Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene was a follower of Jesus who witnessed his crucifixion and, in the Gospel accounts, was among the first to discover his resurrection.
Gospel of Mark: The shortest canonical Gospel, traditionally attributed to Mark, narrating Jesus’s ministry, death, and resurrection. It names Mary Magdalene among the women who witness Jesus’s burial and visit the tomb.
New Testament: The collection of Christian scriptures comprising the Gospels, Acts, letters, and Revelation. Its four Gospels provide the earliest surviving narratives about Mary Magdalene.
Pope Gregory I: The bishop of Rome from 590 to 604, known as Gregory the Great. His sermon conflated Mary Magdalene with other Gospel women, shaping her later reputation as a penitent sinner.
Mary of Bethany: A follower of Jesus in the Gospel of John, sister of Martha and Lazarus. She is a distinct Gospel figure whose story was later conflated with Mary Magdalene’s.
Gospel of Matthew: A canonical Gospel presenting Jesus as Israel’s Messiah and recounting his teaching, death, and resurrection. Its resurrection account gives Mary Magdalene a prominent encounter with the risen Jesus.
Gospel of Thomas: An early Christian sayings collection containing 114 sayings attributed to Jesus. Its closing dialogue names Mary and presents a disputed account of her place among the disciples.
Mary Magdalene in Christianity: The changing Christian traditions, devotions, and interpretations associated with Mary Magdalene. Her feast, titles, and devotional roles show how churches have interpreted her significance.
The sinful woman in Luke 7: An unnamed woman in Luke’s Gospel who anoints Jesus’s feet and is described as having many sins. Her anointing and repentance helped fuel the mistaken identification of Mary Magdalene as a prostitute.
Gospel of Luke: A canonical Gospel emphasizing Jesus’s ministry, compassion, death, and resurrection. It identifies Mary Magdalene among the women who report the empty tomb to the apostles.
Gospel of Mary: An early Christian dialogue in which Mary reports a revelation and disputes with other disciples. This noncanonical text develops her authority as a recipient and interpreter of revelation.