all four gospels tell the same story.’8 That this is so in spite of the fact that the contemporary view was so different9, is quite remarkable and shows something of the significance that the gospel writers attributed to this aspect of the life and character of Jesus. So, from the gospel accounts a portrait of Jesus emerges which is ‘clear and consistent.… His attitude to women was startlingly new, he was able to mix freely and naturally with women of all sorts, and women followed and ministered
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