This has been an ongoing issue which classical and modern day biblical scholars have been trying to deal with. This paper should shed some light on this controversial topic. It is understood from the Gospel of Phillip where Jesus often kissed Mary Magdalene is not true historically:
“There were three who always walked with the Lord: Mary, his mother, and her sister, and MAGDALENE, THE ONE WHO WAS CALLED HIS COMPANION. His sister and his mother and his companion were each a Mary. … As for the Wisdom who is called “the barren,” she is the mother of the angels. And the companion of the […] MARY MAGDALENE. […] LOVED HER MORE THAN ALL THE DISCIPLES, AND USED TO KISS HER OFTEN ON HER MOUTH. The rest of the disciples […]. They said to him “Why do you love her more than all of us?” THE SAVIOR ANSWERED AND SAID TO THEM,”WHY DO I NOT LOVE YOU LIKE HER? When a blind man and one who sees are both together in darkness, they are no different from one another. When the light comes, then he who sees will see the light, and he who is blind will remain in darkness.” (The Gospel According to Philip (Translated by Wesley W. Isenberg), online source)
Now one can easily refute this claim by saying Christians don't accept the gospel of Philip as part of the canon, it's not an inspired book it's an apocrypha. And to be honest they do have a valid response. However what if we find the in New Testament which Christians have no problem disagreeing with nor will they reject as an uninspired book contain information about Jesus and Mary Magdalene's relationship how will they response?. Let's show from the New Testament Evidence of such a claim.
When we read the gospel of John we find a very interesting passage where Jesus supposed to have resurrected and an alleged crucifixion where he disguised himself as a Gardner. And the first person to see him was Mary Magdalene:
“Jesus says to her, “DO NOT TOUCH (HAPTOMAI) ME, FOR NOT YET HAVE I ASCENDED TO THE FATHER. Now go to My brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'” (John 20:17)
As we can read from the above verse Mary Magdalene wanted to Touch him, let's focus on the word Touch in Greek which is (HAPTOMAI). Now this may not seem troubling to an average Christian who read the bible in English or in Greek. But the problem starts when you unlock the Greek word (HAPTOMAI).
Let's break this down so we get a clear view of all this. It seems like after seeing Jesus Mary Magdalene was so excited he went to touch him (HAPTOMAI) and Jesus told her not to touch him (HAPTOMAI) ?
The word (HAPTOMAI) doesn't just mean touch The fact is, the Greek word haptomai has a broad range of meanings and could imply such connotation -- it means "to touch," "to lay hold on," "to embrace"; "to cling to," "to hurt," etc., (Greek-English Lexicon to the New Testament, by Dawson and Taylor), but not necessarilry so. The word "haptomai" only takes on a "sexual"implication when used in a sexual context, like is the case in 1 Cor 7:1.
In chapter 7 Paul is going to answer some of the difficulties that have been raised to him in a letter that the Corinthians sent. Paul writes, "It is good for a man not to touch a woman"—the phrase "not to touch a woman" does not refer to the holding of hands or putting your arms around a woman. "Touch" is the Greek word "haptomai," which means: "to attach oneself to, to apply oneself to." It directly relates to the sexual relationship within marriage. This is a euphemism for a sexual relationship. We see it used this way through out the Scriptures. So "to touch a woman" is a euphemism for a sexual relationship, but is also metonymy for marriage. The Scriptures use the word "touch" to refer to a union such as marriage. The basic meaning of "haptomai," is to attach oneself to or bind. In our text he is saying, "it is good not to marry." Paul knew that marriage is a divine institution, he knew that it was God Himself who said, "it is not good for man to be alone." Think about the depth of that statement: Man was not alone in the truest sense. Not only was he surrounded by all of creation, but, even more substantially, he had a perfect relationship with Yahweh! Yet, in spite of those realities, Yahweh said it was not good for him to be alone, speaking of his need of a wife
Greek-English Lexicon – Henry George Liddell:
“hapto, fut. …: aor. …: – Pass., pf. …, Ion. … Hdt. I. 86 (v. sub …): fut. … Galen. :-Med., fut. …: aor. … (The … appears in …, …) To fasten or bind to, used by Hom. In this sense, once in Act., … (of a person putting a new string to a lyre), Od. 21. 408; … Phaedo 99 E. 6. TO HAVE INTERCOURSE WITH A WOMAN, Plat. Legg. 840 A, Arist. Pol. 7. 16, 18, 1 Ep. Cor. 7. 1: generally, TO ENJOY, Plat, Legg. 913 A, etc. 7. To come up to, reach, overtake, Xen. Hell. 5. 4, 43: to gain, Lat. Assequi, attingere, … Plat. Phaedo 65 B, al. …” (Greek-English Lexicon compiled by Henry George Liddell, D.D. (Dean Of Christ Church, Oxford) And Robert Scott, D.D. (Dean Of Rochester, Late Master Of Balliol College, Oxford) [Seventh edition, revised and augmented throughout with the cooperation of Professor drissler, of Columbia College, New York – NEW YORK: Harper & Brothers, Franklin Square, 1883], page 209)
A Manual Greek Lexicon Of The New Testament – G. Abbott-Smith:
“apto [in LXX chiefly for …:] prop., to fasten to; hence, of fire to kindle, light: Lk 8:16 11:33 15:8. Ac 28:2. Mid., c. gen., to fasten oneself to, cling to, lay hold of (so in …; MM, S.V.): Mt 8:3, 15, Jo 20:17, al.: of CARNAL INTERCOURSE, 1 Cor 7:1; with reference to Levitical and ceremonial prohibitions, II Co 6:17, Col 2:21…” (A Manual Greek Lexicon Of The New Testament [New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1922] by G. Abbott-Smith, D.D., D.C.L. (Professor of New Testament Literature in the Montreal Diocesan Theological College and Assistant Professor in the Oriental department In Mcgill University), page 56)
The Analytical Greek Lexicon:
“apto], fut. …, ( 23. Rem. 1. A) pr. To bring in contact, fit, fasten; to light, kindle, Mar. 4. 21; Lu. 8. 16, et al.; mid. … fut. …, aor. 1, …, to touch, Mat. 8. 3, et al.; to meddle, venture to partake, Col. 2.21; TO HAVE INTERCOURSE WITH, TO KNOW CARNALLY, 1 CO. 7.1; by impl. …” (The Analytical Greek Lexicon: Consisting of An Alphabetical Arrangement Of every Occurring Inflexion Of Every Word Contained In The Greek New Testament Scriptures, With A Grammatical Analysis Of Each Word, And Lexicographical Illustration Of The meanings. A Complete Series Of Paradigms, With Grammatical Remarks And Explanations. [London: Samuel Bagster And Sons, At the Warehouse for Bibles, New Testaments, Prayer Books, Lexicons, Concordances, Grammars, And Psalters, In Ancient And Modern Languages], page 49)
A Greek And English Lexicon Of The New Testament – Edward Robinson:
“…, f. …, to put one thing to another, to adjoin, to apply, Hom. Od. 21. 408. Hence in N. T.
1. Spoken of fire as applied to things, set fire to, to kindle, to light, trans. … Luke 8:16. 11:33. 15:8. … Luke 22:55. – Jos. Ant. 4. 3. 4. Theophr. Xhar. 18 o4 28. Thuc. 4. 100. … Judith 13:13. …, touch no unclean one, i.e. have no intercourse with the heathen; comp. Is. 52:11, where sept. for … and see Gesen. Com. In loc. C) trop. …, TO TOUCH A WOMAN, I.E. TO HAVE CARNAL INTERCOURSE WITH HER, 1 COR. 7:1. So Sept. for … Gen. 20:6. … Gen. 20:4. – Jos. Ant. 1. 8. 1. Plut. Vit. Alex. Mag. C. 21. Xen. Mem. 1. 3. 8.” (A Greek And English Lexicon Of The New Testament [Boston: Published by Crocker And Brewster. New York: Leavitt, Lord & Co. Andover: Gould And Newman, Printers, 1836] by Edward Robinson, D. D. (Late Prof. Extraord. Of Sac. Lit. In The Theol. Sem. Andover.), page 94)
As we have read the Greek lexicons for the word haptomai, this is pretty graphic in its meaning. As we have read, the word here is defined as “touch”, in the sense of “carnal intercourse” i.e., Jesus was touched sexually.
This same
exact Greek word is used in Paul’s writings and the vast majority of translators have translated the word as “sexual”. Paul advises his people to stay celibate and not to have any
sexual relation with woman (whom they are married too):
Common English Bible (CEB)
“7 Now, about what you wrote: “It’s good for a man not to have SEX WITH A WOMAN.” – 1 Corinthians 7:1
Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
“7 Now I will discuss the things you wrote me about. You asked if it is better for a man not to have any SEXUAL RELATIONS at all.” – 1 Corinthians 7:1
English Standard Version (ESV)
“7 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have SEXUAL RELATIONS with a woman.” – 1 Corinthians 7:1
New Century Version (NCV)
“7 Now I will discuss the things you wrote me about. It is good for a man not to have SEXUAL RELATIONS with a woman.” – 1 Corinthians 7:1
New International Version (NIV)
“7 Now for the matters you wrote about: ‘It is good for a man not to have SEXUAL RELATIONS with a woman.’” – 1 Corinthians 7:1
New International Version – UK (NIVUK)
“7 Now for the matters you wrote about: ‘It is good for a man not to have SEXUAL RELATIONS with a woman.’” – 1 Corinthians 7:1
New Living Translation (NLT)
“7 Now regarding the questions you asked in your letter. Yes, it is good to abstain from SEXUAL RELATIONS.” – 1 Corinthians 7:1
The Voice (VOICE)
“7 Now to the topics you raised in your last letter. Some have said, ‘It is better for a man to abstain from having SEX WITH HIS WIFE.’” – 1 Corinthians 7:1
New English Translation (NET Bible)
“7 Now with regard to the issues you wrote about: ‘It is good for a man not to have SEXUAL RELATIONS with a woman.’” – 1 Corinthians 7:1
English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK)
“7 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have SEXUAL RELATIONS with a woman.” – 1 Corinthians 7:1
Expanded Bible (EXB)
“7 Now ·I will discuss [L concerning] the things you wrote me about [C in a letter from the Corinthians; see 8:1; 12:1; 16:1]. It is good for a man not to ·have SEXUAL RELATIONS with [L touch; C a EUPHEMISM FOR SEX] a woman [C probably another slogan (6:12; 8:1, 4; 10:23) asserting that a celibate lifestyle was spiritually superior].” – 1 Corinthians 7:1
The Message (MSG)
“7 Now, getting down to the questions you asked in your letter to me. First, Is it a good thing to have SEXUAL RELATIONS?” – 1 Corinthians 7:1
Mounce Reverse-Interlinear New Testament (MOUNCE)
“7 Now concerning the matters you wrote about. Yes, “It is good for a man not me to have SEXUAL CONTACT with a woman.” – 1 Corinthians 7:1
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)
“7 Now as to the matters of which you wrote me. It is well [and by that I mean advantageous, expedient, profitable, and wholesome] for a man not TO TOUCH A WOMAN [TO COHABIT WITH HER] but to remain unmarried.” – 1 Corinthians 7:1
Disciples’ Literal New Testament (DLNT)
“7 Now concerning the things which you wrote— Concerning Marriage And Singleness: Live According To Your Gift From God It is good[a] for a man NOT TO TOUCH[b] a woman.” – 1 Corinthians 7:1
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Note Mary Magdalene was the only women who Jesus did now allow to Touch (HAPTOMAI) him whys that? It's obvious from the above explanations by bibl cal scholars that (HAPTOMAI) means sexual contact and that's exactly what Mary Magdalene tried to do with him a s he stopped her from defiling her. Also note that was a current moment of objection which means she could of had sexual contact with him regularly ?
Why didn't stop his other disciples from touching him? Why only stop Mary Magdalene! nowhere else in the Gospels has Jesus prohibited people from touching him. In the Gospel of Matthew it is clearly reported that the women held on to him and was touched:
Young’s Literal Translation
“and as they were going to tell to his disciples, then lo, Jesus met them, saying, ‘Hail!’ and they having come near, LAID HOLD OF HIS FEET, and did bow to him.” – Matthew 28:9
He was also touched in other instances, for example, Jesus told Thomas to touch him:
New International Version
“Then he said to Thomas, “PUT YOUR FINGER HERE; SEE MY HANDS. REACH OUT YOUR HAND AND PUT IT INTO MY SIDE. Stop doubting and believe.” – John 20:27
Jesus also invited all his apostles to touch him:
New International Version
“Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! TOUCH ME AND SEE; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” – Luke 24:39
Since Jesus allowed himself to be touched by his disciples and other women, what reason was there for him to prohibit Mary Magdalene to touch him on this instance.
Since Jesus was a human being he would have the same desires which man has alongside food drink etc....
(Thanks to kaleef k. Karim from discover the truth. I used a lot of your references.)
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