Illustration created for this project.
Mary Magdalene
A woman of Magdala freed of seven demons who followed Jesus, stood by the cross, and was first to see him risen.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1
Ancient writers — non-biblical testimony · 1
Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 1
Origin & birthplace
Life, role & deeds
ScholarlyThe popular image of Mary Magdalene as a reformed prostitute has no basis in the Gospels. It grew from a sermon of Pope Gregory the Great in AD 591 that merged her with the unnamed 'sinful woman' of Luke 7 and with Mary of Bethany; modern scholarship, and the Catholic Church itself, have since set the conflation aside.
Gregory the Great, Homily 33 (591); modern Gospel scholarship
Dobroš © Dana Stehlíková — CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Ancient writersThe 3rd-century writer Hippolytus already called Mary Magdalene and the women with her 'apostles to the apostles', honouring her as the first to announce the risen Christ.
Hippolytus of Rome, Commentary on the Song of Songs 24–25 (CPG 1871), a 3rd-c. work surviving chiefly in Georgian, Armenian and Old Slavonic versions with Greek fragments; ed. G. N. Bonwetsch, Hippolyt Werke, GCS 1 (1897).
Where in scripture
LukeJohnIn their own words — 6 recorded sayings
“And they were saying among themselves, Who will get the stone rolled away from the door for us?” — Mark 16:3
“Then she went running to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple who was loved by Jesus, and said to them, They have taken away the Lord out of the place of the dead and we have no knowledge where they have put him.” — John 20:2
“They said to her, Woman, why are you weeping? She said to them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I have no knowledge where they have put him.” — John 20:13
“Jesus said to her, Woman, why are you weeping? who are you looking for? She, taking him for the gardener, said to him, Sir, if you have taken him away from here, say where you have put him and I will take him away.” — John 20:15
“Jesus said to her, Mary! Turning, she said to him in Hebrew, Rabboni! (which is to say, Master).” — John 20:16
“Mary Magdalene went with the news to the disciples, and said she had seen the Lord and that he had said these things to her.” — John 20:18
Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).
Places in their life
Photo: AVRAM GRAICER — CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
In art
