Mary Magdalene

Lore & Background

According to the Gospel of Luke 8:2–3, Jesus exorcised 'seven demons' from Mary Magdalene. The number seven may be merely symbolic, since in Jewish tradition seven was the number of completion, so that Mary was possessed by seven demons may simply mean she was completely overwhelmed by their power. Because Mary is listed as one of the women who supported Jesus' ministry financially, scholars conclude she must have been relatively wealthy. Mary Magdalene always appears first whenever she is listed in the Synoptic Gospels as a member of a group of women, indicating she was seen as the most important out of all of them. All four canonical gospels agree that several women watched Jesus's crucifixion from a distance, with three explicitly naming Mary Magdalene as present: Mark 15:40 lists Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James, and Salome; Matthew 27:55–56 lists Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James and Joseph, and the unnamed mother of the sons of Zebedee; John 19:25 lists Mary, mother of Jesus, her sister, Mary wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. Mark 15:47 lists Mary Magdalene and Mary mother of Josus as witnesses to the burial of Jesus. Matthew 27:61 lists Mary Magdalene and 'the other Mary' as witnesses.

Reader's Guide

The earliest description of Jesus's post-resurrection appearances is a quotation of a pre-Pauline creed preserved by Paul the Apostle in 1 Corinthians 15, which does not mention Mary Magdalene or the other women as first to discover the tomb empty. According to Mark 16:1–8, the earliest account of the discovery of the empty tomb, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went to the tomb just after sunrise, a day and half after Jesus's burial and found that the stone had already been rolled away. They went inside and saw a young man dressed in white. The Gospel of Luke 8:2–3 provides a brief summary of her role during Jesus' ministry: 'Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources.' The presence of Mary Magdalene and the other women at the cross is probably historical because Christians would have been unlikely to make up that the main witnesses to the crucifixion were women and because their presence is attested in both the Synoptic Gospels and in the Gospel of John independently.

Did You Know?

• Mary Magdalene's epithet 'Magdalene' probably means she came from Magdala, a fishing village on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee.
• The Gospel of Luke 8:2 says Jesus exorcised 'seven demons' from Mary Magdalene; the number seven may be symbolic of complete possession in Jewish tradition.
• Mary Magdalene is listed first among the women in the Synoptic Gospels, indicating she was seen as the most important of Jesus' female followers.
• The earliest creed in 1 Corinthians 15, preserved by Paul, does not mention Mary Magdalene or any women as first witnesses to the resurrection.
• Scholars note that the presence of women at the crucifixion is likely historical because early Christians would not have invented female witnesses.

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"This Mary is sometimes referred to as 'Mary of Bethany'. It is disputed whether this is the same 'Mary' as Mary Magdalene. The woman is simply referred to as 'Mary' in the text." — Mary Magdalene "This Mary is sometimes referred to as 'Mary of Bethany'. It is disputed whether this is the same 'Mary' as Mary Magdalene. The woman is simply referred to as 'Mary' in the text." — Mary Magdalene "Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume." — Mary Magdalene "Mary Magdalene is a model for many Christian feminists." — Mary Magdalene