خلاصة:
In the early Christianity, women alongside men continued to spread new religion across the world. Some of them supported Jesus’s disciples in economic terms, and some others, traveled from village to village, from town to town in order to proclaim “the kingdom of God”. Thus, several women have been figured out as missionaries. Meanwhile, throughout early Christian writings, Mary the Magdalene is known as the companion (Σύντροφος) of Jesus. According to Christian writings, she witnessed the Crucifixion, and contrary to the disciple who fled, she remained faithful to her master (διδασκάλος) until the last breath, and she was the first one who saw the resurrected Jesus and began to report the disciples. Moreover, Gnostic gospels and Church fathers have cited her as an apostle (απόστολος) and even as a disciple. Particularly, Gnostic writings refer to a considerable intimacy between her and Jesus Christ. In ongoing research, by exploring the New Testament, Gnostic treatises, and the writings of Church fathers, we will examine her role and image in Christianity up until the end of Middle Ages, and will refer to Mary and Jesus’s relationship. Additionally, we will concentrate on the main fact whether one can regard her as an apostle.
ملخص الجهاز:
Of course, it should not be overlooked that in early Christianity, a kind of competition existed between Mary Magdalene and women on one side, and Peter the Apostle and his followers, mostly men, on the other.
In the Gospel of Mark, Mary Magdalene and other women are introduced as witnesses to the crucifixion and burial of Jesus (AS) (15:40, 47).
In the Gospel of Luke, she and other women are mentioned as companions of Jesus, who went from city to city and village to village alongside Jesus (AS) to proclaim the coming of the Kingdom of God, and also helped Jesus (AS) and His disciples from their own possessions (8:1-3); although initially the names of Mary Magdalene and the other women are not mentioned, later she is introduced as someone who was a witness to the resurrection of Jesus (AS) (24:10).
Given these points, it can be said that Mary Magdalene also possessed the conditions for being an apostle; because she both saw Jesus, believed in Him, and was a witness to His resurrection.
In this treatise, twelve disciples of Jesus and seven women are mentioned, but among the women, only the name of Mary Magdalene is referred to 2.
In this treatise, four women named Mary Magdalene, Salome, Martha, and Arsenoe are also mentioned; in fact, these women are considered among the disciples of Jesus here.
John Chrysostom, in his other work, namely the commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, mentions the courage of women, especially Mary Magdalene.
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