Women Of The Lost Books

The Gospel of Nicodemus

Mary: Daughter of Anna and Joachim, wife of Joseph, the carpenter, mother of Jesus, the Christ
Nic 1: We know this man to be the son of Joseph the carpenter, born of Mary; and he says that he is the Son of God, and a king; moreover, he profanes the Sabbath, and wishes to do away with the law of our fathers. And the eiders of the Jews answered, and said to Jesus: What shall we see? first, that thou wast born of fornication; secondly, that thy birth in Bethlehem was the cause of the murder of the infants; thirdly, that thy father Joseph and thy mother Mary fled into Egypt because they had no confidence in the people. Some of the bystanders, pious men of the Jews, say: we deny that he was born of fornication; for we know that Joseph espoused Mary, and he was not born of fornication.

Procle, The Wife of Pilate: This woman called Jesus a “just” man and entreated her husband, Pilate to have nothing to do with his trial.
Nic 2 And Pilate seeing this, was afraid, and sought to go away from the tribunal; but when he was still thinking of going away, his wife sent to him, saying: Have nothing to do with this just man, for many things have I suffered on his account this night. And Pilate, summoning the Jews, says to them: You know that my wife is a worshipper of God, and prefers to adhere to the Jewish religion along with you. They say to him: Yes; we know.

Veronica: She was a woman afflicted with an issue of blood
When she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, she was healed.
Nic 7: There was found there also a woman named Veronica, and she said: Twelve years I was in an issue of blood, and I only touched the edge of his garment, and directly I was cured. The Jews say: Our law does not admit the testimony of a woman.

The Acts of Paul and Thecla

Lectra: Wife of Onesiphorus
Paul & Thecla 1:4 And a certain man named Onesiphorus, hearing that Paul was come to Iconium, went out speedily to meet him, together with his wife Lectra, and his sons Simmia and Xeno, to invite him to their house.

Thecla: Thecla was a virgin, daughter of Theoclia, betrothed of Thamyris
She listened at the window, night and day, to the preachings of Paul. For her faith, she suffered many trials and tribulations. She went to Paul while he was imprisoned to learn from him. Thecla was brought to be burned at the stake, but the fire did not touch her. The Lord God found favor with her and caused a great earthquake, and a cloud from above poured great quantities of rain and hail to quench the fire. She was thrown to the beast, but they refused to harm her.
Paul & Thecla 2:1 While Paul was preaching this sermon in the church which was in the house of Onesiphorus, a certain virgin, named Thecla (whose mother's name was Theoclia, and who was betrothed to a man named Thamyris) sat at a certain window in her house. 2 From whence, by the advantage of a window in the house where Paul was, she both night and day heard Paul's sermons concerning God, concerning charity, concerning faith in Christ, and concerning prayer; (Read more about this remarkable woman in The Acts of Paul and Thecla)

Trifina: A relation to Caesar, a very rich widow of Antioch
She took Thecla into her home and treated her as a daughter.
Paul & Thecla: 8:2 The governor then inquired, Who would entertain her; upon which a certain very rich widow, named Trifina, whose daughter was lately dead, desired that she might have the keeping of her; and she began to treat her in her house as her own daughter.

Falconilla: The deceased daughter of Trifina
Paul & Thecla 8:6 Upon which Trifina, with a mournful air, said, My daughter Falconilla has appeared to me, and ordered me to receive you in her room; wherefore I desire, Thecla, that you would pray for my daughter, that she may be translated into a state of happiness, and to life eternal.

Theoclia: The mother of Thecla
Paul & Thecla 10:8 Thecla now (on her return) found Thamyris dead, but her mother living. So calling her mother, she said to her: Theoclia, my mother, is it possible for you to be brought to a belief, that there is but one Lord God, who dwells in the heavens? If yo desire great riches, God will give them to you by me; if you want your daughter again, here I am. 9 These and many other things she represented to her mother, [endeavouring] to persuade her [to her opinion]. But her mother Theoclia gave no credit to the things which were said by the martyr Thecla.

First Clement

Miriam: Sister of Moses and Aaron
1st Clem 4:11 By reason of jealousy Aaron and Miriam were lodged outside the camp.

Lot’s Wife: She turned to a pillow of salt after looking back at the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
1st Clem 11:2 For when his wife had gone forth with him, being otherwise minded and not in accord, she was appointed for a sign hereunto, so that she became a pillar of salt unto this day, that it might be known unto all men that they which are double-minded and they which doubt concerning the power of God are set for a judgment and for a token unto all the generations.

Rahab: She was the harlot who hid the spies that Joshua sent
1st Clem 12:1 For her faith and hospitality Rahab the harlot was saved. 3 So the hospitable Rahab received them and hid them in the upper chamber under the flax stalks. 4 And when the messengers of the king came near and said,The spies of our land entered in unto thee: bring them forth, for the king so ordereth: then she answered,The men truly, whom ye seek, entered in unto me, but they departed forthwith and are sojourning on the way;and she pointed out to them the opposite road. 5 And she said unto the men,Of a surety I perceive that the Lord your God delivereth this city unto you; for the fear and the dread of you is fallen upon the inhabitants thereof. When therefore it shall come to pass that ye take it, save me and the house of my father. 6 And they said unto her,It shall be even so as thou hast spoken unto us. Whensoever therefore thou perceivest that we are coming, thou shalt gather all thy folk beneath thy roof and they shall be saved; for as many as shall be found without the house shall perish.7 And moreover they gave her a sign, that she should hang out from her house a scarlet thread, thereby showing beforehand that through the blood of the Lord there shall be redemption unto all them that believe and hope on God. 8 Ye see, dearly beloved, not only faith, but prophecy, is found in the woman.

The General Epistle of Barnabas

Rebekah: Wife of Isaac, mother of Esau and Jacob.
Barnabas 13:2 Hear then what the scripture saith concerning the people; And Isaac
prayed concerning Rebecca his wife, for she was barren. And she conceived. Then Rebecca went out to enquire of the Lord. And the Lord said unto her; Two nations are in thy womb, and two peoples in thy belly, and one people shall vanquish another people, and the greater shall serve the less.

The Epistle of Ignatius to Polycarp

The Wife of Epitropus (Alce?): A woman saluted by Ignatius
Polycarp 8:2 I salute all by name, and especially the wife of Epitropus with her whole household and her children's. I salute Attalus my beloved. I salute him that shall be appointed to go to Syria. Grace shall be with him always, and with Polycarp who sendeth him.

 

Part 9