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The Mary We Forgot: What the Apostle to the Apostles Teaches the Church Today
Who was among the last at the cross and the first at the empty tomb? Mary Magdalene.Her role in Jesus's ministry as told in all four Gospels was pivotal in many ways. Yet her story is often overlooked, confused, or scandalized by the church.In The Mary We Forgot, award-winning church historian and theologian Jennifer Powell McNutt unpacks Scripture and church history to reveal the real Mary Magdalene as a model of discipleship for all Christians today--women and men alike.McNutt invites readers along on her journey through southern France, tracing the path remembered by some church traditions as where Mary Magdalene spread the gospel. Christians will learn from the disciple known as the "apostle to the apostles" how to embrace Jesus's calling to "go and tell" with faith and courage. They'll also be encouraged by the reminder that God uses ordinary, imperfect, and unexpected people to share the good news of Jesus Christ.
272 pages, Paperback
Published October 15, 2024
99 people are currently reading
3044 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Powell McNutt
12 books33 followersJennifer Powell McNutt (Ph.D., University of St. Andrews) is the Franklin S. Dyrness Chair of Biblical and Theological Studies and Professor of Theology and History of Christianity at Wheaton College, IL. She is a Fellow in the Royal Historical Society and an award-winning professor and author. She has received both the Sidney E. Mead Prize and the Frank S. and Elizabeth D. Brewer Prize from the American Society of Church History for her writing including her first monograph, Calvin Meets Voltaire (Routledge, 2014). Her research interests include the Reformation, John Calvin, the history and theology of the Reformed tradition, and the history of the Bible and its interpretation. She is the author of the forthcoming The Mary We Forgot (Brazos Press, 2024), the co-author of Know the Theologians (Zondervan, 2024), and co-editor of the forthcoming Oxford Handbook of the Bible and the Reformation (Oxford University Press, 2024). She is also an ordained minister in the Presbyterian church and is co-President of McNuttshell Ministries, which bridges the church and the academy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
September 12, 2024
One of my signature rants is about how there is no biblical or historical evidence that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute and people are eager to paint her as one because they’re uncomfortable with a female apostle. (Yes, I am LOADS of fun at parties.) So I was obviously so excited to learn about this book. The author, an academic and minister, debunks myths about the apostle to the apostles while tracing them back to their roots. She also explores what Catholic and Orthodox church tradition have to say about Mary Magdalene and her life after the cross, and the ways in which Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant teachings about her differ.
One of my favourite points that the author makes is that Mary Magdalene’s story shows us that the church should welcome female preachers. After all, the very first person to share the good news of the resurrection was a woman!
Overall, I’m a huge fan of this book and will be reading more from this author.
One of my favourite points that the author makes is that Mary Magdalene’s story shows us that the church should welcome female preachers. After all, the very first person to share the good news of the resurrection was a woman!
Overall, I’m a huge fan of this book and will be reading more from this author.
May 11, 2024
A thorough but accessible invitation to reconsider Mary Magdalene. Prostitute? Poor? Overly emotional? Think again!
Mary's legacy has enormous implications for the church today. We can't afford to ignore her! Dr. McNutt is the perfect person to guide us on this adventure of discovery -- church historian, biblically and theologically trained, with church ministry experience to boot.
She's a great writer with a compelling message. Don't miss it!
Mary's legacy has enormous implications for the church today. We can't afford to ignore her! Dr. McNutt is the perfect person to guide us on this adventure of discovery -- church historian, biblically and theologically trained, with church ministry experience to boot.
She's a great writer with a compelling message. Don't miss it!
July 1, 2025
This book was super interesting, I LOVE a good mix of history and theology because it feels like a fun inside scoop where I get to kinda see behind the curtain. It’s important to me to think critically about church related stuff and not just automatically consume ideas so I was really happy to be learning lots of new things and setting things straight on Mary Magdalene and how she helps us see Jesus in a clearer light. I especially enjoyed learning about how her story was changed over time and how it differs across the gospels but now I just feel like a nerd for loving compare and contrast exercises so much. The only slight problem I had with the book was that it tended to be a little repetitive (especially toward the last chunk of it), but that didn’t take much away from my overall experience. Thanks Dad for the awesome Christmas present!
PS I met the author and she complimented my glasses and signed my book💁🏼♀️
PS I met the author and she complimented my glasses and signed my book💁🏼♀️
June 19, 2024
If I were to suddenly ask you to tell me about the biblical Mary, there's a pretty good chance that unless you're a pastor, seminary graduate, or theologian that you'd likely fumble around.
If we're being honest, even if you're a pastor, seminary graduate, or theologian there's a chance you'd fumble around with the question.
You'd struggle to recall specifics (as I do at times). You'd confuse your Marys (and yes, there's more than one). You might just shrug your shoulders and say "I don't know."
Award-winning church historian and theologian Jennifer Powell McNutt unpacks it for us in "The Mary We Forgot: What the Apostle to the Apostles Teaches the Church Today," a remarkable effort about a woman whose story is often overlooked, confused, or scandalized by the church.
For some, the very basics of Mary are what's remembered - she was among the last at the cross and the first at the empty tomb?
However, McNutt goes much further to reveal the Mary Magdalene, and yes we're talking about Mary Magdalene here, as a model of discipleship for all Christians today. While lots of men like to forget about and/or minimize the gifts of women, Mary Magdalene is a powerful reminder that to be a Christian is to acknowledge her impact.
McNutt takes readers on a journey through Southern France - a journey tracing the path remembered by some church traditions as where Mary Magdalene spread the gospel. Known as the "apostle to the apostles," Mary teaches us how to embrace Jesus's calling to "go and tell" with faith and courage. At a time in the world when women were, in fact, often considered secondary (not much has changed), McNutt illustrates how God uses, and Jesus embraced, those who were ordinary, imperfect, and unexpected to share the good news.
Starting from the beginning in a way, McNutt helps us clearly distinguish between the various New Testament Marys. She does so in a way that is engaging, passionate, informative, and crystal clear. McNutt approaches "The Mary We Forgot" as both theologian and pastor, an approach that reminds me at times of Moltmann or Volf in the ability to take complexity and make it understandable.
In other words, I learned so much here that I found myself researching further almost immediately after finishing "The Mary We Forgot."
McNutt doesn't avoid the more challenging aspects of Mary. Instead, she embraces them and dives deeply into the myths and truths and scriptural evidence. "The Mary We Forgot" is extensively sourced (over 1/3 of the book) and both accessible yet academically sound. She humanizes Mary so richly so vividly that at times I felt as if I were in the room with her.
Perhaps, most of all, McNutt beautifully illustrates why all of this is important to both church history and the church today. I not only learned, but I was deeply moved by "The Mary We Forgot" and this Mary that I not only had, in some ways, forgotten but, in other ways, I never really knew.
If we're being honest, even if you're a pastor, seminary graduate, or theologian there's a chance you'd fumble around with the question.
You'd struggle to recall specifics (as I do at times). You'd confuse your Marys (and yes, there's more than one). You might just shrug your shoulders and say "I don't know."
Award-winning church historian and theologian Jennifer Powell McNutt unpacks it for us in "The Mary We Forgot: What the Apostle to the Apostles Teaches the Church Today," a remarkable effort about a woman whose story is often overlooked, confused, or scandalized by the church.
For some, the very basics of Mary are what's remembered - she was among the last at the cross and the first at the empty tomb?
However, McNutt goes much further to reveal the Mary Magdalene, and yes we're talking about Mary Magdalene here, as a model of discipleship for all Christians today. While lots of men like to forget about and/or minimize the gifts of women, Mary Magdalene is a powerful reminder that to be a Christian is to acknowledge her impact.
McNutt takes readers on a journey through Southern France - a journey tracing the path remembered by some church traditions as where Mary Magdalene spread the gospel. Known as the "apostle to the apostles," Mary teaches us how to embrace Jesus's calling to "go and tell" with faith and courage. At a time in the world when women were, in fact, often considered secondary (not much has changed), McNutt illustrates how God uses, and Jesus embraced, those who were ordinary, imperfect, and unexpected to share the good news.
Starting from the beginning in a way, McNutt helps us clearly distinguish between the various New Testament Marys. She does so in a way that is engaging, passionate, informative, and crystal clear. McNutt approaches "The Mary We Forgot" as both theologian and pastor, an approach that reminds me at times of Moltmann or Volf in the ability to take complexity and make it understandable.
In other words, I learned so much here that I found myself researching further almost immediately after finishing "The Mary We Forgot."
McNutt doesn't avoid the more challenging aspects of Mary. Instead, she embraces them and dives deeply into the myths and truths and scriptural evidence. "The Mary We Forgot" is extensively sourced (over 1/3 of the book) and both accessible yet academically sound. She humanizes Mary so richly so vividly that at times I felt as if I were in the room with her.
Perhaps, most of all, McNutt beautifully illustrates why all of this is important to both church history and the church today. I not only learned, but I was deeply moved by "The Mary We Forgot" and this Mary that I not only had, in some ways, forgotten but, in other ways, I never really knew.
December 9, 2024
An eminently accessible book about Mary Magdalene, how she has been perceived through history, and how the Bible presents her. McNutt is an expert on the history of the Bible, which was especially helpful for her subject, who has a layered textual history and a complex reception in church history across time and place. I enjoyed learning about Mary Magdalene's memory in the south of France, how she was received in the early church before Gregory I's slanderous sermon, and how she was an empowering example for women of the Reformation as they preached and taught. This is a readable book (give-able to mom in my personal scheme of things) and the endnotes are scholarly. I really enjoyed reading this and will return to it again for reference. Will the real Mary Magdalene please stand up--and preach the Gospel as Jesus commissioned her?
December 17, 2024
Although a beautiful investigation into the life of Mary Magdalene in of itself, what makes this book stand out is its methodology. I wish more academics would find the path McNutt does here to interweave biblical studies/ theology/ church history/ and practical theology in a way that is actually accessible and educating to a lay person. If only more academics found ways to leave the ivory tower and actually write books that actually mean something to almost everyone.
April 19, 2025
Well-researched, approachable, thoughtful, interesting... I highlighted three dozen sections and want to place this in the hands of several so that we can discuss. Though I've read and researched a bit myself, this was enlightening, encouraging, and one I'll re-read.
October 30, 2024
Thoroughly enjoyed it, particularly the section on the female reformers' use of Mary Magdalene, as I am a long-time fan of Marie Dentière. The whole work manages to be both accessible and educational and I can't wait to make my friends read it.
December 4, 2024
I love Mary Magdalene! This book is great for anyone who is interested in her story and wants to untangle some of the false narratives that tradition has handed down to us about her. Mary Magdalene is a prominent disciple whose witness remains important to us today!
October 5, 2025
Dr. McNutt peels back all the accumulated layers of bad theology and misunderstood history that have obscured Mary Magdalene. Then Dr. McNutt reveals her as an apostle who was ready to follow, ready to give and ready to run in proclamation of the good news. An important book to read as we consider why so many young women are leaving the church. Highly recommended.
January 26, 2026
This is important information. I wanted to like it more than i did. It read like a doctoral dissertation at times. And the personal anecdotes were stretched to make their points. Honestly towards the end it felt a bit repetitive and I skimmed a bunch. So 3.5 stars rounded up. But again, the ideas in it are very important.
June 22, 2024
This book showed up at the perfect time for me. Like many, I’ve been watching and enjoying “The Chosen”, and wondering what church history has to say about Mary Magdalene. Unfortunately, church history distorted Mary Magdalene’s story by conflating her story with other Marys. And then they conflated the story about Mary (Lazarus’s sister) with the sinful women (Luke 7) anointing Jesus. And then they brought forward the idea that Mary Magdalene had 7 demons because she was a prostitute… because she was called a sinful woman…which only kinda (not really) works if you conflate all those stories. Before we can get into who Mary Magdalene is, Dr. Jennifer Powell McNutt has to peel back all the layers of assumptions that have been laid over her story.
The book is a quick read and its writing style is very accessible. A lot of the book is focusing on who Mary Magdalene is not, and that is an interesting overview of church history. It also shows how women in the bible were written about in the medieval period and the reformation by church fathers and mothers. In the last couple chapters Dr. Powell McNutt features her argument for how significant Mary Magdalene is in the gospel. It’s important that we remember her today as not only a faithful disciple of Jesus during his ministry, not as only a woman who witnessed his death on the cross, but as an apostle sent by Jesus to proclaim his resurrection to the other apostles. She is an example of a faithful follower of Jesus for all Christians. And if this is true, what does that mean for our churches today? The author poses the question, if Mary Magdalene came to the church to proclaim the good news, would we listen? It is a question worth pondering.
“The Mary We Forgot” is a good book for history enthusiasts, fans of The Chosen, and people contemplating women’s place in the church. Whether you’ve studied women in the Bible, or are just getting started, you should pick up this book.
The book is a quick read and its writing style is very accessible. A lot of the book is focusing on who Mary Magdalene is not, and that is an interesting overview of church history. It also shows how women in the bible were written about in the medieval period and the reformation by church fathers and mothers. In the last couple chapters Dr. Powell McNutt features her argument for how significant Mary Magdalene is in the gospel. It’s important that we remember her today as not only a faithful disciple of Jesus during his ministry, not as only a woman who witnessed his death on the cross, but as an apostle sent by Jesus to proclaim his resurrection to the other apostles. She is an example of a faithful follower of Jesus for all Christians. And if this is true, what does that mean for our churches today? The author poses the question, if Mary Magdalene came to the church to proclaim the good news, would we listen? It is a question worth pondering.
“The Mary We Forgot” is a good book for history enthusiasts, fans of The Chosen, and people contemplating women’s place in the church. Whether you’ve studied women in the Bible, or are just getting started, you should pick up this book.
March 12, 2025
An exploration of Mary Magdalene, debunking misconceptions, examining her importance, and legacy in the story of Jesus and His resurrection.
I found my reading of this book to be very timely as it is the season of Lent and Mary Magdalene's role in proclaiming the Good News is pivotal and must not be overlooked. "The Mary We Forgot" goes into great detail not only about the truths of Mary Magdalene but also women's roles in the Bible and Christianity, in general. The author showcases Jesus' openness to women as part of His earthly ministry, and advocates for women to hold bigger roles in modern ministry. Ultimately, encouraging us to understand the past to move forward for a better future.
"She may not be who we thought she was or what we expected. But when we remember her rightly she becomes a faithful example, who can surprise us and spur us on to proclaim 'I have seen the Lord.'"
I found my reading of this book to be very timely as it is the season of Lent and Mary Magdalene's role in proclaiming the Good News is pivotal and must not be overlooked. "The Mary We Forgot" goes into great detail not only about the truths of Mary Magdalene but also women's roles in the Bible and Christianity, in general. The author showcases Jesus' openness to women as part of His earthly ministry, and advocates for women to hold bigger roles in modern ministry. Ultimately, encouraging us to understand the past to move forward for a better future.
"She may not be who we thought she was or what we expected. But when we remember her rightly she becomes a faithful example, who can surprise us and spur us on to proclaim 'I have seen the Lord.'"
December 18, 2024
This book was so fun in the most Bible nerd way possible! 😜🤓 Did you know Mary Magdalene was NOT a prostitute and was actually one of Jesus’s most faithful financial supporters? Love this author and the work she has done to help the church better remember and meditate on beautiful characters in scripture- particularly women.
“Mary Magdalene was sent to proclaim the crux of the Christian faith (1 cor 15:14), and she was commissioned by Jesus himself to the task. When women are barred from preaching the good news simply because they are women, the church is missing what Jesus did when he called and sent Mary Magdalene. We know that it was hard for the male disciples to accept: ‘But these words seemed to them an idle take, and they did not believe them’ (Luke 24:11). Yet, just as Jesus did not scorn being born of a woman, he also did not scorn sending one.” ❤️🔥
“Mary Magdalene was sent to proclaim the crux of the Christian faith (1 cor 15:14), and she was commissioned by Jesus himself to the task. When women are barred from preaching the good news simply because they are women, the church is missing what Jesus did when he called and sent Mary Magdalene. We know that it was hard for the male disciples to accept: ‘But these words seemed to them an idle take, and they did not believe them’ (Luke 24:11). Yet, just as Jesus did not scorn being born of a woman, he also did not scorn sending one.” ❤️🔥
March 3, 2025
Challenging and thought-provoking without feeling blasphemous. It is obviously well researched and shed light on some beliefs I held that might not be true. I appreciate how gently and matter of factly she presents her research.
did-not-finish
November 24, 2025Just got bored. You know when you write an essay and just keep referencing the same few points every chance you get because you don’t have enough evidence? That’s what this started to feel like. The chapters felt too long for their own good. Had high hopes but ultimately decided to dnf
February 12, 2025
loved this book!! podcast episode with the author forthcoming on The Forum Podcast :)
March 28, 2025
Meet the biblical Mary Magdalene in a profoundly spiritual way.
January 31, 2025
Great book. More academic than I was expecting, but a worthwhile read.
March 30, 2025
This well researched and well reasoned book is also accessible for a general audience. I appreciated the cultivation of the image of Mary Magdalene as a strong tower during the fear, doubt, and confusion that followed Jesus’s crucifixion. And I am grateful for her faithful witness.
September 13, 2025
While I appreciate the content, it certainly seems like the author took a lot of effort in ensuring that it was long enough to be a book. I was hoping to learn more about Mary Magdalene and potentially some implications of her life and ministry but this book is mostly just fluff.
August 4, 2024
The Mary We Forgot" by Jennifer Powell McNutt
5🌟/5🌟
I enjoyed this book about Mary Magdalene. Like many others, I've been challenged to read and learn about the early followers of Jesus because of the show "The Chosen." Seeing women follow Jesus on screen made me more interested to learn what it may have been like to be an early follower of Jesus, especially as a woman.
So, when I saw this book about Mary Magdalene, I knew it would be a must-read for me. Thinking of Mary Magdalene as "an apostle to the apostles" helped me see how often the church historically undervalues the ministry of women and how that often carries into church ministry today. The gospels are filled with stories of faithful women following Jesus and serving him. Too often, the faithful witness of women has been diminished, ignored, or misrepresented in the church. Realizing Mary was "as apostle to the apostles" has been liberating for me. Of course, Jesus would pick women to be the first to proclaim his resurrection to the other disciples! It's just the sort of thing Jesus would do! Jesus values women and includes them in all aspects of his ministry.
I was aware that Mary Magdalene has been confused with other women in the four gospels throughout church history. Learning about extra-biblical sources that discuss the life of Mary and her ministry, be it artwork, fables, or writings was interesting.
My favorite pearl from this book is learning Magdalene may have been a nickname or pun because the word Magdala means 'the tower' in Aramaic. The idea that Mary was given the name Magdala as an "honorific" because of her strong, towering faith is extremely inspiring to me.
I absolutely loved chapter 8, "The First Apostle Chosen by Christ" where Jennifer writes, "In an era of dechurching and faith deconstruction, Mary Magdalene can serve as a model of steady faith in Christ, even when our churches fail us and hurt us. By focusing on following Christ, she was able to invest in the community of believers during times of crisis and hardship. She was a tower of strength after all, which signals her importance in the group. Her strong faith is a central part of her legacy and, if remembered, could be an inspiration for our churches today as a model of faithful discipleship."
My one small complaint, in the book the author says The Chosen's portrayal of Mary Magdalene is associated with prostitution. This isn't accurate. In the show's portrayal, it is implied she is a victim of sexual assault, not prostitution. Specifically, in "The Chosen" Mary is demon possessed and a victim of sexual assault in Season 1, Episode 1. In Season 2, Episode 6, it is portrayed that Mary struggled with alcohol abuse and gambling.
5🌟/5🌟
I enjoyed this book about Mary Magdalene. Like many others, I've been challenged to read and learn about the early followers of Jesus because of the show "The Chosen." Seeing women follow Jesus on screen made me more interested to learn what it may have been like to be an early follower of Jesus, especially as a woman.
So, when I saw this book about Mary Magdalene, I knew it would be a must-read for me. Thinking of Mary Magdalene as "an apostle to the apostles" helped me see how often the church historically undervalues the ministry of women and how that often carries into church ministry today. The gospels are filled with stories of faithful women following Jesus and serving him. Too often, the faithful witness of women has been diminished, ignored, or misrepresented in the church. Realizing Mary was "as apostle to the apostles" has been liberating for me. Of course, Jesus would pick women to be the first to proclaim his resurrection to the other disciples! It's just the sort of thing Jesus would do! Jesus values women and includes them in all aspects of his ministry.
I was aware that Mary Magdalene has been confused with other women in the four gospels throughout church history. Learning about extra-biblical sources that discuss the life of Mary and her ministry, be it artwork, fables, or writings was interesting.
My favorite pearl from this book is learning Magdalene may have been a nickname or pun because the word Magdala means 'the tower' in Aramaic. The idea that Mary was given the name Magdala as an "honorific" because of her strong, towering faith is extremely inspiring to me.
I absolutely loved chapter 8, "The First Apostle Chosen by Christ" where Jennifer writes, "In an era of dechurching and faith deconstruction, Mary Magdalene can serve as a model of steady faith in Christ, even when our churches fail us and hurt us. By focusing on following Christ, she was able to invest in the community of believers during times of crisis and hardship. She was a tower of strength after all, which signals her importance in the group. Her strong faith is a central part of her legacy and, if remembered, could be an inspiration for our churches today as a model of faithful discipleship."
My one small complaint, in the book the author says The Chosen's portrayal of Mary Magdalene is associated with prostitution. This isn't accurate. In the show's portrayal, it is implied she is a victim of sexual assault, not prostitution. Specifically, in "The Chosen" Mary is demon possessed and a victim of sexual assault in Season 1, Episode 1. In Season 2, Episode 6, it is portrayed that Mary struggled with alcohol abuse and gambling.
May 14, 2025
Book begins by delving into church history’s thoughts on Mary Magdalene, including apocryphal and gnostic texts, where I got a bit lost in the weeds. To be blunt: I was bored. Hate to say that about someone’s life work but there it is. Author argues that Mary Magdalene has been misunderstood, and that we have much learn from her experience — but I suppose I felt that she never quite articulated how those lessons ought to affect me practically (though, disclaimer: I listened to this on audiobook with all children home on spring break, so my attention was not laser-focused). I disagreed with her premise to some degree — she paints the contemporary church as using Mary M as some kind of symbol of sin and weakness, and though I recognize that my very narrow experience is not representative of the whole church, I’ve never felt that Mary Magdalene was treated as a shady character or thought of her in that way (though yes — church history shows otherwise — I guess I’m not convinced that this is the lesson we need for today?).
Author also continually questions the reader from start to finish — “Are we ready as a church to listen to Mary? Do we take her seriously? Will we allow ourselves to be transformed? Have our congregations grappled with what this means?” etc, and every time she asked this, I wanted to say — just spit it out, McNutt! We know where you’re going with this! And it literally took her til the last page of the last chapter — “We begin to see a God who calls women to preach.” (pg. 315). Now, I am absolutely not against reading books that hold viewpoints that differ from my own, but the means by which she tries to convince readers — essentially just constantly questioning their viewpoints and holding them up to the experience of Mary M — is pretty ineffective. I would have preferred that she stated her goals at the outset and argued her points openly using scripture instead of pretending to quietly stumble into her conclusions — oh hey! Look where we ended up! She then scolds the church in the epilogue for picking and choosing which passages of scripture we prefer to listen to and preach on (which I found quite ironic).
No one loves being the wet blanket on goodreads, so I will say — in chapter 6 she reminds us that we’ve been invited to journey with Jesus not according to our vision, but his — which is something I can certainly agree with! Author also clearly loves church history and is very, very thorough in that respect.
Author also continually questions the reader from start to finish — “Are we ready as a church to listen to Mary? Do we take her seriously? Will we allow ourselves to be transformed? Have our congregations grappled with what this means?” etc, and every time she asked this, I wanted to say — just spit it out, McNutt! We know where you’re going with this! And it literally took her til the last page of the last chapter — “We begin to see a God who calls women to preach.” (pg. 315). Now, I am absolutely not against reading books that hold viewpoints that differ from my own, but the means by which she tries to convince readers — essentially just constantly questioning their viewpoints and holding them up to the experience of Mary M — is pretty ineffective. I would have preferred that she stated her goals at the outset and argued her points openly using scripture instead of pretending to quietly stumble into her conclusions — oh hey! Look where we ended up! She then scolds the church in the epilogue for picking and choosing which passages of scripture we prefer to listen to and preach on (which I found quite ironic).
No one loves being the wet blanket on goodreads, so I will say — in chapter 6 she reminds us that we’ve been invited to journey with Jesus not according to our vision, but his — which is something I can certainly agree with! Author also clearly loves church history and is very, very thorough in that respect.
Read
October 27, 2025to my goodreads friends - these long winded book reviews are more for my own reference for research purposes than to presume that any of you really want to be flooded with scholarly analyses :)
This provides an introductory level synthesis of the history of the biblical Mary Magdalene and her reception integrated with an admirable display of humility into the modern theological paradigms about women in ministry. McNutt maintains a respect for orthodoxy and does well to recover Mary Magdalene from Gnostic associations. There's a lot of ground to cover for an evangelical publication about forgotten Marys, but this does indicate how the place of Mary Magdalene in the Christian tradition may carry less Protestant anxiety than the other Mary. Despite the evangelical nature of this book making the theology more broadly accessible, it did lessen the impact of some of the scholarly insights that McNutt makes on this topic. The ideas about a Magdalene apostolic authority that is analogous to Petrine authority and her integration of the typology of Mary Magdalene as a second Eve alongside the Virgin Mary have great significance across a much more ecumenical context than an evangelical book typically impacts. She covers a lot of ground on the historical reception of Mary Magdalene and focuses on the reformation as a key point for transition of her legacy that doesn't seem to reflect well the complexities of this historical landscape for women and feminine theologies. She puts a decent amount of effort into portraying the Protestants as saving Mary Magdalene from obscurity and misinterpretation which is more debatable on a historical level than she presents and confusing alongside quoting key Protestant reformers like Martin Luther calling her a fool. I liked her integration of theologians like Christine de Pizan in the late medieval and early modern period who helped preserve the voice of women within the Christian tradition but she conflates their contributions under a Catholic identity into the Protestant reformation which diminishes the historical rigor of her narrative of the historical reception of Mary Magdalene. The overall message of this book seems to be to encourage the boldness of the ministry of women in the church while subtly countering the absurdity of "Christian" ministries hindering women when the gospel of Christ is so intimately connected to the testimony of women.
This provides an introductory level synthesis of the history of the biblical Mary Magdalene and her reception integrated with an admirable display of humility into the modern theological paradigms about women in ministry. McNutt maintains a respect for orthodoxy and does well to recover Mary Magdalene from Gnostic associations. There's a lot of ground to cover for an evangelical publication about forgotten Marys, but this does indicate how the place of Mary Magdalene in the Christian tradition may carry less Protestant anxiety than the other Mary. Despite the evangelical nature of this book making the theology more broadly accessible, it did lessen the impact of some of the scholarly insights that McNutt makes on this topic. The ideas about a Magdalene apostolic authority that is analogous to Petrine authority and her integration of the typology of Mary Magdalene as a second Eve alongside the Virgin Mary have great significance across a much more ecumenical context than an evangelical book typically impacts. She covers a lot of ground on the historical reception of Mary Magdalene and focuses on the reformation as a key point for transition of her legacy that doesn't seem to reflect well the complexities of this historical landscape for women and feminine theologies. She puts a decent amount of effort into portraying the Protestants as saving Mary Magdalene from obscurity and misinterpretation which is more debatable on a historical level than she presents and confusing alongside quoting key Protestant reformers like Martin Luther calling her a fool. I liked her integration of theologians like Christine de Pizan in the late medieval and early modern period who helped preserve the voice of women within the Christian tradition but she conflates their contributions under a Catholic identity into the Protestant reformation which diminishes the historical rigor of her narrative of the historical reception of Mary Magdalene. The overall message of this book seems to be to encourage the boldness of the ministry of women in the church while subtly countering the absurdity of "Christian" ministries hindering women when the gospel of Christ is so intimately connected to the testimony of women.
July 19, 2024
A whole book about Mary Magdalene? Is there really all that much to be said about her?
Dr. Jennifer Powell McNutt's answer with her latest, The Mary we Forgot: What the Apostle to the Apostles Teaches the Church Today is a resounding "yes!" She begins by looking at who Mary is thought to be and how she is seen in culture today—often as little more than a former prostitute who got saved. Because there are so many Marys in Scripture, she also tends to get blurred and blended together with other Marys until she's kind of just a rather two dimensional devoted woman follower of Jesus in the background of various Gospel scenes.
McNutt's contention with this book is that this portrait not only does a disservice to Mary Magdalene, but it also does a disservice to us as readers and receivers of her story. As the subtitle suggests, her position and her witness is actually really significant—a significance we miss when we sideline her and flatten her into "just a former prostitute."
The overall aim of the book is to resuscitate her, to revive her within the scope of our theology and church practice such that she holds again the position of honor as "the Apostle to the Apostles." McNutt does this by first examining what the various biblical texts say about her and then moving into how the church's interpreters handled those passages. She looks into the messy history of how Mary got conflated with other women in the Gospels, and she even recounts a story of her trip to the south of France where apparently Mary Magdalene is held in high esteem. She rounds out the book by reflecting theologically on this resuscitated portrait and what it implies. Calling her "The Apostle to the Apostles" will certainly raise hackles for some, and the final section of the book offers the justification for such a title.
The book sometimes felt a bit meandering to me—it was interesting to hear about her veneration in southern France but not particularly integral to the book's argument—but overall I'm glad I read it!
DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of a fair, unbiased review.
Dr. Jennifer Powell McNutt's answer with her latest, The Mary we Forgot: What the Apostle to the Apostles Teaches the Church Today is a resounding "yes!" She begins by looking at who Mary is thought to be and how she is seen in culture today—often as little more than a former prostitute who got saved. Because there are so many Marys in Scripture, she also tends to get blurred and blended together with other Marys until she's kind of just a rather two dimensional devoted woman follower of Jesus in the background of various Gospel scenes.
McNutt's contention with this book is that this portrait not only does a disservice to Mary Magdalene, but it also does a disservice to us as readers and receivers of her story. As the subtitle suggests, her position and her witness is actually really significant—a significance we miss when we sideline her and flatten her into "just a former prostitute."
The overall aim of the book is to resuscitate her, to revive her within the scope of our theology and church practice such that she holds again the position of honor as "the Apostle to the Apostles." McNutt does this by first examining what the various biblical texts say about her and then moving into how the church's interpreters handled those passages. She looks into the messy history of how Mary got conflated with other women in the Gospels, and she even recounts a story of her trip to the south of France where apparently Mary Magdalene is held in high esteem. She rounds out the book by reflecting theologically on this resuscitated portrait and what it implies. Calling her "The Apostle to the Apostles" will certainly raise hackles for some, and the final section of the book offers the justification for such a title.
The book sometimes felt a bit meandering to me—it was interesting to hear about her veneration in southern France but not particularly integral to the book's argument—but overall I'm glad I read it!
DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of a fair, unbiased review.
October 22, 2024
Mary Magdalene is a significant biblical figure in the tradition of Christianity, relevant to historians, religious scholars, and the Christian church today. However, Mary Magdalene’s legacy has been distorted, misunderstood, and forgotten throughout history. In her new book, theologian and church historian Jennifer Powell McNutt seeks to rectify misconceptions about Mary Magdalene by demonstrating her importance in the history of scriptural interpretation, church tradition, and lay understanding through methods of history, hermeneutics, and theology. McNutt aims to change the perception of Mary Magdalene from that of a penitent prostitute to her restored medieval title, “the Apostle to the Apostles.”
The Mary We Forgot is an academic, yet accessible read for those seeking to understand the biblical history of Mary Magdalene and trace her perception throughout history to the present day. McNutt pulls on rich historical examples, material culture, popular culture references, and theology to create a cohesive narrative about the past and present. She approaches the topic of Mary Magdalene from a variety of viewpoints, exploring Eastern and Western perceptions of Mary, and analyzing the ways in which Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant teachings about her diverge. As a result, The Mary We Forgot is a noteworthy and important contribution to the field of both church history and theology.
The Mary We Forgot is an academic, yet accessible read for those seeking to understand the biblical history of Mary Magdalene and trace her perception throughout history to the present day. McNutt pulls on rich historical examples, material culture, popular culture references, and theology to create a cohesive narrative about the past and present. She approaches the topic of Mary Magdalene from a variety of viewpoints, exploring Eastern and Western perceptions of Mary, and analyzing the ways in which Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant teachings about her diverge. As a result, The Mary We Forgot is a noteworthy and important contribution to the field of both church history and theology.
October 19, 2024
A Fascinating Journey
In her newest book, The Mary We Forgot: What the Apostle to the Apostles Teaches the Church Today, Jennifer Powell McNutt invites readers on a fascinating journey through time and space to discover one of the remarkable women among Jesus’ original disciples. Known through history as “the apostle to the apostles,” Mary Magdalene’s story has been obscured and, for many, lost. But McNutt’s thoroughly researched volume reintroduces her to the 21st century church. After untangling the conflated stories of some of the different women in the New Testament, McNutt examines what the biblical text actually tells us about the woman who stayed at the cross, who was (one of) the first at the tomb on Easter morning, and who was commissioned by Jesus to proclaim the resurrection to the other apostles. Not only that, McNutt’s theological training equips her to take us further, tracing the traditions about Mary Magdalene and her influence through church history. However, this volume is not simply a recitation of dry exposition or historical facts. McNutt takes readers along on her own journey of discovery , with surprises around every bend in the road, and teases out the implications for Christians today. The Mary We Forgot reminds Christians of our heritage and God’s call to faithfulness in thankfulness for the healing that Christ has brought.
In her newest book, The Mary We Forgot: What the Apostle to the Apostles Teaches the Church Today, Jennifer Powell McNutt invites readers on a fascinating journey through time and space to discover one of the remarkable women among Jesus’ original disciples. Known through history as “the apostle to the apostles,” Mary Magdalene’s story has been obscured and, for many, lost. But McNutt’s thoroughly researched volume reintroduces her to the 21st century church. After untangling the conflated stories of some of the different women in the New Testament, McNutt examines what the biblical text actually tells us about the woman who stayed at the cross, who was (one of) the first at the tomb on Easter morning, and who was commissioned by Jesus to proclaim the resurrection to the other apostles. Not only that, McNutt’s theological training equips her to take us further, tracing the traditions about Mary Magdalene and her influence through church history. However, this volume is not simply a recitation of dry exposition or historical facts. McNutt takes readers along on her own journey of discovery , with surprises around every bend in the road, and teases out the implications for Christians today. The Mary We Forgot reminds Christians of our heritage and God’s call to faithfulness in thankfulness for the healing that Christ has brought.
November 19, 2025
Extremely accessible and helpful. This book unpacks most of the important issues surrounding the life of Mary Magdalene (or, at least, what we can know of it). The book is meant for the general public, and its writing style and posture are both appropriate to that task.
I also think the book features a lot of the trappings of a book for general audiences, and many of these trappings are not necessary. In other words, McNutt could have written an interesting book, at this level, and avoided traps that almost always follow books written with a general readership in mind. For example, the book is loaded with anecdotes - too many of them - and many of them are forced. By limiting these anecdotes, the book could have trimmed a full 50 pages of material. I'm a California kid, and I LOVE the sequoias, but the analogy between Yosemite and Mary didn't work for me.
I also think that, even though McNutt seemed determined to avoid getting "in the weeds," the book would have benefitted by a closer look at the texts where Mary is mentioned. I understand the need to keep your audience, but I think people can handle a closer exegetical analysis.
Overall, this is helpful. Not challenging, and readers will be divided about whether that's a good thing, or a bad thing. In my view, McNutt's review of the reception history of Mary was the most helpful part.
I also think the book features a lot of the trappings of a book for general audiences, and many of these trappings are not necessary. In other words, McNutt could have written an interesting book, at this level, and avoided traps that almost always follow books written with a general readership in mind. For example, the book is loaded with anecdotes - too many of them - and many of them are forced. By limiting these anecdotes, the book could have trimmed a full 50 pages of material. I'm a California kid, and I LOVE the sequoias, but the analogy between Yosemite and Mary didn't work for me.
I also think that, even though McNutt seemed determined to avoid getting "in the weeds," the book would have benefitted by a closer look at the texts where Mary is mentioned. I understand the need to keep your audience, but I think people can handle a closer exegetical analysis.
Overall, this is helpful. Not challenging, and readers will be divided about whether that's a good thing, or a bad thing. In my view, McNutt's review of the reception history of Mary was the most helpful part.
August 12, 2024
The Mary We Forgot is an intriguing book that unwraps the many "Mary's" of the bible and sheds light to who Mary Magdalene really was during this time. Honored with being labeled "The Apostle to the Apostles", the Mary who faithfully followed after Christ has a very deep and inviting story. She is known to follow His command to "Go and Tell" and in her example, we can see how we, as Christians, need to follow suit. This book is heavily resourced, and you can recognize that Dr. McNutt spent a lot of time thoroughly researching the various "Mary's" in the bible, and clarifying the amazing qualities found within Mary Magdalene. The information in this book is astounding and I learned a lot. I am grateful for the attention to detail put into the content, and when we read a question posed by the author, "if Mary Magdalene came to the church to proclaim the good news, would we listen?", it really gives us a chance to reflect on our own views, beliefs, and convictions as followers of Christ. A very thought provoking and wonderful read to challenge us in our walk of obedience with God. Will we Go and Tell? Thank you for NetGalley and Brazos Press for the Advanced Review copy of this amazing book!
October 17, 2024
[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
4 stars = Great! Might re-read.
As a non-academic, I enjoyed the fact that this book is written in such a conversational tone. It's easy to read and follow. There are some personal tie-ins from the author to keep things from feeling too academic while at the same time this is incredibly well-researched. I enjoyed this thorough and inspiring look at Mary Magdalene.
That said, the first section where the author digs into how Mary Magdalene's story has been lost across history as she has been conflated with other biblical characters was a lot. I think if I was a scholar, I would have loved this thorough exploration, but as a casual reader, this felt like "selling past the close" and that made it hard to keep my forward momentum into the other areas of exploration covered by the book..
That said, I think both scholars and casual readers can get a lot from this book - just know that the book is front-loaded on the issue of conflation.
I also hope official versions of the book are more user-friendly than the ARC when it comes to end notes and tables - I am eager to see this one in person to see how those sections turned out in print.
4 stars = Great! Might re-read.
As a non-academic, I enjoyed the fact that this book is written in such a conversational tone. It's easy to read and follow. There are some personal tie-ins from the author to keep things from feeling too academic while at the same time this is incredibly well-researched. I enjoyed this thorough and inspiring look at Mary Magdalene.
That said, the first section where the author digs into how Mary Magdalene's story has been lost across history as she has been conflated with other biblical characters was a lot. I think if I was a scholar, I would have loved this thorough exploration, but as a casual reader, this felt like "selling past the close" and that made it hard to keep my forward momentum into the other areas of exploration covered by the book..
That said, I think both scholars and casual readers can get a lot from this book - just know that the book is front-loaded on the issue of conflation.
I also hope official versions of the book are more user-friendly than the ARC when it comes to end notes and tables - I am eager to see this one in person to see how those sections turned out in print.
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