Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene is named among women who supported Jesus’ ministry and is consistently present in the passion and resurrection traditions. The Gospels place her at the cross, burial or tomb, with variations in the accompanying group and sequence.
Mary Magdalene in the larger story
Her role as an early witness is clear across all four Gospels. The Bible never identifies her as the unnamed sinful woman of Luke 7 or as a sex worker; that familiar fusion is a later tradition.
Interpretive caution: Later legends should not be inserted into the Gospel accounts without being labeled as later reception history.
Key moments and where to read them
Supporting the Galilean ministry
Luke names Mary among women traveling with and providing for the group.
Luke 8:1–3At the burial and tomb
Mary observes the burial and returns after the Sabbath.
Mark 15:40–16:8Meeting the risen Jesus
John narrates a personal encounter in the garden and a commission to tell the disciples.
John 20:11–18
Primary reference trail
Luke 8:1–3 · Matthew 27:55–28:10 · Mark 15:40–16:11 · Luke 23:49–24:12 · John 19:25 · John 20:1–18
The references above locate the profile’s central claims. They are not a concordance of every possible allusion or later tradition concerning Mary Magdalene.