MARY AND JESUS
The 2006 film The Da Vinci Code sent shockwaves through Christian media with its tale of a forbidden romance between Jesus and his disciple Mary Magdalene. According to the author Dan Brown, the two were secretly married, and their children began a divine bloodline that survives to this day. Scholars, pastors, and theologians were quick to reject the story's salacious tone and shaky research. Yet for all its controversy, The Da Vinci Code raised questions that people have asked since ancient times — questions many Christians may be surprised to hear. In this article, we'll explore what the Bible and other forgotten scriptures have to say about the possibility of a romantic connection between Jesus and Mary Magdalene.
If you know anything about Gnosticism, you've probably heard about the Gospel of Mary. Most of the text takes place after the crucifixion, when the frightened disciples fear for their lives. Hoping to embolden her friends, Mary courageously delivers a sermon revealed to her by the risen Christ. Peter, who's traditionally thought to be the group's leader, asks Mary to reveal those things Christ told her.
7. Peter said to Mary: “Sister, we are aware that the Savior loved you more than other women. 8. Tell us the words of the Savior that you can recall, that you know but we do not, and that we have not heard.”
‒ Mary 4:7-8 「BG 8502」
Notice what he said: “the Savior loved you more than other women.” Another manuscript of Mary 4:7 goes further.
7. Peter said to Mary: “Sister, we know that you are greatly loved greatly by the Savior, like no other woman.”
‒ Mary 4:7 「P. Oxy. 3525」
You can already see where we're going. Even in the early days, many churches saw a unique relationship between Mary and her Savior. But how unique are we talking? The previous passages compare her to other women, but what about the disciples? The conflict in the final scene of the Gospel reveals it's not just other women whom Jesus prefers her to.
78. Levi said to Peter: “Peter, you are always hot-tempered, and now you are interrogating the woman like adversaries treat her. 9. If the Savior judged her as worthy, who are you to discount her? 10. Knowing her, he certainly loved her quite well.”
‒ Mary 6:8-10 「P. Ryl. 463」
8. Levi answered and said to Peter: “Peter, you have always been hot-tempered, now that I see you getting upset with the woman like adversaries do. 9. If, however, the Savior made her worthy, who are you then to rebuff her? 10. The Savior certainly knows her quite well, which is why he loved her more than us.
‒ Mary 6:8-10 「BG 8502」
“He loved her more than us” is quite the admission! By contrast, Levi calls Peter “the adversary,” an allusion to his “get thee behind me, Satan!” line in the canonicals. Notice in particular why Jesus is angry.
33. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said,
‒ Mark 8:33 NRSV
23. But he turned and said to Peter,
‒ Matthew 16:23 NRSV
Whereas in Mary, Christ delivers a vision in which he praises her for her spiritual resolve and focus.
11. He replied, saying to me:
‒ Mary 4:11-12 「BG 8502」
11. He answered me and said:
‒ Mary 4:11 Curtis
If you haven't read the Gospel of Mary yet, you should. It is a blessing. There you'll find a remarkably feminist story of Jesus's closest disciple overcoming conflict both human and divine. Like the story of Joseph in Genesis, she is at first rejected by the disciples for her unique relationship with Jesus and the novelty of her message. In the end, however, the disciples reconcile with her teachings and embrace her vision before setting out to spread the good news. It's great stuff.
Let's now turn to the Gospel of Philip, where an even more provocative picture emerges that some reading will have been waiting for.
2. The companion is Mary of Magdala. Jesus loved her more than his students. He kissed her often on her face, more than all his students, and they said, “Why do you love her more than us?”
The savior answered, saying to them,
‒ Philip 50:2-4
Kissed her on the face? That's unusual. Now, it's worth noting that this word is a lacuna. What's a lacuna? You're not the first to ask!
A lacuna is a hole in the manuscript, requiring reconstructive efforts to fill in. It's not a body part, as our Quora friend seems to think. All jokes aside, there's something rather deep happening here. While the literal reading is suggestive, Philip is known for its abstruse style with layered metaphor. One could understand the kiss (or embrace as Dr. Zinner translates) as a conferral of sacred knowledge, Jesus imparting on her divine insight. That's not to say it can't be romantic, or both, but there's nuance here. In any case, she is his companion, uniquely aware of who Christ was.
1. Three Marys walked with the Lord: His mother, his sister, and Mary of Magdala, his companion.
‒ Philip 29:1
In Dialogue of the Savior another view of Mary Magdalene emerges. Here she's an inquisitive student, learning from her teacher as a disciple no different from the others. In fact, the text even notes her aptitude, as she's the only person to answer a theological question besides Jesus.
13. Mary said: “In this way, the trouble of each day is sufficient. 14. Workers are worthy of their food. 15. Students will be equal to their teachers.” 16. She said this as a woman who understood everything.
‒ Dialogue 11:13-16
We find a similar theme throughout Pistis Sophia, wherein Mary is repeatedly praised for her insight and penetrating questions.
1. It came to pass then, when Mary had finished saying these words, that he said:
‒ Pistis 19:1
1. And Jesus answered and said unto Mary:
‒ Pistis 25:1
Some readers will feel the canonicals are all that matter. Let's now turn to the Gospel of John. Mary features prominently in this account, always staying by his side. Even when Peter and the others flee, she watches his crucifixion.
25. Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother and his mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen.
‒ John 19:25
In fact, recent scholarship by Dr. Elizabeth Schrader argues Mary's role was played down in the manuscript record. Watch this video to learn more about the attempts to remove her from the Gospel of John. Makes you wonder what you're not supposed to know!
Let's look at my favorite scene from John, Christ's appearance to Mary Magdalene.
10. So the disciples went away again to their own homes. 11. But Mary was standing outside at the tomb weeping. So as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb, 12. and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13. They asked her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they have laid him.”
14. When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, and didn’t know that it was Jesus.
15. Jesus said to her,
She, supposing him to be the gardener, said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”
16. Jesus said to her, She turned and said to him, “Rabboni!” which is to say, “Master!”
17. Jesus said to her,
18. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had said these things to her.
‒ John 20:10-17
The scene is as touching as it is insightful. First, notice how familiar they are. Everyone has left, except Mary, who stays by the tomb to weep for her Lord. The two excitedly recognize each other, after which Mary tries to embrace Jesus. This physical act would have been completely unacceptable in the region 2000 years ago. A woman isn't supposed to touch, much less embrace, someone who's not her husband.
Second, scholars have noted the parallel to Adam and Eve. It's argued that some oral traditions saw Mary and Jesus as a reversal of the fall, a new syzygy reuniting male and female. The two becoming one, so to speak, as the Gospels of Thomas and Mary describe. You can read more about these ideas in this excellent paper by Dr. Zinner.
We see again the theological multivalence of their potential romance. A much prettier, and indeed less immediately strange, picture develops in the right spiritual framework. This is particularly true in Gnosticisms, which often describe the Aeons as gendered pairs. After all, Sophia's mistake was creating something without her male counterpart. John 20 could be a kind of restoration.
The aforementioned paper collects a few more passages from later writings, like this Old Saxon text, where Mary is explicitly referred to as his wife. Note that this is from 830-840 CE and is not the modern forgery you may have heard about.
And straightway she came closer, the wife, with good will, and recognized her savior himself. In her love she could not refrain, but with her hands she longed to hold him, the woman to touch the World‐Lord.
‒ The Heiland
“She longed to hold him” evokes John 20:17. While I'm not saying The Heiland is historical, it says a lot church fathers would write these kinds of things. It shows that their romance was still theologically “on the table” even through the 9th century.
But were they actually married? Let's consider Second Temple customs from the time.
2. Those born of an illicit union shall not come into the assembly of the Lord. Even to the tenth generation, none of their descendants shall come into the assembly of the Lord.
‒ Deuteronomy 23:2
Whether Jesus was actually born of a virgin or not, Jewish Law would have considered him illegitimate. Therefore, he couldn't marry in the eyes of his community. But he could still have a mate! Her name being Mary Magdalene. This would further explain why Matthew 1's genealogy mentions other promiscuous women who were redeemed in the eyes of Judaism. That and why, once the virgin birth narrative became dominant, scribes would want to reduce Mary's role in the Gospel of John.
That isn't to say you need to accept Adoptionism to think Mary and Jesus were partners, but that both theories lend evidence to the other. Like I said though, even if Mother Mary was a virgin, the Jewish community wouldn't have believed her. So, legally speaking, Jesus would have been a bastard.
So, should you believe Mary and Jesus were a thing? That's a personal matter of faith and what you consider historical. But the above should help clarify why this question has been asked throughout the ages. This isn't a modern phenomenon pushed by Hollywood; it's a belief Christians have sincerely held since antiquity, the precise nature of their relationship offering shades of nuance and theological meaning.
AUTHOR
This article was written by Rachel Bousfield. Opinions are hers alone.
Want to talk about it? Join us on our Discord server! There you'll find a community of heretics, mystics, and other spiritual wayfarers interested in discussing ancient texts.
SEE ALSO
Translating ancient texts is expensive! Join us on Patreon to support our mission.