Ian St. Ian

Luke 8:

". . .The Twelve were with him, 2and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means."

What "means" would these women have had?

Is it true that women would not be working outside the home (or cave), and/or that a widow's pension or any sort of inheritance would not be the norm back then?

mountainman

According to the gPhilip in the Nag Hammadi library
Mary and others were supported by divine love.

The [Lord loved] Mariam more than [all the (other)] Disciples,
[and he] kissed her often on her [mouth].

See English Translation of this NHL text and Notes by Paterson Brown
and the prior thread Exactly where did Jesus often kiss Mary?

Toto

No one worked outside the home in those days, or got pensions.

In the first century AD, women had a bit more economic and social freedom than in previous centuries. Widows might have owned property from their fathers or deceased husbands, and/or engaged in trade. Acts records a rich woman, Lydia, who dealt in expensive purple cloth.

Doug Shaver

No. Women were disadvantaged, but it is not the case that they could not support themselves independently if they were so inclined.

Ian St. Ian

Hmm. There seems to be disagreement about whether women could work back then.

Or is it that they wouldn't have worked in Jerusalem, but they could have in some of the other cities, ala Lydia?

Toto

I don't think there is any disagreement. You seem to be projecting modern economic practices back on ancient times, but wage labor was not the basis of the ancient pre-capitalist economy. Most "work" was done by slaves or bondservants, and was not a road to wealth.

Women could participate in the economy and be wealthy. They could be entrepreneurs and manage what we would now call home based businesses - but all work was home based at the time.

Ian St. Ian

OK. Thanks for clarifying.