[62] Casey argues that Jesus was given a proper burial by Joseph of Arimathea,[63] noting that, on some very rare occasions, Roman governors did release the bodies of executed prisoners for burial. Because The Chosen seeks to be kid-friendly, it most likely uses the term "Red Quarter" in order to hint to older viewers that Mary is a prostitute without explicitly mentioning prostitution or sex. Mary Magdalene is never called Lili or Lilith in the Bible. [145] A sermon attributed to Hippolytus of Rome (c. 170 235) refers to Mary of Bethany and her sister Martha seeking Jesus in the garden like Mary Magdalene in John 20, indicating a conflation between Mary of Bethany and Mary Magdalene. This confusing reference is already in the original manuscript. [107] Many of these sayings are similar to ones in the canonical gospels,[108] but others are completely unlike anything found in the New Testament. I offer my work for free and rely on the generous support of readers like you. Mary Magdalene was a prominent figure in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. "[132][130], The Borborites, also known as the Phibionites, were an early Christian Gnostic sect during the late fourth century who had numerous scriptures involving Mary Magdalene,[133][134][135] including The Questions of Mary, The Greater Questions of Mary, The Lesser Questions of Mary, and The Birth of Mary. What do you think Mary's life was like before Jesus showed up? They said to him, "Why do you love her more than all of us?" [296], Her left hand relic is kept in the Simonopetra Monastery on Mount Athos. Let's look deeper into theses false stereotypes. Some fiction portrays her as the wife of Jesus. [31][32] In the first century, demons were believed widely to cause physical and psychological illness. "The Chosen" I Have Called You by Name (TV Episode 2017) - IMDb Due to COVID restrictions, my youth group watched The Chosen online using Zoom. [118][119] The text was probably written over a century after the historical Mary Magdalene's death. Who Was Mary Magdalene? And Why Do People Think She Was - Christianity This story was invented by The Chosen for the purposes of the plot. [27][28] Consequently, her devotion to Jesus resulting from this healing must have been very strong. However, some biblical interpreters mistakenly labeled her as such because the story before Luke 8 is about a prostitute being forgiven. [42][43][44] Carla Ricci notes that, in lists of the disciples, Mary Magdalene occupies a similar position among Jesus' female followers as Simon Peter does among the male apostles. In the Gnostic texts, or Gnostic gospels, Mary's closeness to Jesus results in tension with another disciple, Peter, due to her sex and Peter's envy of the special teachings given to her. When Nicodemus encounters her, we discover that the evil spirit that is possessing her is named Lilith. 1. [117] Roughly half the text of the gospel in this manuscript has been lost;[122][123] the first six pages and four from the middle are missing. They are the first to find it empty. In Pope Gregory's interpretation, the seven demons expelled from Mary Magdalene by Jesus are transformed into the seven deadly sins of medieval Catholicism,[150][163] leading Mary "to be condemned not only for lust, but for pride and covetousness as well. 1065/701132).[178]. "[150] The aspect of the repentant sinner became almost equally significant as the disciple in her persona as depicted in Western art and religious literature, fitting well with the great importance of penitence in medieval theology. resurrection. Mary Magdalene - Facts, Bible & Life - Biography Season 2 Reflection P2: What was The Chosen Season 2 about? [264] The same chapter says she did not delay in exercising the office of apostolate with which he had been honored (apostolatus officio quo honorata fuerat fungi non distulit). [185][186] The governor and his wife sail for Rome to meet the apostle Peter in person,[185] but their ship is struck by a storm, which causes the wife to go into labor. I am glad and blythe that St Jerome should say so". [82][75], Because scribes were unsatisfied with the abrupt ending of the Gospel of Mark, they wrote several different alternative endings for it. The trauma of her rape is hinted at again in Season 2, Episode 5, and is the trigger that causes Mary to backslide. [180][181] At first, the existence of the skeleton was merely asserted,[181] but, in 1265, the monks made a spectacular, public show of "discovering" it[181] and, in 1267, the bones were brought before the king of France himself, who venerated them. (he calls her by name at the end when he heals her). [48][49][50][51] James Dunn states of baptism and crucifixion that these "two facts in the life of Jesus command almost universal assent". Initially Mary doesn't recognize Jesus. In The Chosen, when we first meet Mary Magdalene, most of the characters refer to her as Lili. Mary's epithet Magdalene may mean that she came from the town of Magdala, a fishing town on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee in Roman Judea. Mary Magdalene is never called Lili or Lilith in the Bible. "[125] Unlike in the Gospel of Thomas, where women can only be saved by becoming men, in the Gospel of Mary, they can be saved just as they are. Almond, Philip C., 'Mary Magdalene: A Cultural History.' Jane Schaberg adds Geoffrey of Vendme (c. While watching the show, I made occasional comments through the chat but I tried to not do too much teaching - I wanted the youth to enjoy The Chosen and not just see it as an elaborate preaching illustration. You can find episode one free on YouTube here, although there are lots of ads. [249], Noli me tangere (c. 1440-1442), fresco by Fra Angelico, Mary Magdalene Reading (c. 15001510) by Piero di Cosimo, Mary Magdalene (early 1500s) by Ambrosius Benson, Magdalena Penitente (early 1500s) by Giampietrino, Mary Magdalene (1615) by Juan Bautista Mano, Penitent Magdalene (c. 15761578) by El Greco, Mary Magdalene (16151616 or 16201625) by Artemisia Gentileschi, St Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy (c. 16191620) by Peter Paul Rubens, Magdalene with the Smoking Flame (c. 1640) by Georges de La Tour, Christ Appearing to Mary Magdalene (between 1640 and 1650) by Pietro da Cortona, The Magdalene (before 1792) by George Romney, Mary Magdalene (18581860) by Frederick Sandys, Sarah Bernhardt as Maria Magdalena (1887) by Alfred Stevens, Christ and Mary Magdalene (1890) by Albert Edelfelt in a Finnish locale, The Eastern Orthodox Church has never identified Mary Magdalene with Mary of Bethany or the "sinful woman" who anoints Jesus in Luke 7:3650[254] and has always taught that Mary was a virtuous woman her entire life, even before her conversion. At one point, Jesus says, "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". FYI: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. [39] Jesus' ministry did bring women greater liberation than they would typically have held in mainstream Jewish society. [146], Mary Magdalene has the reputation in Western Christianity as being a repentant prostitute or loose woman; however, these statements are not supported by the canonical gospels, which at no point imply that she had ever been a prostitute or in any way notable for a sinful way of life. (Plots & Theme), Episode 2 Guide: Philip, Nathanael, & Matthew, Episode 3 Guide: Life Among the Disciples of Jesus, Episode 4 Guide: Simon the Zealot & the Man at the Bethesda Pool, Episode 5 Guide: Mary's Demons & the Destiny of John the Baptist, Episode 8 Guide: Judas, Matthew, & the Sermon on the Mount, Episode 1 Guide: Mary Magdalene, Lilith, and the Redeemer, Episode 2 Guide: Mary Magdalene, Nicodemus, and Shabbat, Episode 3 Guide: Depicting Jesus in Art, Film, and TV, Episode 4 Guide: When Jesus Met Simon (Peter), Episode 6 Guide: Jesus, Shmuel, & the Pharisees. [174][173] In the tenth century, Odo of Cluny (c. 880 942) wrote a sermon in which he described Mary as an extraordinarily wealthy noblewoman of royal descent. [65] Sanders affirms Jesus' burial by Joseph of Arimathea in the presence of Mary Magdalene and the other female followers as completely historical. They are legendary and mythological. [299] Jeffrey J. Kripal writes that "the historical sources are simply too contradictory and simultaneously too silent" to make absolute declarations regarding Jesus' sexuality.[324]. She is mentioned by name twelve times in the canonical gospels, more than most of the apostles and more than any other woman in the gospels, other . Hopefully these questions will prove helpful as you watch episode 1 of The Chosen with your youth group. If the savior made her worthy, who are you to reject her? Here are seven things we DO know about Mary. The second passage is the Scripture that Mary has written down: This passage that Mary's father taught her is from the Book of Isaiah. In the TV series Once Upon a Time, Lilith is the daughter of Maleficent. Why is Mary Magdalene Called Lilith in The Chosen? This comes out powerfully in the first Episode like to show you why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen here. [31] The dialogue consists of a conversation between Jesus, Mary and two apostles - Thomas the Apostle and Matthew the Apostle. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus were the most important women in Jesus's life. The Benedictine Order always celebrated Mary of Bethany together with Martha and Lazarus of Bethany on July 29, while Mary Magdalene was celebrated on July 22. Simon Peter said to them: Let Mary go forth from among us, for women are not worthy of the life. [321] Since Jesus taught that people should live as though the kingdom had already arrived, this teaching implied a life of unmarried celibacy. One of Jesus' most celebrated disciples, most of what is known about Mary Magdalene comes primarily from the New Testament Gospels. [155], In one of his preserved sayings, Gregory of Nyssa (c. 330 395) identifies Mary Magdalene as "the first witness to the resurrection, that she might set straight again by her faith in the resurrection, what was turned over in her transgression. [1][148][149] The misconception likely arose due to a conflation between Mary Magdalene, Mary of Bethany (who anoints Jesus' feet in John 11:112), and the unnamed "sinful woman" who anoints Jesus' feet in Luke 7:3650. [197] In 1449, King Ren d'Anjou gave to Angers Cathedral the amphora from Cana in which Jesus changed water to wine, acquiring it from the nuns of Marseilles, who told him that Mary Magdalene had brought it with her from Judea, relating to the legend where she was the jilted bride at the wedding after which John the Evangelist received his calling from Jesus. [185][187] Fourteen years after Jesus' crucifixion, some pagans throw Mary, Martha, Lazarus (who, in this account, is their brother due to a conflation with Mary of Bethany), and two other Christians named Maximin and Cedonius onto a rudderless boat in the Mediterranean Sea to die. Why do you think The Chosen is trying to connect episode 1 to what will happen when Jesus is resurrected? [236], The early notion of Mary Magdalene as a sinner and adulteress was reflected in Western medieval Christian art, where she was the most commonly depicted female figure after the Virgin Mary. When a blind man and one who sees are both together in darkness, they are no different from one another. [68][69][78] Then they went and told the eleven remaining apostles, who dismissed their story as nonsense. [307][308] The Da Vinci Code also purports that the figure of the "beloved disciple" to Jesus' right in Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper is Mary Magdalene, disguised as one of the male disciples;[309] art historians maintain that the figure is, in reality, the apostle John, who only appears feminine due to Leonardo's characteristic fascination with blurring the lines between the sexes, a quality which is found in his other paintings, such as St. John the Baptist (painted c. It had not yet been added at the time of the Tridentine Calendar of 1569 and is no longer found in the present General Roman Calendar but, once added, it remained until the General Roman Calendar of 1960. [5] Other Protestant churches honor her as a heroine of the faith. [157] Augustine of Hippo (354 430) entertained the possibility that Mary of Bethany and the unnamed sinner from Luke might be the same person,[159] but did not associate Mary Magdalene with either of them. Gospel of Mary - Wikipedia [320] The extremely late Greater Questions of Mary, which has not survived, allegedly portrayed Mary not as Jesus' wife or partner, but rather as an unwilling voyeur. As I noted above, in the Bible there is no indication that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. [120][121][119] As a result of numerous intervening conflicts, the manuscript was not published until 1955. [168][206] Luther and Huldrych Zwingli (1484 1531) both supported the composite Magdalene. [303] There is a theological interpretation of Mary as the Magdala, The Elegant Tower and certain churches honor her as a heroine of the faith in their teachings. The Bible includes Mary Magdalene in a list of women who had evil spirits healed by Jesus. [181] On December 9, 1279, an excavation ordered by Charles II, King of Naples at Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, Provence, led to the discovery of another purported burial of Mary Magdalene. in, This page was last edited on 2 March 2023, at 22:10. "[129][130] Peter responds, saying, "Did he really speak with a woman in private, without our knowledge? As the swooning Virgin Mary became more common, generally occupying the attention of John, the unrestrained gestures of Magdalene increasingly represented the main display of the grief of the spectators. (he is God). [185][186] Mary persuades the governor of the city not to offer sacrifices to a pagan god[185] and later persuades him to convert to Christianity after she proves the Christian God's power by successfully praying to Him to make the governor's wife pregnant. [167] Not only John Chrysostom in the East (Matthew, Homily 88), but also Ambrose (De virginitate 3,14; 4,15) in the West, when speaking of Mary Magdalene after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, far from calling her a harlot, suggest she was a virgin. [234][237] It was also criticized by many Christians, who were offended by the film's use of extracanonical source material. [236] The film, which described as having a "strongly feminist bent",[235] was praised for its music score and cinematography,[237] its surprising faithfulness to the Biblical narrative,[235] and its acting,[235][234] but was criticized as slow-moving,[234][235][237] overwritten,[237] and too solemn to be believable. These texts portray her as an apostle, as Jesus' closest and most beloved disciple and the only one who truly understood his teachings. [255] For centuries, it has been the custom of many Eastern Orthodox Christians to share dyed and painted eggs, particularly on Easter Sunday. [234][235][236] Instead, the film portrays her as Jesus' closest disciple[234][235][236] and the only one who truly understands his teachings. I wouldn't take too long discussing these questions. [176][177] This portrayal became so popular that it quickly spread to Germany and England. Now I see you arguing against this woman like an adversary. In chapter 8, when the Pevensie children are speaking to Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, they learn that a human must rule Narnia, and while she claims to be human, the White Witch is not at all human. The Gospel of Thomas, usually dated to the late first or early second century, was among the ancient texts discovered in the Nag Hammadi library in 1945. [265] Raymond E. Brown, commenting on this fact, remarks that Hrabanus Maurus frequently applies the word "apostle" to Mary Magdalene in this work. The Chosen isn't trying to mess with the Bible. Mary Magdalene, Lilith, & the Redeemer (Exploring The Chosen with Youth) New Testament apocrypha writings mention Mary Magdalene. [323], Maurice Casey rejects the idea of Mary Magdalene as Jesus' wife as nothing more than wild popular sensationalism. [13][10] They are not regarded by bible scholars as reliable sources of information about her life. [318], Ehrman states that the historical sources reveal absolutely nothing about Jesus' sexuality[319] and that there is no evidence whatsoever to support the idea that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married or that they had any kind of sexual or romantic relationship. Lilith is the name of Mary Magdalene when she first appears in episode one. Over time, the Western artistic tradition repeatedly depicted Mary as a prostitute and the mistaken association got stuck in the cultural consciousness. Why do you think The Chosen depicted Mary as a prostitute? [79][80], Mary Magdalene's role in the resurrection narrative is greatly increased in the account from the Gospel of John. [247], According to Robert Kiely, "No figure in the Christian Pantheon except Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and John the Baptist has inspired, provoked, or confounded the imagination of painters more than the Magdalene". [211] A massive number of Baroque paintings and sculptures depict the penitent Magdalene,[211][214] often showing her naked or partially naked, with a strong emphasis on her erotic beauty. (for LOTR: Arwen's bigger role, some action scenes. In these myths, Lilith was banished by . [47] Luke 23:49 mentioned a group of women watching the crucifixion, but did not give any of their names. [210] John Calvin (1509 1564) not only rejected the composite Magdalene,[210][207] but criticized Catholics as ignorant for having ever believed in it. For other uses, see, The Old and New Testament and Gnostic contexts and the text are discussed by. The portrayal of Mary Magdalene as a prostitute began in 591, when Pope Gregory I conflated Mary Magdalene, who was introduced in Luke 8:2, with Mary of Bethany (Luke 10:39) and the unnamed "sinful woman" who anointed Jesus' feet in Luke 7:3650. (Jesus), What about Jesus' identity does this hint at? I hope you enjoy them! [197] This portrayal of her inspired the sculptor Donatello (c. 1386 1466) to portray her as a gaunt and beaten ascetic in his wooden sculpture Penitent Magdalene (c. 1454) for the Florence Baptistery. "[145] This may indicate that Mary Magdalene was already being conflated with the "sinful woman" in Luke 7:3650, though Tertullian never clearly identifies the woman of whom he speaks as Mary Magdalene. "[219][220], The common identification of Mary Magdalene with other New Testament figures was omitted in the 1969 revision of the General Roman Calendar, with the comment regarding her liturgical celebration on July 22: "No change has been made in the title of today's memorial, but it concerns only Saint Mary Magdalene, to whom Christ appeared after his resurrection. Jesus said: Behold, I shall lead her, that I may make her male, in order that she also may become a living spirit like you males. Mary Magdalen , so called either from Magdala near Tiberias on the west shore of Galilee, or, possibly from a Talmudic expression MNRLA SY`RA NSYYA, i.e." curling women's hair", which the Talmud explains as of an adulteress. First Bible mention. [27][28][29] That seven demons had possessed Mary is repeated in Mark 16:9,[30][31] part of the "longer ending" of that gospel this is not found in the earliest manuscripts and is actually a second-century addition to the original text, possibly based on the Gospel of Luke. Some of these writings were cited as scripture by early Christians. [210], During the Counter-Reformation, Roman Catholicism began to strongly emphasize Mary Magdalene's role as a penitent sinner. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2023). Yes, Mary Magdalene is ONE of those three followers at all events leading to Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection . [47] Matthew 27:5556 lists Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James and Joseph, and the unnamed mother of the sons of Zebedee (who may be the same person Mark calls Salome). Mary Magdalene is considered to be a saint by the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran denominations. [133][136][135][137] Epiphanius says that the Greater Questions of Mary contained an episode in which, during a post-resurrection appearance, Jesus took Mary to the top of a mountain, where he pulled a woman out of his side and engaged in sexual intercourse with her. Following this, Jesus continues his explanation with a parable about the owner of a house and a thief, ending with the common rhetoric, "Whoever has ears to hear let him hear". The Gospel of Philip, dating from the second or third century, survives in part among the texts found in Nag Hammadi in 1945. [47] Mark 15:40 lists the names of these women as Mary Magdalene; Mary, mother of James; and Salome. In the Bible, there is no indication that Mary Magdalene was raped. Who Was Mary Magdalene in the Bible? - Bible Study Tools Mary Magdalene was the first eyewitness of the Risen Christ, and for this reason she was also the first to bear witness to him before the Apostles. [55][75] Nonetheless, the details of the accounts differ drastically. [176] From the twelfth century, Abbot Hugh of Semur (died 1109), Peter Abelard (died 1142), and Geoffrey of Vendome (died 1132) all referred to Mary Magdalene as the sinner who merited the title apostolorum apostola (Apostle to the Apostles), with the title becoming commonplace during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. [52] Nonetheless, the gospels' accounts of Jesus' crucifixion differ considerably[53] and most secular historians agree that some of the details in the accounts have been altered to fit their authors' theological agendas. She is believed to have . Just long enough to make this point: Adaptations often add, change, and leave out details, because what works in a book isn't always the same as what works in television or film. [186] De Voragine gives the common account of the transfer of Mary Magdalene's relics from her sepulchre in the oratory of Saint Maximin at Aix-en-Provence to the newly founded Vzelay;[193] the transportation of the relics is entered as undertaken in 771 by the founder of the abbey, identified as Gerard, Duke of Burgundy. The entire series, especially Episode 1, heavily features a character named Mary Magdalene. . Has my content helped you learn more about the Bible and explore it with your ministry or family? In the Golden Legend, De Voragine dismisses talk of John and Mary being betrothed and John leaving his bride at the altar to follow Jesus as nonsense. [307] There is no historical evidence (from the canonical or apocryphal gospels, other early Christian writings, or any other ancient sources) to support these statements. [227] Mary is likewise portrayed as a reformed prostitute in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's 1971 rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar. [10] Instead, it received its title because it is about her. [274] The Mass and Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) remain the same as they were, except that a specific preface was added to the Mass to refer to her explicitly as the "Apostle to the Apostles". [234][235][236] This portrayal is partially based on the Gnostic Gospel of Mary Magdalene. I've condensed the lesson into an easily printable pdf below. [104] Of the 64 questions, 39 are presented by a woman who is referred to as Mary or Mary Magdalene. What she therefore displayed more scandalously, she was now offering to God in a more praiseworthy manner. She is a central figure in later Gnostic Christian writings, including the Dialogue of the Savior, the Pistis Sophia, the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Philip, and the Gospel of Mary. After the Resurrection, He appeared first to her. On June 10, 2016, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments issued a decree which elevated Mary's liturgical commemoration from an obligatory memorial to a feast day, like that of most of the Apostles (Peter and Paul are jointly commemorated with a solemnity). [300] The gospel, at least in its current form, clearly and consistently identifies the disciple as having masculine gender, only ever referring to him using words inflected in the masculine. [168] Starting in around the eighth century, Christian sources record mention of a church in Magdala purported to have been built on the site of Mary Magdalene's house, where Jesus exorcized her of the seven demons.