Brotherhood, the Missing Icon, by Anthony Esolen

Why did Jesus choose only men as his apostles? Three replies are typically given.  The first two are absurd, and the third is insufficient. As the Cardinals vote for the next successor to St. Peter, it’s a good time to look more deeply into this question.

First, it is said he was bowing to the culture around him.  The Jews would not have looked kindly on a man traveling with women among his intimate entourage.  As if Jesus was ever afraid of rejection!  And what could they have done to him that they were not already going to do?  Crucify him twice?  Flickering beneath this first reply is the assumption that Jesus was not divine; that he was but a very fine teacher who had a few unfortunate limitations.  We, today, it is supposed, know better.

Second, it is said he did choose women as apostles, but the men, deliberately or from unconscious cultural habit, shouldered them aside.  That makes the apostles out to be liars, knaves, or even – after Pentecost – blockheads.  It also renders their witness untrustworthy.  If we cannot trust them on the names of the apostles and the special character of their mission, why should we trust them on the world-shaking matter of the Resurrection?  Besides, Jesus did not choose twelve as a random number.  He was reconstituting Israel and her twelve tribes.  And we are told who the twelve were. …