Facts About Mary Magdalene: True or False? Quiz

Answer: True

True. Many theologians believe the name Magdalene suggests her home town is Magdala, a community on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, between Tiberias and Capernaum. Notes in the NIV Study Bible, for example, suggest Magdala is her home town.

In the entire Bible, Magdala is mentioned in only Matthew 15:39 in the KJV and the NKJV. (In the NIV, the place is called Magadan.) In a parallel passage in Mark 8:10, Magdala/Magadan is called Dalmanutha in the KJV, the NKJV and the NIV.

Answer: True

True. Mark 16:9, as well as Luke 8:2, state Jesus had driven seven demons out of Mary. However, no details are given with the verses simply stating the demons had been driven out previously.

Notes in the NKJV Study Bible state only Mark 16:9 and Luke 8:2 make reference to Jesus driving seven demons out of Mary "which would explain her strong devotion to Him."

Answer: False

Scripture doesn't give any details about Mary Magdalene's family. Luke 8:2 simply states Jesus had driven seven demons out of her. In fact, little in the way of details are given about Mary Magdalene as well as the other people who followed Jesus during His three years of ministry.

Mary was the name of six women of the Bible. In addition to Mary Magdalene, they include mother of Jesus, the sister of Lazarus, the wife of Cleopas, the mother of John Mark, and a Christian in Rome.

Answer: False

No age is given for Mary Magdalene. The only woman to have her age listed in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament and New Testament of the English Bible is Sarah with Genesis 23:1 stating she was 127 years old at the time of her death. (Luke 2:37 states the prophetess Anna was a widow of about 84 years but no details are given about her exact age.)

My personal view is that it's likely Mary Magdalene was actually in her 40s, or possibly older. After all, the other women in her group would have been around such an age. Mary, the mother of Jesus, would have been something like 47 years old during the end of Christ's ministry. The figure is based on the belief she was about 14 years old when she gave birth to Jesus and Christ was about 33 years old at the time of His crucifixion. Matthew 27:55-56, makes mention of two other women in Mary Magdalene's group: Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons. It's possible the two other women were also in their 40s. As a result, an assumption can be easily made that Mary Magdalene was much the same age as the other women in her group and was older than how she is perceived today. It's all speculation, of course. No one knows for certain.

Incidentally Luke 15:7 contains a quote from Jesus in which He tells the Parable of the Lost Sheep. The verse in the NIV Bible states: "I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."

Answer: False

No details are given in regards to Mary Magdalene's appearance. On this topic, not a single woman in the New Testament is described as beautiful. However, in the Hebrew Bible, or the Old Testament of the English Bible, a number of women are described as beautiful, including Sarah, Rebekah, Esther, Abigail, Bathsheba and Abishag.

Answer: True

True. Matthew 27:55-56, in the NKJV Bible, states: "And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons."

Answer: False

False. John 19:25, in the NKJV Bible states: "Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene." It's interesting to note Mary Magdalene's name appears last, possibly indicating she was not as close to Jesus as some people have speculated.

Answer: False

There isn't a single indication in Scripture the two spent any time alone. This despite some of the beliefs being perpetuated today. It's interesting to note that after His resurrection, Jesus told Mary Magdalene "touch me not" in the KJV.

John 20:16-18, in the KJV states: "Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that he had spoken these things unto her."

The Web site Christiananswers.net offers this perspective: "The idea that this Mary was 'the woman who was a sinner,' or that she was unchaste, is altogether groundless."

Answer: True

Matthew 28:1-2, in the NIV Bible, explains things this way: "After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it."

Scripture goes on to report about the resurrection of Christ from the dead.

Answer: True

True. Mark 16:9 in the NKJV Bible states: "Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons."

Incidentally, Mary is the English translation of Maria or Miriam, a common Hebrew name.