Who was Joanna in the Bible?

Joanna was the wife of Chuza, the household manager for Herod Antipas. She was a follower of Jesus who helped support His ministry financially and materially (Luke 8:3).

What is Joanna known for in the Gospels?

She is known for being a financial supporter of Jesus' ministry and for being one of the women who discovered Jesus' empty tomb on Resurrection Sunday (Luke 24:10). Her presence at these key events highlights the vital role of women disciples.

Why is Joanna's husband, Chuza, significant?

Chuza's role as Herod's steward means Joanna was likely a woman of means and social standing. Her commitment to Jesus, despite her connection to Herod's court, demonstrates the diverse backgrounds of His followers.

Joanna

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Joanna, the wife of Chuza, was one of the women who followed and supported Jesus during His earthly ministry (Luk.8.3; 24.10).

Joanna

Biography

Joanna was a woman of social prominence who became a devoted follower of Jesus of Nazareth. Married to Chuza, the household manager of Herod Antipas, a position of significant prestige and proximity to power, Joanna had been healed by Jesus and subsequently joined the circle of women who traveled with Him and the twelve apostles (Luke 8:1-3). She is described as one who supported Jesus's ministry out of her own financial means, suggesting she commanded personal resources. Luke records her presence at the most critical moment in the gospel narrative: she was among the women who discovered the empty tomb on Easter morning and first announced the resurrection to the apostles (Luke 24:10), making her among the first proclaimers of the risen Christ.

Significance

Joanna exemplifies the radical social reconfiguration that characterized Jesus's movement. As a member of Herod's court household, she occupied a position of worldly privilege and yet chose the company of a Galilean itinerant rabbi. Her financial support of Jesus's ministry demonstrates that the gospel crossed social boundaries from its earliest days. Most significantly, Joanna is named among the first witnesses to the empty tomb, a pivotal role in redemptive history. Luke's deliberate inclusion of her name among the resurrection witnesses affirms the theological truth that God entrusted the first proclamation of the gospel's climactic event to faithful women like Joanna, whose testimony the apostles initially struggled to believe.

Verse Appearances (2)

Luke

Luke 8:3 Luke 24:10

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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