With an unfocused reading of the Gospels, it may be confusing at first how many women were at the tomb of Jesus. Determining the exact number of women present at Jesus' tomb following His crucifixion can initially seem perplexing when comparing the Gospel narratives. The apparent discrepancies in the accounts can lead to confusion but are often a result of a literary technique utilized in ancient writing: | Book | Names | Count | |------------|------------------------------------------------|-------| | Matthew | Mary Magdalene, "the other Mary" | 2 | | Mark | Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Salome | 3 | | Luke | Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, other unnamed women | 4+ | | John | Mary Magdalene | 1 | This variation is not indicative of contradiction but rather of a complementary perspective among the Gospel writers. The phenomenon can be understood through the lens of "spotlighting," a literary device described by biblical scholar Mike Licona: > [!quote] [[Licona2016-xw|Mike Licona]] >"When an author focuses attention on a person so that the person's involvement in a scene is clearly described, whereas mention of others who were likewise involved is neglected, the author has shined his literary spotlight on that person. Think of a theatrical performance. During an act in which several are simultaneously on the stage, the lights go out and a spotlight shines on a particular actor. Others are present but are unseen. In literary spotlighting, the author only mentions one of the people present but knows of the others." Analyzing these passages collectively, we infer that at least five women visited the tomb, although not all narratives mention all names. This discrepancy is not a matter of error but an intentional choice by the Gospel writers, each aiming to highlight different individuals for their respective audiences and theological emphases. This approach, rather than diminishing the reliability of the accounts, enriches our understanding of the events and the cultural context in which they were recorded.