Olson, “Women of the New Testament” (reviewed by Trudy Thompson)

Review
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Title: Women of the New Testament
Author: Camille Fronk Olson
Publisher: Deseret Book
Genre: Biography/History
Year Published: 2014
Number of Pages: 364
Binding: Hardcover
ISBN13: 978-1-60907-918-5
Price: $39.99

Reviewed by Trudy Thompson for the Association For Mormon Letters

In the interest of full disclosure, I must confess I am not a scriptorian, or someone who could be called a serious student of the scriptures. However, this new companion volume to “Women of the Old Testament” might just change my habits.

Camille Fronk Olson, professor of ancient scripture and chair of the Department of Ancient Scripture at Brigham Young University, has masterfully woven known accounts from the scriptures of women in the New Testament, with the cultural context, historical data, religious and geographical traditions of the times and places these women found themselves in. The artists of Al Young Studios have created exquisite paintings specifically for this book. Photos are also included showing places, artifacts, and buildings, and maps of the various Biblical sites are also included.

During his ministry on earth, Jesus Christ interacted with numerous women, and taught, healed, and loved them. Some of these women were identified by name, while others are mentioned as devout followers of the Lord, simply in a crowd. But the common thread that runs between these remarkable women is that their stories of sacrifice and eager service mirror our own challenges and struggles today, and bear a powerful witness of the Savior before and during his earthly ministry.

As in some societies today, in Biblical times there were often traditions that marginalized women and restricted them to certain roles, often defining them by their relationship to men. Life could be harsh in the meridian of time, and no more so than for women.

“Women of the New Testament” has six sections, each of which represents a specific group of women with whom Jesus interacted. It begins with the pedigree of Jesus Christ, including the women of the Old Testament whom Matthew identifies in Christ’s genealogy. The following sections discuss other women mentioned in the New Testament, grouped by the societies in which they lived. Each chapter ends with “points to ponder” that tie the lessons learned from these amazing women to our lives and circumstances today.

Thirty four women are highlighted in this well researched and documented volume, and it rightly begins with Mary, the Mother of Jesus.

I was fascinated to learn that although fewer than ten days in the life of Mary are revealed in scriptures, much is known about the places she lived and the customs and laws of the area. Some of the historical data includes the following:

The childhood of Jewish girls in the first century, particularly in Nazareth where Mary grew up, indicates that they lived far from urban areas and would have likely been directly involved in assisting in their families’ vocation, whether it be farming, raising livestock, creating stone masonry, pottery, textiles, or selling such goods.

Whoever a daughter attracted as a marriage partner could significantly affect the family’s social prestige. A girl was considered a child when she was younger than twelve years old, of age to marry between twelve and twelve and a half, and “past her girlhood” when she was older than twelve. A young man was deemed “fit for the bridechamber” at eighteen years of age.

The Jewish marriage procedure in Mary’s day consisted of two ceremonies. The first formal step was to establish a legal agreement before witnesses in which the men of the bride’s and groom’s family consent to join their families through marriage. This event was likely accompanied by a meal served at the home of the father of the bride. The Hebrew term for this consent phrase was “betrothal” or “espousal,” but it does not mean an “engagement” as we use today. Instead, it constituted a legal marriage in that the woman was permanently bound to the young man. Any compromise of the groom’s marital rights over the woman made her legally liable to punishment for adultery. Although the bride continued to live in her father’s home until the second part of the marriage procedure, which was a year or more apart from the first step, she was the “wife” of her betrothed. The different stages of the marriage ceremonies were indicated by what the bride wore, and what colors the different articles of clothing were.

The scriptures do not tell us how Joseph learned that his betrothed was carrying a child. We only know that Joseph knew she was pregnant and that he was not the father, because they had not “come together.” That is why he planned to “put her away privily.” Under the law of Moses, if a woman was found not to be a virgin at marriage, she could be stoned to death. At the very least, if her condition had been made public, her reputation would have been damaged.

The birth of Jesus from the annunciation, to the laws of Moses and childbirth, the laws of redemption for the firstborn, the laws of purification, and the escape to Egypt and beyond are discussed. The roles of Mary and Joseph in raising Jesus are outlined and Mary’s other sons and her limited role in Christ’s ministry are outlined.

Other women profiled in “Women of the Old Testament” include Elisabeth, Anna, the widow who gave all, the woman healed in the synagogue, Mary and Martha, the woman taken in adultery, Peter’s mother in law, the mother of James and John, the woman who touched the hem of His garment, the daughter of Jairus, Mary of Magdala, Procla, the wife of Pontius Pilate, and numerous others.

The overriding theme of this must-have volume is one of faith, humility, unwavering devotion, and perseverance in the faith despite all obstacles and doubts. The women highlighted from the New Testament are superb examples of these Godly qualities and traits.

While the reader might want to study this scholarly work chapter by chapter, I feel it would be most beneficial to study the volume simultaneously with the study of the New Testament in Gospel Doctrine classes next year. Reading the chapter that corresponds to what the lesson is would add many insights, not only into the life and times of Christ, but of the women who played a crucial role in the teachings of Jesus.

This is a book to not only add to our home libraries, but to treasure and refer to again and again.

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