Mary Magdalene in Theological Perspective across Gospel Texts

Abstract Mary Magdalene is a figure of significance for Christianity in the first centuries of its life. She is associated closely with Jesus’s ministry as a faithful disciple and apostolic leader within the community of faith. Subsequent church history, especially in the West, has muted if not distorted her significance, but the more we perceive her role across varying gospel texts, the more we grasp her prominence in the earliest communities and the reasons for it. This study explores Mary Magdalene in several gospels of the first three centuries: the four canonical gospels, the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Mary, and the Gospel of Philip. The focus is on Mary’s identity in these texts, particularly her discipleship and ministry, alongside the theological framework of the gospels in which she appears. These gospels point to a woman of outstanding faith and eminent leadership across diverse theological traditions. The apocryphal gospels also have a role in the interpretation of the canonical gospels, giving an emphasis to Mary often omitted in the Christian tradition through their vibrant depiction of Mary’s discipleship and ministry. Whether included or excluded from the canon, these gospels provide valuable insights for understanding Mary Magdalene and the significant role played by women in the emerging diversities of Christian faith.