C.N.C. 7-85

A defence of MARY MAGDALENE

the gnostic who knew the all

Mary, called the Magdalene, the archetypical adulteress reformed by Jesus, is an important figure in the western tradition. But for the wrong reason, as there is no evidence, either in the Gospels or Apocrypha, or the Church Fathers, that she was an adulteress or harlot. The Church has allowed that belief to continue, and often encouraged stories of her conversion from prostitution to the faith. It was not until the seventh century in the Western Church that Mary Magdalene was identified with the ‘sinner’[1] who washed his feet, while the Orthodox Church has kept them separate.

The Greek Church followed the exegesis of Origen and always distinguished three separate women: Mary of Betheny, Lazerus’ sister; Mary Magdalene, the witness of the Resurrection; and the “sinner.” In the Orthodox calendar, their feasts are kept on three different days. But in the west, ever since the interpretation of Pope Gregory the Great (590-604), the three have been combined under the name of Mary Magdalene, whose memory is celebrated on July 22.[2]

The destruction of the reputation of Mary Magdalene served the church well in its suppression of women through the ages. That the stories have no basis and the accepted tradition is a lie does not seem to matter, it seems that the ends justify the means in organized religion. Let us look at the facts as we have them in the writings of the Gospels, Apocrypha, and contemporary works.

First the canonical Gospels:

(Luke 8:1-3) Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, {2} as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, {3} and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources.

(Mark 15:40-41) There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. {41} These used to follow him and provided for him when he was in Galilee; and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.

(Mark 15:45-47) When he [Pilate] learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. {46} Then Joseph bought a linen cloth, and taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. {47} Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was laid.

(John 20:1) Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb.

(Mark 16:9-11) Now after he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. {10} She went out and told those who had been with him, while they were mourning and weeping. {11} But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.

Always seven demons! There is no mention of a seventh commandment, only seven demons. For the church fathers the Mary Magdalene of the Gospels is the only one they know, and when writing on subjects where mention would be expected such as Adultery, or Prostitution Mary is not used by example or illustration. The early Fathers of the church up to the fourth century mention her as little as possible; but not the writers of the Apocrypha. They held her in high regard, so high that she rivals Jesus Himself and overshadows the Apostles in her wisdom. We can read of this adoration of the Magdalene in the Gospel of Mary; Peter said to Mary:

“Sister we know the lord loved you more than the rest of the women. Tell us the words of the saviour which you remember, which you know, but we do not nor have heard them.’ Mary answered and said, “What is hidden from you I will proclaim to you..”

Peter answered... “Did He really speak with a woman without our knowledge and not openly? Are we to turn about and all listen to her? Did he prefer her to us?” Then Mary wept and said to Peter, “My brother Peter, what do you think that I thought this up myself in my heart, or that I am lying about the Savior?” Levi answered and said to Peter, “Peter, you have always been hot-tempered. Now I see you contending against the woman like the adversaries. But if the Savior made her worthy, who are you indeed to reject her? Surely the Savior knows her very well. That is why He loved her more than us...”[3]

Also in the Gospel of Thomas; Simon Peter said to them:

“Let Mary go out from among us, because women are not worthy of the Life.” Jesus said, “See, I shall lead her, so that I make her a male, that she too may become a living spirit, resembling you males.’[4]

On the ‘Companion of Jesus’ [E Hetaire, = companion, which can also mean courtesan or whore.]

“There were three who always walked with the Lord Mary his mother and her sister and the Magdalene, the one who was called his companion. His sister and his mother and his companion were each a Mary.”[5]

As for the Wisdom who is called “the barren,” she is the mother [of the] angels. And the companion of the [...] Mary Magdalene. [... loved] her more than [all] the disciples.[and used to] kiss her [often] on her [...]. The rest of [the disciples...]. They said to him, “Why do you love her more than all of us?” The savior answered and said to them, “Why do I not love you like her? When a blind man and one who sees are both together in darkness, they are no different from one another. When the light comes, then he who sees will see the light, and he who is blind will remain in darkness.” The Lord said, “Blessed is he who is before he came into being. For he who is, has been and shall be.”[6]

We have seen that the accounts of Mary Magdalene written during the period of the formation of the church make no mention of a reputation for Adultery. On the contrary we see her as a very respected companion of Jesus. To discover what the seven demons represented to the people of the period would assist our understanding of Mary Magdalene and her role in the early church. There is an interesting prayer that could have come from Mary Magdalene in Acts of Thomas:

“Come, thou holy name of Christ that is above every name. Come, thou power of the Most High, and the compassion that is perfect. Come, gift (charism) of the Most High. Come, compassionate Mother. Come, she that revealeth the hidden mysteries. Come, Mother of the seven houses, that thy rest may be in the seventh house.[7] Come, elder of the five members, Mind, Thought, Reflection, Consideration, Reason; communicate with these young men. Come, Holy Spirit, and cleanse their reins and their heart, and give them the added seal, in the name of the Father and the Son and Holy Ghost.”[8]

This prayer reads like an initiation by a priestess of an Astrological cult. That Mary Magdalene was a votary of such a cult before Jesus came into her life, would seem to be a more satisfactory explanation than some violation of the seventh commandment.

In light of modern archaeological discoveries such as the ‘Nag Hammadi Library’ and other collections of writing from the period it seems certain that the Astrological Seven (rather than seventh sin) is meant when speaking of the demons of the Magdalene. In the Gnostic works she plays a dominant role, in the Pistis Sophia Mary asks the questions [39 out of the 42 asked] and also answers most of them from Jesus, to the annoyance of the Apostles.

It came to pass then, when Jesus had finished speaking these words unto his disciples, that he said unto them: “Do ye understand in what manner I discourse with you?” And Peter started forward and said unto Jesus: “My Lord, we will not endure this woman, for she taketh the opportunity from us and hath let none of us speak, but she discourseth many times.” And Jesus answered and said unto his disciples: “Let him in whom the power of his spirit shall seeth, so that he understandeth what I say, come forward and speak...”[9]

It is she who explains the ascent of the soul through the spheres and the judgements in the after-life.

It came to pass then, when Mary had heard the Saviour say these words, that she gazed fixedly into the air for the space of an hour. She said: “My lord. give commandment unto me to speak in openness.” And Jesus, the compassionate, answered and said unto Mary: “Mary, thou blessed one, whom I will perfect in all mysteries of those of the height, discourse in openness, thou, whose heart is raised to the kingdom of heaven more than all thy brethren.” Then said Mary to the Saviour...

She then explains Jesus’ description of the Planetary ascent, and Jesus blesses her:

It came to pass then, when Mary had finished saying these words, that He said: “Well said Mary, for thou art blessed before all women on the earth, because thou shalt be the fullness of all fullness’s and the perfection of all perfections.”[10]

There is another Gnostic work called the Dialogue of the Savior which also has Mary Magdalene in a prominent position asking questions of Jesus on at least an equal standing with the Disciples.

Mary said, “Thus about the wickedness of each day and the laborer being worthy of his food, and the disciple resembling his teacher.” This word she spoke as a woman who knew the All.[11]

(83) Mary said, “There is but one saying I will speak to the Lord concerning the mystery of truth: In this we have taken our stand, and to the cosmic we are transparent.”[12]

The “cosmic” to which they are “transparent” are the seven Planetary spheres, governors or administrators, which were thought to impede the ascent to the true Heaven. The worship of the Planetary Gods was never so wide spread as during the times we are examining. The ‘Roman Peace’ and communication throughout the world, combined with the Alexandrian centred explosion of learning, fostered a revival in philosophical and religious study which mixed the East and West.

In the Pistis Sophia, where Mary takes precedence, we find that the whole work is built around the Cosmic or Planetary ascent. Almost every part of the world at that time was penetrated by Mystical sects promising a new life here and survival after death. Most of these used the Heavens and Planets as their symbols of higher Truths. That Mary Magdalene had done the same would not be surprising. Her name, Magdalene, may even be derived from the feminine of Magus - Magi.

That the later church suppressed such Astrological cults and their Mary Magdalene is certain; that to blacken her reputation the story of the fallen woman was invented for circulation is fair speculation. However, a converted Votary or Priestess of a Gnostic Astrological cult is more likely, than the adulteress, to be Jesus’ ‘companion’ and ‘first witness of the Resurrection.’

C.N.C. 7-85

[3] Gospel of Mary, ch.10, N.H.L., 2nd ed., pp. 526,527

[5] Gospel of Philip, N.H.L., 2nd ed., p. 145, 59.9.

[6] Gospel of Philip (II,3), 63.34-65.12, N.H.L., 2nd ed., p.148

[11] Dialogue of the Savior, N.H.L., 1st ed., p. 235

[12] Dialogue of the Savior, N.H.L., 2nd ed., p. 253