise going beyond the revealed word. Jesus did neither. When it comes to the roles of men and women, Jesus is the best witness.
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