Q: Whom did the women see at the tomb? Matthew 28:2 says that they saw an angel whose clothing was as white as snow. Mark 16:5 says a young man clothed in a long white robe. Luke 24:4 says two men in shining garments. And John 20:12 mentions two angels in white. Which account is correct?
A: When Mary Magdalene and the other Mary first visited the tomb before sunrise, the other Mary saw angels inside the tomb (and reported this to some disciples; Cleopas was either one of these disciples, or else one of these disciples told Cleopas about her report; see Luke 24:24). After Mary Magdalene and the other Mary told Simon Peter and John that the tomb was empty, and followed Simon Peter and John back to the tomb, and met the other women there, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary remained outside the tomb while the other women entered the tomb (possibly because of lack of space, but more likely because at this point). At this point the angels revealed their presence: one on the stone, outside, who spoke to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, and two inside, who delivered essentially the same message to Joanna, Salome, and the other woman/women.
After the angels spoke to the women, most of the women departed, intending to find the disciples and tell them the good news. Mary Magdalene, however, remained behind, and the narrative-thread in John 20:11 picks up the story here. (John doesnt tell about the visit of the women which occurred between Mary Magdalenes initial visit and her lingering-at-the-tomb, because he assumes that his readers already know about it from Mark). Mary Magdalene enters the tomb herself for the first time and at this point she sees two angels in white.
So, three angels are in the picture: one on the entrance-stone outside, and two inside. The women who were inside did not see the angel on the entrance-stone when he revealed himself to the women (Mary Magdalene and the other Mary) who were outside the tomb, and the women who were outside the tomb did not initially see the angels who appeared inside the tomb (although Mary Magdalene met them shortly thereafter, when she entered the tomb herself).
Mark 16:5 only mentions one young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side, but this emphasis does not preclude the presence of the other angel in the tomb. Also, while Luke and Mark mention a young man and two men, I think that both authors supply contextual clues intended to convey to the reader that an angel, or angels, are being described: the clues are the sudden presence, the white garment, and the content of the message -- especially the content of the message.
Yours in Christ,
Waterrock
A: When Mary Magdalene and the other Mary first visited the tomb before sunrise, the other Mary saw angels inside the tomb (and reported this to some disciples; Cleopas was either one of these disciples, or else one of these disciples told Cleopas about her report; see Luke 24:24). After Mary Magdalene and the other Mary told Simon Peter and John that the tomb was empty, and followed Simon Peter and John back to the tomb, and met the other women there, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary remained outside the tomb while the other women entered the tomb (possibly because of lack of space, but more likely because at this point). At this point the angels revealed their presence: one on the stone, outside, who spoke to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, and two inside, who delivered essentially the same message to Joanna, Salome, and the other woman/women.
After the angels spoke to the women, most of the women departed, intending to find the disciples and tell them the good news. Mary Magdalene, however, remained behind, and the narrative-thread in John 20:11 picks up the story here. (John doesnt tell about the visit of the women which occurred between Mary Magdalenes initial visit and her lingering-at-the-tomb, because he assumes that his readers already know about it from Mark). Mary Magdalene enters the tomb herself for the first time and at this point she sees two angels in white.
So, three angels are in the picture: one on the entrance-stone outside, and two inside. The women who were inside did not see the angel on the entrance-stone when he revealed himself to the women (Mary Magdalene and the other Mary) who were outside the tomb, and the women who were outside the tomb did not initially see the angels who appeared inside the tomb (although Mary Magdalene met them shortly thereafter, when she entered the tomb herself).
Mark 16:5 only mentions one young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side, but this emphasis does not preclude the presence of the other angel in the tomb. Also, while Luke and Mark mention a young man and two men, I think that both authors supply contextual clues intended to convey to the reader that an angel, or angels, are being described: the clues are the sudden presence, the white garment, and the content of the message -- especially the content of the message.
Yours in Christ,
Waterrock
