Despite modern fictional accounts like Dan Brown’s The DaVinci Code, there is no ancient evidence that Jesus was married, or that Mary Magdalene was married, let alone that they were married to one another. A few of the non-canonical gospels refer to Mary Magdalene as one who was especially loved by Jesus, but in each case the nature of their relationship seems to involve Jesus teaching Mary or leading her to spiritual insight, rather than a sexual or marital relationship.

Women in the New Testament period had greater rights and capacities than we often imagine today, and it is likely that readers of the New Testament would have understood her as a disciple (Luke 8:2-3). Although not named as one of “the twelve,” all of whom are male, Jesus had other disciples as well, and Mary’s actions suggest she is one of these.