Bible Study Resource
Mary Magdalene Before Her Conversion, by James J. Tissot
Myth 1:
Mary of Magdala was a prostitute.
Mary of Magdala was healed of seven afflictions. But nowhere
in Christian scripture is demoniac possession regarded as synonymous
with sin or sexual transgression. She could have been healed
by Jesus of 70 afflictions with none of these being sexual in
nature or source
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Mary of Magdala
Exposing the myths that surround
this early apostle
by Ann Hayman
Christian scripture contains approximately one dozen direct
references to Mary of Magdala, also known as Mary Magdalene.
All scriptural references, except for Luke 8:1--3, focus on her
relationship to Jesus at the time of his death and resurrection.
There is no mention of her anywhere else in scripture beyond
these Gospel accounts. What's more, no biblical reference to
Mary of Magdala having ever been a prostitute exists, although
the prolific presence of prostitutes and assorted "fallen
women" in both Hebrew and Christian scripture cannot be
overlooked.
So what happened? How did she fall from grace? This undeserved
reputation appears to be the result of bad biblical scholarship
and a desire to remove Mary of Magdala from a prominent place
in early church leadership.
 Myth
2:
Mary of Magdala appears to have been penitent, showing signs
of committing a great sin.
Mary of Magdala asked to be healed, not forgiven. Of course,
throughout history artists have delighted in portraying her as
contrite. This device of artists, portraying women with their
eyes pleading and their hands begging for forgiveness, placed
the burden of repentance, which is missing from any other woman
in Scripture, squarely on the shoulders of Mary of Magdala.
Mary Magdalene, by Elisabetta Sirani
Mary Magdalene Washing the Feet of Jesus, by Frank Wesley
 Myth
3:
Mary of Magdala is the public sinner washing the feet
of Jesus with her tears and then wiping them with her hair, referred
to in the Gospel of Luke
(Luke 7:44).
There is absolutely no evidence that the woman who washed
the feet of Jesus was Mary of Magdala. He doesn't call her by
name, she doesn't ask to be healed and whether we think she was
asking for forgiveness or paying homage to a great man depends
on what we bring to the story.
Ann Hayman is program director of The Mary
Magdalene Project in Reseda, California.
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