April 17, 2025

(Women in Scripture and History) Who was Mary Magdalene really? with Rev. Dr. Jennifer Powell McNutt

37 minutes

In this episode, Kim talks to Rev Dr. Jennifer Powell McNutt about Mary Magdalene. She discusses the Biblical witness of Mary Magdalene, and what happened historically to Mary so that she came to be understood as a prostitute. She also discusses the meaning of Apostle and why the Eastern and Western churches remember Mary Magdalene as an apostle to the apostles.

Bio 

Rev. Dr. Jennifer Powell McNutt is the Franklin S. Dyrness professor of Biblical and Theological Studies at Wheaton College. She is an award-winning author, fellow in the Royal Historical Society, and ordained teaching elder in the Presbyterian church. Her latest books are Know the Theologians (Zondervan, 2024), a finalist in the 2024 CT Book Awards for Popular Theology, and The Mary We Forgot (Brazos, 2024). She and her husband co-founded McNuttshell Ministries that seeks to serve as a bridge between the church and academy.

Find Rev, Dr Jennifer McNutt

Substack: The McNuttshell https://substack.com/@jenniferpowellmcnutt 

Contact: https://jenniferpowellmcnutt.com

McNuttshell Ministries: https://mcnuttshellministries.com

Scripture References

Woman identified as “Sinner Woman” that gets conflated with Mary Magdalene: Luke 7

Highlighting women with Jesus, part of his ministry, traveling with Jesus: Luke Chapter 8:1-3

Scriptural definition of Apostles: 1 Cor 15, 1 John 1,

Mary’s Message and Being Sent: John 20, Matthew 28, Luke 23-24, Acts 1

Other Resources Mentioned in Interview:

Scholars who have investigated Roman system of patronage: Lynn Cohick, Amy Brown Hughs, Susan Highland

CBE Resources:

Book Review of Jennifer Powell McNutt’s, The Mary We Forgot: What the Apostle to the Apostle Teaches the Church Today by Kimberly Dickson

Women in Scripture and History: Mary Magdalene by Kimberly Dickson

To learn about the Middle Eastern culture and its impact on the movements of men versus women and children, see: “God’s Word to Middle Eastern Women,” by Kevin Zabihi in Mutuality, October 20, 2021.

“Christ is Risen: The Nonsense of a Hysterical Woman,” by Chesna Hinkley in Mutuality April 15, 2020.

“Frequently Asked Questions about Mary Magdalene,” by Lidija Novakovic in Prisicilla Papers, June 5, 2006.

Disclaimer 

The opinions expressed in CBE’s Mutuality Matters’ podcast are those of its hosts or guests do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of CBE International or its members or chapters worldwide. The designations employed in this podcast and the presentation of content therein do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of CBE concerning the legal status of any country, area or territory or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers. 

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