You Tube Theology

Was Mary Magdalene married to Jesus? This question burns through the mind of many, and just when it seems the question is answered, it is asked again. Mark Goodacre, a Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins in the Department of Religious Studies at Duke University, explains that the depiction of Mary Magdalene in popular culture is a compilation of several women who appear in the New Testament, and much that people believe to be true of Mary Magdalene in fact has nothing to do with her as a literary character or as a historical person.

In this short clip (taken from his longer lecture, titled, “Was Jesus Married to Mary Magdalene?”), Goodacre explores how Mary came to represent so many different women and the impact it has had on the way in which she and women in the New Testament have been interpreted.

Why is there such a fascination with Mary Magdalene today? Does this focus on her take away from the other prominent female characters in the New Testament? Is the portrayal of Mary Magdalene in popular culture today accurate? And perhaps the biggest (or most widely discussed) question of all is: Was Jesus married to Mary Magdalene?

To hear the answer to these questions and more, order Mark Goodacre’s full lecture in the brand-new DVD Scholars Speak: Gospel Questions! Click here to order: http://store.bib-arch.org/prodinfo.asp?number=9H576.