Mary Magdalene in The Gospel of Mary Magdalene, The Gospel of Thomas, The Gospel of Philip, First Apocrypha of James, The Sophia of Jesus Christ , and The Dialogue of the Savior

Abstract This essay discusses the representations of Mary (Magdalene) in the Gospel of Mary, Gospel of Thomas, Gospel of Philip, First Apocalypse of James, Sophia of Jesus Christ, and Dialogue of the Savior. Composed in the second to third centuries ce, these texts were rediscovered in the modern period and offer striking portraits of Mary as a leading disciple, often connecting her with discussions of women’s roles, gender, and salvation. After asking whether the modern classification of these texts as Gnostic is appropriate and why that matters, the essay builds on the widely noted mixing of Marys and uses interfigural analysis to help sharpen those observations and insights. It concludes with a brief reflection on the diversity of portraits of Mary in her “third life” beyond history and memory.