T.J. Wray takes us into the New Testament and non-biblical
historical works to give short bio’s of twelve women of influence from the time
around Christ’s life on earth and the times of the early church in the Middle
East.
Each chapter will delve into the history of one or two women
and give details about their lives as well as dialogue about the Scriptural
texts that they are a part of. The work is not to heavily academic for the
average lay person, it is well written and interesting for those wanting more
detail about the women of Christ time.
Unfortunately for me I do not think that T. J. Wray gives
the Biblical text the credit that it is due and that she does not take it as
scared scripture of God’s word. Why, do you ask? Because I think that she makes
some assumptions that the text does not always give.
There are details that are not supported by Biblical text.
Such as her claim that Simon the Leper is the father of Martha, Mary and
Lazarus. No where in Scripture is that fact given, nor is it a fact given by
the Jewish historian Josephus. So, this leads me to believe that Ms. Wray takes
some liberties with her interpretation of scripture.
Scripture should speak for itself and not be made an
assumptive process.
So, with that said, I did enjoy reading her detailed script
of the lives of the women, but I did not allow her discussions of non-Biblical
facts interrupt my enjoyment. I have studied scripture and historians and thus
have formed my own opinions. Thus they are mine. Thus I must allow Ms. Wray her
opinions. But for my loyal readers I will just give this disclaimer to not
accept assumptions that Ms. Wray makes to take the weight of fact without your
own research into the historical texts of the time.
