richard2

In a debate with Norman Geisler, Farrell Till asks, "What did Joanna, one of the women who went with her to the tomb, ever write? Who was she, anyway?"

Well, what do we know? Does she appear in any non-canonized texts?

Why would the Gospels mention her name without telling us anything about her?

richard2

Okay, Luke 8:3 says,

"And Joanna the wife of Chusa, Herod's steward, and Susanna and many others who ministered unto him of their substance."

I wonder why Farrell Till didn't know this.

Now onto the next question:Who was Susanna? Is Luke just making up names or is this an indication that there is something historical here.

Peter Kirby

I found some legends from the '70s, '80s, and today, but nothing in the apocryphal literature popped up except an expansion based on Luke 8:3 found in the Gospel of Bartholemew:

"Early in the morning of the Lord's day the women went to the tomb. They were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James whom Jesus delivered out of the hand of Satan, Salome who tempted him, Mary who ministered to him and Martha her sister, Joanna (al. Susanna) the wife of Chuza who had renounced the marriage bed, Berenice who was healed of an issue of blood in Capernaum, Lia (Leah) the widow whose son he raised at Nain, and the woman to whom he said, 'Thy sins which are many are forgiven thee'."

This extract, possibly from Jerome, attributed to the Gospel of Hebrews, may be about a different Joanna:

"And he turned and said unto Simon his disciple who was sitting by him: Simon, son of Joanna, it is easier for a camel to enter in by a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Somebody needs to check the accuracy of the transcription; maybe it should be 'Jona', as in Simon bar-Jona(h), a patronymic.)

best wishes,
Peter Kirby

Peter Kirby

An obscure reference can be found in Emmerich's Dolorous Passion:

Newsmongers and servants were hurrying forward to ascertain what was going on, in order that they might return and give the account to those who remained at home; and the bolting and barricading of doors might be plainly heard, as many persons were much alarmed and feared an insurrection, while a thousand different propositions were made and opinions given, such as the following:—‘Lazarus and his sisters will soon know who is this man in whom they have placed such firm reliance. 141Joanna, Chusa, Susannah, Mary the mother of Mark, and Salome will repent, but too late, the imprudence of their conduct; Seraphia, the wife of Sirach, win be compelled to make an apology to her husband now, for he has so often reproached her with her partiality for the Galilæan. The partisans of this fanatical man, this inciter of rebellion, pretended to be filled with compassion for all who looked upon things in a different light from themselves, and now they will not know where to hide their heads. He will find no one now to cast garments and strew olive-branches at his feet. Those hypocrites who pretended to be so much better than other persons will receive their deserts, for they are all implicated with the Galilæan. It is a much more serious business an was at first thought. I should like to know how Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea will get out of it; the High Priests have mistrusted them for some time; they made common cause with Lazarus: but they are extremely cunning. All will now, however, be brought to light.’

Maybe Mel Gibson knows more.

best wishes,
Peter Kirby