The Significance of Mary Magdalene’s Memory as Witness and Apostle

Main Article Content

Carmen Bernabé Ubieta
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4150-2018

Abstract

Mary Magdalene was an important character in early Christianity. We can find a proof of this in the fact that she underwent several transformations in different writings, both canonical and apocryphal. Despite the fact that most of the occurrences are plain and simple, they reveal the internal tensions between different groups of the movement gathered around Jesus. According to data found in the gospels she was one of the disciples of Jesus, authorized witness of the resurrection and sent by the Resurrected Christ on an apostolic mission. However, her name was vanished from several sources, her leadership denied and her importance set aside. Finally, around the seventh century she was characterized as a repentant prostitute. The causes behind the transformation of her memory are not always clear and evident, but sources provide enough data that might be used to infer some of them.

Keywords:
Mary Magdalene New Testament New Testament Apocrypha Early Christianity Memory

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Article Details

Author Biography

Carmen Bernabé Ubieta, Universidad de Deusto (Bilbao, España)

Doctora en Teología Bíblica por la Universidad de Deusto (Bilbao, España). Profesora titular de N.T en la Facultad de Teología de la Universidad de Deusto. Subdirectora de la Asociación Bíblica Española (ABE); Presidenta de la Asociación Española de Teólogas (ATE).