Mary Magdalene played a significant role in the development of Christianity by supporting Jesus during his ministry, being the first witness to his resurrection, and spreading the news of his resurrection. She had a major impact by causing divisions in the church over interpretations of her role, inspiring feminist theology that critiques patriarchal views of women's roles, and serving as a role model for women's leadership and repentance. Her story has led to renewed study of early Christian texts and sparked ongoing debates around power structures in the church.

1. The Contribution and Impact of Mary Magdalene
on the
Development and Expression on Christianity
You will need to use references to texts etc. and quotes wherever possible.
Her Contribution
1. She helped Christianity develop in its formative years.
a. By providing for Jesus’ physical requirements (food, shelter, resources)
from her own resources (with other women).
b. Arguably she provided a sounding board for Jesus’ to clarify his ideas.
This is supported through a reading of the Gospel of Mary.
c. She supported Jesus as a friend by staying with him during the
crucifixion and while the tomb was prepared.
d. She was a first witness to the resurrection and therefore proof that he
was the “saviour” – central to Christian belief.
e. She was the first to “spread the good news” of the resurrection to the
apostles and thus became the “apostle to the apostles”.
f. Her presence and closeness to Jesus during his ministry would have
encouraged other marginalised women to listen to his teaching and
approach him for healing. She also would have told others of her
healing (Jesus casting out seven demons).
g. She broadened the base of people Jesus’ ministry reached including
women.
h. She reassured and encouraged the apostles who were scared and
despondent after Jesus’ death. It can be inferred from The Gospel of
Mary that she kept Christianity going as it may have died out as a
movement.
2. She contributed to later Christianity (after the Schism of 1054 C.E.).
a. She was seen as a symbol of repentance by the Roman Church after her
identification in a sermon by Pope Gregory in 591, which said: "She
whom Luke calls the sinful woman, whom John calls Mary [of Bethany],
we believe to be the Mary from whom seven devils were ejected
according to Mark."
b. In the Orthodox Churches she was seen as having been a virtuous
woman all her life and as a witness to the resurrection and because of
her subsequent missionary activity in spreading the Gospel, she is
known by the title, “Equal to the Apostles”.
3. In the 20th Century she has become a subject of interest and a heroine for
feminist theologians who reject the patriarchal notion that women are to be
submissive and led rather than lead.
a. Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza (a Catholic theologian from the Harvard
Divinity School) in “In Memory of Her” (1983) sees the identification of
Mary Magdalene with a prostitute as evidence of misinterpretation of
scripture by a patriarchal church structure and as a result a sidelining of
women within the Church. The rejection of the Gospels of Philip and

2. Mary that present Mary as both a teacher and leader are further
evidence of this.
b. Jane Schaberg’s book, “The Resurrection of Mary Magdalene” (2002)
tries to restore Magdalene’s image as a women who was faithful to her
teacher to the end and that her labelling over time was due to the threat
that a women was too close to Jesus and knew to much.
c. She is a rallying point for movements advocating the ordination of
women and/or greater involvement in Church management and
decision making.
Her Impact
1. Attempting to come to terms with who she was has, over the centuries, led to:
a. Division between the Roman and Eastern Orthodox Churches.
b. The development of new branches of religious study and investigation
such as feminist theology, and new interpretations (readings) of scripture
analysing instances of possible male bias.
c. Conflict and controversy over the power structure of the Church in its
earliest years and in modern times.
d. Renewed interest in non-canonical gospels and the study of ancient
Christian texts and early Christianity.
e. Inspiration and the provision of a role model
i. for women seeking ordination.
ii. for people seeking repentance.
f. A new focus for some in seeing Mary’s treatment by, and relationship to,
Jesus as meaning that human pre-occupation with gender struggles is
perhaps missing the point, and that Mary Magdalene is an example of
faith rather than someone who Jesus used to redress the balance of the
sexes.
g. A reinvigoration of interest in Christianity and the workings of the
Christian Church through analysis of her role in popular culture.