A Complete Bible Study on Mary Magdalene

Mary Magdalene is one of the most talked-about women in the New Testament, and one of the most misunderstood. If we only go by Scripture, her life and focus is clear and deeply Christ-centered. If we go by tradition and rumor, she becomes something the Bible never says she was. So we’re going to do this the right way… We will look every single explicit statement the Bible makes about Mary Magdalene, in context, and then we’ll dispel the popular myths using the text itself.

Who Was Mary Magdalene

Mary is consistently identified as “Mary called Magdalene,” meaning she was associated with Magdala (likely her hometown/region). Scripture never tells us her family line, tribe, age, marital status, or occupation.

What it does tell us is this:

“Now it came to pass afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons…” (Luke 8:1–2)

This is the clearest starting point. Mary Magdalene was a woman delivered by Jesus from severe demonic oppression.

What Jesus Did for Her

The Bible makes only one specific claim about her past:

“Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.” (Mark 16:9)

Between Luke 8:2 and Mark 16:9, we know two things for sure:

1. Jesus delivered her.
2. The oppression was significant (“seven demons”).

But Scripture does not say she was an immoral woman. It doesn’t say she was a prostitute. It doesn’t link her demons to sexual sin. It simply states she was delivered from these demons.

Her Relationship to Jesus’ Ministry

Mary Magdalene is shown to be a devoted follower and supporter of Christ’s ministry. Luke says certain women traveled with Him and provided material support:

“…and many others who provided for Him from their substance.” (Luke 8:3)

Mary is included in that group. That means she wasn’t merely a spectator of Jesus, she was part of a circle of faithful women who supported Jesus’ ministry during His itinerant preaching.

Mary at the Cross

Mary Magdalene also appears prominently at the crucifixion. While most disciples scattered in fear, she remained.

“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.” (John 19:25)

Matthew also lists her among the women who watched from afar:

“And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene…” (Matthew 27:55–56)

Mark also confirms the same:

“There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene…” (Mark 15:40–41)

The repeated point is unmistakable… Mary Magdalene was present in the darkest hour, and remained completely faithful when others fled away.

Mary Was at the Burial

Mary wasn’t only present at the cross, she also observed where Jesus was laid.

“And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.” (Matthew 27:61)

“Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where He was laid.” (Mark 15:47)

This becomes important later, because her testimony about the empty tomb is grounded in the fact that she knew exactly where He had been buried.

Mary Was at the Empty Tomb

Here we see all four Gospels connect Mary Magdalene with the empty tomb.

Matthew:

“Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.” (Matthew 28:1)

Mark:

“Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene… bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.” (Mark 16:1)

Luke:

“It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles.” (Luke 24:10)

John highlights Mary in the most direct way:

“Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark…” (John 20:1)

The Bible is not vague about this… Mary Magdalene is one of the primary witnesses of the empty tomb.

Mary is Also the First Witness of the Risen Christ

John 20 gives the most detailed account. Mary is weeping, and she assumes the body has been moved somewhere else, but then she encounters Jesus.

“Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to Him, ‘Rabboni!’ (which is to say, Teacher).” (John 20:16)

Jesus then gives her a message:

“Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, “I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.”’” (John 20:17)

And she obeyed:

“Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord…” (John 20:18)

Mark makes it very clear she was the first person He appeared to:

“Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene…” (Mark 16:9)

So Scripture is explicit: Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene after His resurrection.

Every Fact We Know About Mary Magdalene

Mary Magdalene is:

• A woman delivered by Jesus from seven demons (Luke 8:2; Mark 16:9)
• A follower of Jesus during His ministry (Luke 8:1–2)
• One who helped support His ministry materially (Luke 8:3)
• Present at the crucifixion (Matthew 27:55–56; Mark 15:40–41; John 19:25)
• Present at the burial and knew the tomb location (Matthew 27:61; Mark 15:47)
• Present at the empty tomb early on the first day of the week (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1; John 20:1)
• A witness who reported the resurrection to the disciples (Luke 24:10; John 20:18)
• The first recorded person to whom Jesus appeared after rising (Mark 16:9; John 20:14–16)

That’s everything Scripture explicitly states.

Dispelling the Myths and Rumors

Myth 1: “Mary Magdalene Was a Prostitute”

The Bible never says this. Not once. This claim usually comes from conflating Mary Magdalene with the unnamed “sinful woman” in Luke 7.

But Luke himself separates these accounts. The “sinful woman” appears in Luke 7:36–50. Mary Magdalene is introduced afterward in Luke 8:1–2 as a different person, and Luke identifies her by name and origin. If Luke meant they were the same woman, he would have said so. Instead, he introduces Mary fresh, with a completely different descriptor: seven demons.

Myth 2: “Mary Magdalene Was the Woman Caught in Adultery”

That woman is in John 8:1–11 and is never named. Scripture never identifies her as Mary Magdalene. Any connection is a complete fabrication.

Myth 3: “Mary Magdalene Was Jesus’ Wife or Romantic Partner”

There is nothing in Scripture to support this. The interactions in John 20 are reverent, not romantic. Jesus calls the disciples “My brethren” (John 20:17), and Mary functions as a messenger of resurrection truth, not as a secret spouse.

Myth 4: “Mary Magdalene Was an Apostle”

She is not called an apostle in Scripture. She is a faithful disciple and a key witness. Some later traditions call her “apostle to the apostles,” but that is a later title, not a biblical office.

Myth 5: “Seven Demons Means She Was Extremely Immoral”

The Bible never makes that link. Demonic oppression in Scripture is not always tied to sexual sin. It is sometimes tied to physical infirmity, spiritual affliction, or oppression beyond what we are told. We must not add accusations the Bible does not make.

What Her Life Teaches Us Biblically

Mary Magdalene is a portrait of what grace produces… loyalty, courage, and devotion. She shows the power of Christ to deliver her completely from her demons and displayed the beauty of a life that is anchored to Jesus.

She also shows how God honors faithfulness. The Lord could have appeared first to Pilate, to Caiaphas, to Herod, Rome, Peter, or the beloved disciple John. Instead… He appears first to a woman who loved Him and remained near to Him, even when hope looked bleak.  Even when the testimony of a woman was no good.  And all of this was not an accident…

“But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise…” (1 Corinthians 1:27)

My Final Thoughts

Mary Magdalene is not a woman caught in sexual immorality. She is a key biblical eye witness to deliverance, discipleship, and the resurrection itself. The Bible tells us enough to honor her rightly and prevents us from slandering her with invented backstories. When we keep her in the text, she becomes more meaningful… not less. She is a testimony that Jesus Christ delivers fully, keeps His own, and reveals Himself first to those who cling to Him in faith.

If we want to be faithful interpreters, we must stop repeating tradition where Scripture is silent. Mary Magdalene doesn’t need a sensational past to be significant. The resurrection is enough. Her faithfulness is enough. And Christ’s grace is enough.