Mary Magdalene is one of the most interesting and at the same time the most misunderstood characters in the Bible. Known in tradition as the converted harlot, she nevertheless became the most faithful disciple of Jesus. Was she the wife of Jesus? A layer of scandal surrounds this. The Scriptures say little about her. Is it possible that we have a misconception about it?
Many Christians honor Mary Magdalene for her ardent love for Jesus. Jesus was everything to her. She was present at the crucifixion and more importantly at the resurrection. It was her Lord Jesus who appeared first. However, the Scriptures give extremely little detail about her life. The New Testament mentions her only 13 times, but at the most important moments.
Much information about Maria Magdalena is myth. The most important one was that she was a prostitute that Christ saved from sin. She is often perceived as a seductive, incredibly beautiful and sensual woman. After 2,000 years, it's hard to separate myths from facts. Where did these legends come from, and what was her relationship with Christ like? Who was Maria Magdalena really?
What do we know about Mary Magdalene then?
We can certainly say of Mary Magdalene that she was a disciple of Jesus, who joined the group of disciples quite early after his public ministry, and stayed with him on the way from Galilee to the crucifixion. The first accounts of the Resurrection are based on her testimony. He becomes one of the most important voices of Christianity that disappears immediately afterwards.
And yet, in the course of history, Maria Magdalena reappears. Gnostics use her character to convey their teachings, making her the leader of the group of apostles, especially beloved by the Savior and transmitting secret knowledge. Pope Gregory the Great creates a different creation - he identifies Mary Magdalene with the sinner who anoints Jesus with oil during the feast.
Under still different circumstances, the legend of her journey to Provence and hermit life arises . Today, this elusive character is mixed with legends about the Holy Grail and depicted as the wife or lover of Christ . In various installments of the new legend of the currently secularized world, it is seen as a "sacred female element" or indicates the royal dynasty that was to arise in Europe through it.
The story of the most mysterious woman in the Bible in the book by Paweł F. Nowakowski entitled "Maria Magdalena".
It is difficult to treat all these visions and ideas equally. Some are the result of the interpenetration of the Christian tradition and local traditions, others are aimed at gaining publicity through scandalous content - an excellent product on the pop culture market. Some of them result from errors, attempts to clarify doubts, and others are again based on overt falsification and distortion of sources. Contemporary theories claiming that Mary Magdalene was the wife of Jesus and the mother of His children, the author of the Fourth Gospel, or Peter's rival to lead the Church.
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You can read about the truth in the new book by Paweł F. Nowakowski entitled "Maria Magdalena" (SIW Znak 2019), which you can buy at a discount in our bookstore.
Paweł F. Nowakowski - historian and theologian, assistant professor at the Institute of Cultural Studies of the Ignatianum Academy in Krakow. He collaborates with TVP Historia, he is also the author and co-author of guides to Santiago de Compostela and Kyoto.