Are the repentant woman (Luke 7), Mary Magdalene, and Mary of Bethany the same person?

[Taken]

I’m arguing—offering my informed opinion—that the unnamed woman in Lk. 7:37, Mary of Bethany, and Mary Magdalene are the same person. I never claimed to have proven it; I presented specific evidence in the opening post to suggest that conclusion.

Yawn.

You also have yet to explain why the distinctive gesture performed by the unnamed woman in Lk. 7:37

I can NOT understand Common reasoning or Spiritual things FOR you.

and repeated by Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, could not have been by the same individual.

Matt.27
[56] Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.
[61] And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

Matt.28
[1] In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

Mark.15
[40] There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
[47] And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.

Mark.16
[1] And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
[9] Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

Luke.24
[10] It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.

John.19
[25] Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

John.20
[1] The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
[18] Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

*******
John 11:
[1] Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

 

[Soul.og]

I can NOT understand Common reasoning or Spiritual things FOR you.

I didn’t ask you to “understand” anything for me. I pointed out that you have not presented any evidence—suggestive or definitive—to support the following assumptions:

• that Mary of Magdala and Mary of Bethany must have been born in those respective locations in order to bear those titles, and
• that because an act is sufficient once, it therefore cannot occur again.

I also noted that you haven’t explained why the distinctive gesture performed by the repentant woman in Luke 7:37—later echoed by Mary of Bethany—could not have been carried out by the same woman at different points in her life and in Jesus’s ministry, in different settings and for different purposes.

Matt.27
[56] Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.
[61] And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

Matt.28
[1] In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

Mark.15
[40] There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
[47] And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.

Mark.16
[1] And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
[9] Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

Luke.24
[10] It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.

John.19
[25] Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

John.20
[1] The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
[18] Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

*******
John 11:
[1] Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

Merely bolding a character’s name and toponymic identifier does not constitute an argument.

 

[Taken]

I didn’t ask you to do that;

Okay you didn’t ASK me to understand FOR you.

· Mary of Bethany was born in Bethany
· Mary of Magdala was born in Magdala
· If something is sufficient once, it must never occur again

Anointing is Performed for SEVERAL REASONS.

Jesus WAS Anointed, Several Times for Specific Reasons.

I also pointed out that you haven’t explained why the distinctive gesture displayed by the unnamed woman in Lk. 7:37 and later by Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, could not have been performed by the same individual.

“Explained WHY”?

So?
Me “explaining WHY” to you, would be me, giving you “understanding”…

Remember…”you claim, you never asked WHY…”

Merely bolding a character’s name and toponymic identifier does not constitute an argument.

Me providing Quotes of Scriptural text with an emphasis, should have alerted you to HOW the two Mary’s (you argue are the same woman) are always distinctly and differently identified….
Which apparently surpassed your ability to commonly reason or understand.

 

[Soul.og]

Anointing is Performed for SEVERAL REASONS.

Jesus WAS Anointed, Several Times for Specific Reasons.

Jesus was anointed on two distinct occasions—separated by time, location, and intent—regardless of whether the actions were performed by two different women or by the same woman at different stages of her life and in different moments of His ministry.

Okay you didn’t ASK me to understand FOR you.

Correct—and what I did point out is that you have not presented any evidence, either suggestive or definitive, to support the following assumptions:

• that Mary of Magdala and Mary of Bethany must have been born in those respective locations in order to bear those titles, and
• that because an act is sufficient once, it therefore cannot occur again.

I also noted that you still haven’t explained why the distinctive gesture performed by the repentant woman in Luke 7:37—and later repeated by Mary of Bethany—could not have been carried out by the same woman at different points in her life and in Jesus’s ministry, in different settings and for different purposes.

“Explained WHY”?

So?
Me “explaining WHY” to you, would be me, giving you “understanding”…

Remember…”you claim, you never asked WHY…”

I asked for the logic behind your belief—the "why"—not a tutorial on how to think. Providing an explanation is your responsibility in a debate; "understanding" it is mine. Don't confuse sharing your reasoning with granting me a cognitive favor.

Me providing Quotes of Scriptural text with an emphasis, should have alerted you to HOW the two Mary’s (you argue are the same woman) are always distinctly and differently identified….
Which apparently surpassed your ability to commonly reason or understand.

You should have recognized that simply bolding a character’s name and toponymic identifier does not constitute an argument. It’s an assertion dressed up as emphasis. An argument requires a reasoned connection between evidence and conclusion. By highlighting labels rather than explaining their significance, you’re repeating your claim, not supporting it.

 

[Taken]

Correct, rather I pointed out that you have not presented any evidence—

Fact Established… You didn’t Ask.

Fact Established… I gave my Opinion.

I asked for the logic behind your belief—the 'why'—not a tutorial on how to think. Providing an explanation is your responsibility in a debate; 'understanding' it is mine. Don't confuse sharing your reasoning with granting me a cognitive favor.

Fact Established…I gave my Opinion, I gave a Scriptural basis for my Opinion….

Fact remains…you ask, you want A Logical understanding for a Spiritual act.

Fact remains…you are not equipped to Logically Understand A Spiritual act by two different Women…and want to continue Hounding me as IF I have a Duty to appease your “logical wonderments”.

Your posts hang on “your attempts to debate with logic, of WHICH (great sinner females)preformed Spiritual acts, toward Jesus…
Same as DID … those Present … “
And JESUS Rebuked such Attempts.

Obviously you didn’t learn the lesson…. And your continuance bores me.

 

[Soul.og]

Fact Established…[...] I gave a Scriptural basis for my Opinion….

You’ve stated your opinion, but you have not provided either scriptural or historical support for it. Your position still rests on two assumptions that have already been addressed:

• that Mary of Magdala and Mary of Bethany must have been born in those respective locations in order to bear those titles (refuted in post #20), and
• that because an act is sufficient once, it therefore cannot occur again (refuted in post #36).

You have offered no counter‑argument to either rebuttal, nor have you explained why the distinctive gesture performed by the repentant woman in Luke 7:37—and later repeated by Mary of Bethany—could not have been carried out by the same woman at different points in her life and in Jesus’s ministry, in different settings and for different purposes.

Fact remains…you ask, you want A Logical understanding for a Spiritual act.

Fact remains…you are not equipped to Logically Understand A Spiritual act by two different Women…and want to continue Hounding me as IF I have a Duty to appease your “logical wonderments”.

Your posts hang on “your attempts to debate with logic, of WHICH (great sinner females)preformed Spiritual acts, toward Jesus…
Same as DID … those Present … “
And JESUS Rebuked such Attempts.

Obviously you didn’t learn the lesson…. And your continuance bores me.

I remind you that you are participating in a sub‑forum specifically designated for debate. In this context, participants are expected to support their assertions with evidence and reasoning, not with personal commentary about another poster’s abilities or motives.

Dismissing a request for evidence as a “logical wonderment” does not relieve you of the burden of substantiating your claims; it simply reinforces the impression that you have no substantive response to the points already raised in posts #20 and #36.

 

[Taken]

You’ve stated your opinion, but you’ve provided neither scriptural nor historical support for it. Your position still rests on two assumptions already addressed:

· That Mary of Bethany and Mary of Magdala must have been born in those locations to bear those identifiers (refuted in post #20)
· That because an act is sufficient once, it therefore cannot occur again (refuted in post #36)

You have not offered any counter‑argument to either rebuttal.



I remind you that you are participating in a sub‑forum intended for debate. In this context, participants are expected to provide evidence for their assertions rather than resort to personal remarks. Dismissing a request for evidence as a “logical wonderment” does not exempt you from substantiating your position; it simply leaves the impression that you have no substantive counter‑argument to the points I raised in posts #20 and #36.

False claim.

Common knowledge…the wise understand.
Spiritual knowledge…..the wise understand.

“from” “of”, is origin identifiers….birthplace, origin of citizenship, origin of legal nationality

“from” “of”…in context are not about a travel itinerary.

Provided you, Mary Magdalena, specifically identified, Nearly 12 times in Scripture, regardless of where she Traveled.

Provided you, Mary of Bethany, specifically identified, with home, living in Bethany, and context of Relationship to “her” sister Martha, and “her” brother Lazarus, and meeting With Jesus, their guest, regardless of where she traveled.

“Your context focused on the two Mary’s being “sinners”, “Jesus anointers’”…and “your Opinion, they were the SAME, woman”.

I could presume, you would “challenge even Jesus”….

Jesus saying…
John 16:
[27] For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.
[28] I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.

And “citizenship” of Nazareth, of Galilee.

Matt. 21:
[11] And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

Already established, my Opinion…
Already established, Scriptural Basis….
Already established, I disagree with you…
Already established, your lack of ability to understand.
Already established, your circular nonsense continuance is a bore. Yawn.

BYE.

 

[Soul.og]

False claim.

If I’m mistaken, then cite the post numbers where you directly addressed my rebuttals—specifically:

• the rebuttal in post #20, which responded to your assumption that Mary of Magdala and Mary of Bethany must have been born in those respective locations in order to bear those titles, and
• the rebuttal in post #36, which responded to your assumption that because an action is sufficient once, it therefore cannot occur again.

You should also cite the post where you explained why the distinctive gesture performed by the repentant woman in Luke 7:37—and later repeated by Mary of Bethany—could not have been carried out by the same woman at different points in her life and in Jesus’s ministry, in different settings and for different purposes.

I’ll wait for you to identify those posts. If you cannot, then it is clear that these points remain unanswered.

 

[Taken]

I’ll wait for you to cite those posts. If you can’t, then it’s clear the rebuttals stand unanswered.

Once was enough.

 

[soberxp]

I don't know if it's the same woman. All I know is that the name sounds nice.

 

[Soul.og]

Once was enough.

So you’re now claiming that you already cited the post numbers before I asked you to cite them—and that you also already explained why the distinctive gesture performed by the repentant woman in Luke 7:37, and later repeated by Mary of Bethany, could not have been carried out by the same woman at different points in her life and in Jesus’s ministry, in different settings and for different purposes?

If that is truly your position, then simply cite the post numbers now. If you can’t, then it’s clear those rebuttals remain unanswered.

 

[Soul.og]

I don't know if it's the same woman.

Do you think the evidence in the opening post suggests that they were?

 

[soberxp]

Do you think the evidence in the opening post suggests that they were?

matthew
12:47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

12:48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?

12:49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

 

[Taken]

matthew
12:47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

12:48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?

12:49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Mary Magdalene was FROM the town of Magdala… and traveled to many other places with Jesus and His Disciples.
This Mary witnesses Jesus Crucifixion and Saw Jesus after His Resurrection.
This Mary is “implied” to be a converted believer, faithful, and seems a sort of giving her TIME to serve Jesus, and his disciples…(speculation… laundry, Drawing water, cooking, cleaning sorts..)
Others… offered meals in their homes, rest, supplies, money…

Mary sister of Martha and Lazarus was FROM The town of Bethany and expressly is mentioned Having Jesus in their home to eat.
She is not mentioned as Traveling with Jesus or His Disciples….

From… original Place… regardless of where one goes, travels thereafter.

From…Jesus… From God in Heaven… origin.
Regardless Him coming to Earth, traveling town to town.

Brethren…dads, moms, son, daughters….any human that is converted IN Christ…. Are ALL Spiritually related one with the other and all with Christ.

Glory to God,
Taken

 

[Soul.og]

matthew
12:47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

12:48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?

12:49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

I was asking if you think the evidence in the opening post suggests that the repentant woman in Luke 7:37, Mary of Magdala, and Mary of Bethany were the same individual.

 

[soberxp]

I was asking if you think the evidence in the opening post suggests that the unnamed woman in Lk. 7:37, Mary of Magdala, and Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, were the same individual?

Excellent question. It gets to the heart of a fascinating and long-standing historical mystery. The short answer is that, according to most modern scholars and the clear text of the Bible itself, **they were not the same person**. However, for over a thousand years, a tradition in Western Christianity held that they were.

Here’s a breakdown of the women in question and how this centuries-old confusion came to be.

### Who Are "These Women"?

The confusion typically involves three distinct figures from the Gospels:

| Figure | Key Biblical References | Distinguishing Characteristics |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Mary Magdalene** | Luke 8:2, Mark 15:40, Mark 16:9, John 20 | Healed by Jesus from "seven demons" ; a wealthy disciple who supported Jesus' ministry ; witnessed the crucifixion and burial; was the **first witness to the resurrected Christ** . |
| **The "Sinful Woman" (Unnamed)** | Luke 7:36-50 | An unnamed woman, described as "a sinner" in the city, who anointed Jesus' feet with perfume and her tears, and was forgiven . The text never explicitly calls her a prostitute. |
| **Mary of Bethany** | Luke 10:38-42, John 11-12 | The sister of Martha and Lazarus. She is known for sitting at Jesus' feet to learn and for anointing his feet six days before the Passover . |

### How Did They Get Merged into One Person?

For early Christians, especially in the Eastern Church, these women were seen as distinct individuals . So, how did they become conflated in the popular imagination of the West?

The key figure in this merger was **Pope Gregory the Great**. In a famous homily delivered in **591 AD**, he made a pronouncement that would shape the view of Mary Magdalene for centuries .

Pope Gregory identified the "sinful woman" of Luke 7, Mary of Bethany, and Mary Magdalene as one and the same. He reasoned that the "seven demons" cast out of Mary Magdalene represented "all the vices," implying a life of profound sin, which he associated with the unnamed woman who anointed Jesus' feet . In his view, Mary Magdalene was a repentant prostitute who spent her life in penance .

This conflation was incredibly influential and became the standard interpretation in Western Christianity for over 1,400 years, inspiring countless works of art and literature .

### The Modern Scholarly View

Today, biblical scholars and many church traditions (including the Catholic Church in its official liturgy) have re-examined the texts and returned to the earlier understanding. They distinguish between these women for several key reasons:

- **The Gospels Treat Them Separately**: The Gospels themselves never identify them as the same person. Luke introduces Mary Magdalene for the first time in his gospel *immediately after* telling the story of the sinful woman (Luke 7 and 8). If they were the same, this would be a very confusing way to introduce her .
- **"Mary" Was a Common Name**: "Mary" (or Miriam) was the single most common female name in first-century Judea. It's estimated that about one-quarter of all women were named Mary, so finding multiple women with this name in the gospels is not surprising .
- **Different Contexts and Actions**: Mary of Bethany is clearly identified by her family (Martha and Lazarus) and her home in Bethany, a village near Jerusalem . Her anointing of Jesus is described in a different context and location from the anointing by the unnamed "sinner" in Galilee .
- **No Biblical Basis for "Prostitute"**: The Bible never states or implies that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute or a sinner beyond the mention of her being healed of demons . Pope Gregory's interpretation, while influential, was an inference not supported by the biblical text.

The shift back to the biblical distinction has been significant. For her faithfulness and unique role as the first to announce the Resurrection, Mary Magdalene is honored with the ancient title **"Apostle to the Apostles"** .

So why don't you think this Mary is the mother of Jesus Christ?

 

[Soul.og]

The short answer is that, according to most modern scholars and the clear text of the Bible itself, **they were not the same person**.

I’m not asking about the consensus of modern scholars; I’m asking whether you think the evidence in the opening post supports identifying the repentant woman in Luke 7:37 with Mary of Magdala and Mary of Bethany.

 

[soberxp]

I’m not asking about the consensus of modern scholars; I’m asking whether you think the evidence in the opening post supports identifying the unnamed woman in Lk. 7:37 with Mary of Bethany and Mary of Magdala.

The same one and maybe the mother of Jesus.

 

[Soul.og]

The same one and maybe the mother of Jesus.

Are you saying, in part, that based on the evidence in the opening post, you think that the repentant woman in Luke 7:37, Mary of Magdala, and Mary of Bethany were the same individual?

 

[soberxp]

Are you saying, in part, that based on the evidence in the opening post, you think that the unnamed woman in Lk. 7:37, Mary of Bethany, and Mary of Magdala were the same individual?

Yes,and maybe she is the mother of Jesus. I think.