Introduction
Mary Magdalene, described in the Gospel of Luke (8:1-3) as a woman from whom Jesus cast out seven demons, later became one of His most devoted followers. Her significant role in the New Testament has been deliberately downplayed by mainstream churches, and the Catholic Church has sought to undermine her reputation (Ehrman 2006) (note 1). Nevertheless, she was undoubtedly a special and close companion of Jesus. There is strong evidence to suggest that she was an advocate for animal rights and veganism, a beloved disciple and potential successor, a civil partner, or even the wife of Jesus.
Full Text: https://www.vegantheology.net/post/jesus-and-mary-magdalene-as-vegan-companions-by-dr-chapman-chen
1. A Very Special, Close Friend of Jesus
Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus’ closest friends and supporters. She was present at His crucifixion, burial, and resurrection, a role given to no other disciple (John 19:25; Mark 15:40-41; Matthew 27:55-56; Luke 24:10). According to the Gospel of Luke (8:1-3), she provided financial support to Jesus' ministry. The name "Magdalene" is derived from Magdala, a prosperous fishing port, suggesting that she was a woman of means. Her unwavering devotion and presence during Jesus' most crucial moments indicate a deep and unique bond between them.
2. Vegan Advocacy Partners
Jesus was a staunch advocate of nonviolence and compassion, which aligns with vegan principles. He declared, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice" (Matthew 9:13), challenging the practice of animal sacrifice. Early church sources, such as Eusebius' Church History (2.23.5–6) and Eisenman (2021:392), indicate that Jesus came from a vegetarian or vegan family. Jesus warned against indulgence in flesh-eating (Luke 21:34, Evangelion Da-Mepharreshe), showed concern for animals (Mark 12:31; Matthew 10:29, 21:1-7, 25:40; Linzey 2010: 60-61; Luke 14:5), and lived in peace with wild animals (Mark 1:12-13).
Most significantly, Jesus' actions in the Temple suggest that He died for animal liberation. By driving out the merchants and freeing the animals destined for slaughter, He disrupted the corrupt economic system of the chief priests and scribes, who conspired to kill Him soon afterward (Mark 11:15-18; Akers 2020). Given her status as His closest disciple, Mary Magdalene was likely a vegan and an active participant in His animal rights activism. This is further supported by the fact that Gnostic communities, which often portrayed Magdalene as Jesus’ most trusted disciple, were known for their vegan practices.
Several Gnostic texts emphasize Mary Magdalene’s privileged status among Jesus’ disciples:
· Gospel of Mary (2nd century AD) – Presents her as Jesus’ most trusted disciple, teaching a spiritual rather than hierarchical faith.
· Gospel of Philip (3rd century AD) – Refers to Magdalene as Jesus’ "companion," a term that may suggest a close spiritual or even marital bond.
· Pistis Sophia (3rd-4th century AD) – Describes Mary as the disciple who best understood Jesus' teachings, surpassing the male apostles.
Evidence for Gnostic veganism also exists:
· Gospel of the Egyptians (Nag Hammadi Library, 4th century AD) – Suggests that meat consumption is linked to corruption and ignorance.
· Acts of Thomas (3rd century AD) – Promotes an ascetic lifestyle that includes vegetarianism.
· The Manichaeans (3rd-4th century AD) – Practiced strict veganism as a rejection of material evil.
· The Cathars (12th-14th century AD) – Rejected all forms of killing and followed a vegan diet.
3. Closest Disciple and Successor
The Gospel of Mary reveals that Jesus entrusted Mary Magdalene with secret teachings (Ch. 5.7-11, 8.10-24) and that she was meant to lead the disciples after His departure. This caused resentment among other disciples, particularly Andrew and Peter (Ch. 9.2-4), but Levi (Matthew) defended her (Ch. 6-9), confirmed that Jesus knew her well and loved her more than all the other disciples and that she was meant to lead the disciples after His departure (Ch. 6-10). Scholars recognize her as a key leader in early Christianity (King 2003; Schaberg 2002). Her prominence was later diminished by Church authorities who sought to impose a male-dominated leadership structure.
4. Civil Partner
In the Gospel of Mary (Ch. 5.5), Peter asserted that Jesus loved Mary Magdalene more than all other women; the Gospel of Philip (111.30-35) even discloses that Jesus often kissed her on the mouth. The text describes her as His "companion," which in the original Greek (κοινωνός, koinōnos) can mean a close partner, possibly even a spouse. This raises the question of whether their relationship extended beyond spiritual companionship to include a marital bond.
Equally importantly, in the Gospel of Philip (112.1-5), the disciples questioned Jesus (possibly enviously) “Why do you love her more than all of us?” Instead of directly answering their question, Jesus reverses it: “Why do I not love you like her?” This rhetorical structure suggests that His love for Mary Magdalene is of a different nature rather than simply greater in intensity. Again, it suggests a unique bond between them.
5. Wife
In 2012, Harvard scholar Karen L. King announced the discovery of an ancient papyrus fragment, known as the Gospel of Jesus’ Wife, dating to the 4th century AD. The fragment contains the phrase: "Jesus said to them [his disciples], 'My wife…'" (ABC News 2012). While its authenticity remains debated, it adds to the speculation that Jesus and Mary Magdalene may have been married.
Conclusion
Today is Valentine's Day, a celebration not only of romantic love but also of deep friendship, as observed in Finnish tradition. Whether Mary Magdalene was Jesus’ most devoted disciple, His civil partner, or His wife, we should respectfully commemorate their shared commitment to love, compassion, and veganism. Without veganism, there can be no true love or mercy; and without love and mercy, there can be no spirituality or true Christianity.
Notes
1. Pope Gregory I (Gregory the Great), in a sermon delivered in 591 AD, tarnished Mary Magdalene’s reputation by conflating her with the unnamed "sinful woman" who anointed Jesus’ feet (Luke 7:36-50). In 1969, the Vatican officially corrected this error in the General Roman Calendar, distinguishing Mary Magdalene from the unnamed woman. However, the misinterpretation persists in popular culture, religious art, and historical perceptions (Ehrman 2006).
References
· ABC News. 2012. "Was Jesus Married? Ancient Papyrus Mentions His Wife." https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/09/was-jesus-married-ancient-papyrus-mentions-his-wife/ .
· Akers, Keith. 2020. Disciples: How Jewish Christianity Shaped Jesus and His Followers.
· Eisenman, Robert. 2021. James the Brother of Jesus and the Dead Sea Scrolls.
· Ehrman, Bart D. 2006. Peter, Paul, and Mary Magdalene: The Followers of Jesus in History and Legend. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
· Gospel of Mary https://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/gospelmary.html
· Gospel of Philip https://archive.org/details/gospelofphilip0000unse/page/n6/mode/1up?q=%22The+consort%22&view=theater
· King, Karen L. 2003. The Gospel of Mary of Magdala: Jesus and the First Woman Apostle. Santa Rosa: Polebridge Press.
· Linzey, Andrew. 2010. Creatures of the Same God: Explorations in Animal Theology.
· Schaberg, Jane. 2002. The Resurrection of Mary Magdalene: Legends, Apocrypha, and the Christian Testament. New York: Continuum.
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