# Who Was Mary Magdalene in the Bible? > Mary Magdalene was a disciple Jesus healed of seven devils. She stood at the cross and was the first person he appeared to after he rose. The Gospels do not call her his wife. - Canonical: https://apologetics.wiki/christianity/mary-magdalene-in-the-bible - Religions: Christianity - Denominations: none - Beliefs: none - Tags: bible, mary-magdalene, gospels, resurrection - Updated: 2026-10-12 - Author: [Paul Ambrose](https://apologetics.wiki/author/hi-its-paul) ([GitHub](https://github.com/hi-its-paul)) Mary Magdalene, in the Gospels, is a disciple Jesus healed of seven devils. She was at the cross, she saw where he was buried, and she was the first person he appeared to after he rose. The Gospels do not call her the sinful woman of Luke 7, Mary of Bethany, or the wife of Jesus. ## Key Points - [Luke 8:2](/bible/luke/8/2) names “Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils.” - [Mark 16:9](/bible/mark/16/9) says that after he rose, Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. - [John 20:18](/bible/john/20/18) says she came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord. - [Luke 7:37](/bible/luke/7/37) tells of a woman in the city who was a sinner. The verse does not name her. - [John 11:1–2](/bible/john/11/1) names Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus, who anointed the Lord. It does not call her Magdalene. - Benedict XVI, in a general audience on 14 February 2007, lists the forgiven sinful woman of Luke 7 and Mary of Magdala in Luke 8 as different people. [(7)](#ref-7) - A Vatican bulletin of 10 June 2016 says the Western tradition after Gregory the Great identified those women as one person, and that the reformed Roman liturgical books refer to Mary of Magdala. [(8)](#ref-8) ## Who Was Mary Magdalene in the Bible? Luke 8:1–3 lists women who had been healed and who ministered to Jesus of their substance. Mary is the first name. [(1)](#ref-1) > And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, and Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance. [Matthew 27:56](/bible/matthew/27/56) and [Mark 15:40](/bible/mark/15/40) place Mary Magdalene among the women looking on at the crucifixion. [Matthew 27:61](/bible/matthew/27/61) and [Mark 15:47](/bible/mark/15/47) say she saw where he was laid. [The resurrection of Jesus](/christianity/resurrection-of-jesus) is the claim those verses belong to. ## Which Verse Says Jesus Healed Mary Magdalene? Luke 8:2 says seven devils went out of her. Mark 16:9 says he had cast seven devils out of her, and that he appeared first to her. [(2)](#ref-2) The King James text says “seven devils.” It does not say “seven powers.” ## Was Mary Magdalene the Sinful Woman? Luke 7:36–50 tells of a woman in the city, a sinner, who brought an alabaster box of ointment into a Pharisee’s house. The chapter does not give her a name, and it does not say she was from Magdala. [(4)](#ref-4) John 8 tells of a woman taken in adultery. That chapter does not name Mary Magdalene. Benedict XVI’s audience of 14 February 2007 is a general audience, not a council. He lists, as different examples, the sinful woman whose sins were forgiven, citing Luke 7:36–50, and then the women who followed Jesus and assisted him with their own means: Mary of Magdala, Joanna, Susanna, and many others, citing Luke 8:2–3. He says Mary Magdalene was present at the Passion and was the first witness and herald of the risen one, citing John 20. [(7)](#ref-7) The Vatican bulletin of 10 June 2016 explains a decree, dated 3 June 2016, that raised her celebration from an obligatory memorial to a feast. Archbishop Arthur Roche, then secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship, says the Western tradition, especially after Gregory the Great, identified as one person the woman who poured perfume in the house of Simon the Pharisee, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, and Mary Magdalene. He says that with the liturgical reform the Roman Missal, the Liturgy of the Hours, and the Martyrologium Romanum refer to Mary of Magdala. [(8)](#ref-8) The Gospels themselves do not make that older identification. ## Was She Mary of Bethany? John 11:1–2 names a Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha, whose brother Lazarus was sick, and it says she is the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair. [Luke 10:39](/bible/luke/10/39) says Martha had a sister called Mary, who sat at Jesus’ feet. Those verses do not call her Magdalene. [(5)](#ref-5) ## Was Mary Magdalene the Wife of Jesus? The four Gospels do not say that. They call her a woman he healed, a witness of the cross and the burial, and the one who told the disciples she had seen the Lord. [The lost Gospels](/non-canonical/the-lost-gospels) is Irenaeus on four Gospels, and the books of Thomas, Peter, and Judas. That page says it did not check a separate Gospel of Mary, and this page does not quote one. ## Which Disciple Disliked Her? The Gospels do not name a disciple who disliked Mary Magdalene. [Luke 24:10–11](/bible/luke/24/10) says Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women told these things to the apostles, and their words seemed to the apostles as idle tales, and they did not believe them. That is unbelief of the report. It is not a named quarrel. ## What Did She Do After the Resurrection? John 20 says she came to the sepulchre while it was dark, found the stone taken away, and later met Jesus in the garden. [(3)](#ref-3) > Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. [What do Christians believe about Mary?](/christianity/what-do-christians-believe-about-mary) is the mother of Jesus, a different Mary. [The deity of Christ](/christianity/deity-of-christ) is who the one Mary Magdalene called Lord is, in the Nicene confession. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What Is Mary Magdalene’s Life in the Bible? Luke 8:2, the cross and the burial, and John 20. The Gospels do not give her parents, a husband, or a later biography. ### Which Verse Heals Her? Luke 8:2 and Mark 16:9. Both say seven devils. ### Who Was She to Jesus? A disciple he healed, who ministered to him, stood near the cross, and carried the news that she had seen him risen. The Gospels do not call her his wife. ## Passages Quoted on This Page ### Mark 16:9 King James Version. > Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. ### John 20:18 King James Version. > Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that he had spoken these things unto her. ### Luke 7:37 King James Version. > And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, ### John 11:1 King James Version. > Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. ### Matthew 27:56 King James Version. > Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children. ### Mark 15:40 King James Version. > There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; ### Matthew 27:61 King James Version. > And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre. ### Mark 15:47 King James Version. > And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid. ### Luke 10:39 King James Version. > And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. ### Luke 24:10 King James Version. > It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. ### Luke 8:1–3 King James Version. > [8:1] And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, [8:2] And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, [8:3] And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance. ### John 20:1–18 King James Version. > [20:1] The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. [20:2] Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the LORD out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. [20:3] Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. [20:4] So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. [20:5] And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. [20:6] Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, [20:7] And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. [20:8] Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. [20:9] For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. [20:10] Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. [20:11] But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, [20:12] And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. [20:13] And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my LORD, and I know not where they have laid him. [20:14] And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. [20:15] Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. [20:16] Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. [20:17] Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. [20:18] Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that he had spoken these things unto her. ### Luke 7:36–50 King James Version. > [7:36] And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat. [7:37] And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, [7:38] And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. [7:39] Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. [7:40] And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. [7:41] There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. [7:42] And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? [7:43] Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. [7:44] And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. [7:45] Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. [7:46] My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. [7:47] Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. [7:48] And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. [7:49] And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? [7:50] And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. ### John 11:1–2 King James Version. > [11:1] Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. [11:2] (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) ### Luke 24:10–11 King James Version. > [24:10] It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. [24:11] And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. ## Sources Numbered to match the HTML References list. Item 1 is `#ref-1` under `#references`. Scripture links to the King James Version on this site. 1. [Gospel of Luke, 8:1–3](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/luke/8). King James Version 2. [Gospel of Mark, 16:9](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/mark/16/9). King James Version 3. [Gospel of John, 20:1–18](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/john/20). King James Version 4. [Gospel of Luke, 7:36–50](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/luke/7). King James Version 5. [Gospel of John, 11:1–2](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/john/11). King James Version 6. [Gospel of Luke, 24:10–11](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/luke/24). King James Version 7. [Benedict XVI, General Audience, 14 February 2007](https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/audiences/2007/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20070214.html) (A general audience. Not a council. He lists the sinful woman of Luke 7 and Mary of Magdala in Luke 8 as different examples.) 8. [Mary Magdalene, Apostle of the Apostles, 10 June 2016](https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2016/06/10/160610c.html) (Vatican press bulletin. Archbishop Arthur Roche, then secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship, on the decree raising her celebration to a feast.) ## See Also - [When Were the Gospels Written?](https://apologetics.wiki/christianity/when-were-the-gospels-written) — Irenaeus places Matthew in the lifetime of Peter and Paul at Rome, Mark after their departure, Luke with Paul, and John later at Ephesus. He gives no year. A copy of John was already in the second century. - [Who Wrote Matthew, Mark, and Luke?](https://apologetics.wiki/christianity/who-wrote-the-gospels) — Papias and Irenaeus name Mark as Peter’s interpreter, Matthew as the writer of a Gospel in Hebrew, and Luke as Paul’s companion. The books themselves do not open with those names. - [Do Catholics Believe in Cremation?](https://apologetics.wiki/catholic/do-catholics-believe-in-cremation) — Canon 1176 recommends burial and does not prohibit cremation unless it was chosen against Christian doctrine. Ad resurgendum cum Christo prefers burial, allows cremation, and forbids scattering ashes or keeping them in jewelry. - [Do Catholics Celebrate Easter?](https://apologetics.wiki/catholic/do-catholics-celebrate-easter) — Yes. The Catechism calls Easter the Feast of feasts and the Solemnity of solemnities. Canon 920 requires holy communion at least once a year, during the Easter season unless there is a just cause. - [Does Archaeology Confirm the Bible?](https://apologetics.wiki/christianity/does-archaeology-confirm-the-bible) — The Pilate stone, the Tel Dan stele, Hezekiah’s tribute on the Taylor Prism, the Siloam tunnel inscription, and the Cyrus Cylinder name people and events the Bible also names. Each find has a limit.