Mary Magdalene and Thecla: Women Leaders the Bible Tried to Forget

When most people think of early Christianity, they picture a world led and written about by men. Yet in the earliest communities, women played vital roles. They were leaders, teachers, healers, and visionaries. Two of the most striking examples are Mary Magdalene and Thecla. Their influence was enormous in the first generations of Christian history, yet their authority was later silenced or diminished.

Their absence from the Bible was it seems, intentional. It was the result of decisions made by the Council of Nicaea in the fourth century and reinforced by the hierarchy that came after. To understand how much was lost, we need to revisit who they truly were, and why their stories matter so much today.

Mary Magdalene- Apostle to the Apostles

Mary Magdalene is one of the most recognisable names in Christian tradition, but her true role has often been obscured. She came from the town of Magdala, on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, which was a prosperous fishing and trading centre. Unlike the image later created by Church authorities, Mary was not defined by sin or shame. She was an independent woman of means who supported Jesus’s ministry financially, as recorded in the Gospel of Luke.

Mary’s closeness to Jesus was clear. She travelled with him, stood at the foot of the cross when many others fled, and was present at his burial. Most importantly, she was the first witness of the resurrection. According to the Gospel of John, it was Mary who encountered the risen Christ at the tomb, and it was Mary who was commissioned to tell the disciples that he had risen. This is why many later traditions gave her the title “Apostle to the Apostles.”

Yet despite this central role, Mary vanishes from the Biblical narrative after the resurrection. Later Church leaders recast her identity. By the sixth century, Pope Gregory the Great merged her with other women from the gospels and labelled her a repentant prostitute. This shift took her away from her true role as a visionary leader and reduced her to a symbol of repentance. Her authority as a teacher and messenger was erased to fit the developing male hierarchy of the Church.

Thecla The Forgotten Apostle

Thecla’s story, recorded in the Acts of Paul and Thecla, was one of the most widely told stories in early Christianity, yet today it is almost unknown. She was a noblewoman from Iconium, in modern-day Turkey. As a young woman she became captivated by Paul’s teaching, listening to him preach about a life of devotion, self-mastery, and spiritual freedom. Her decision to follow this path set her on a collision course with her family and society, who expected her to marry and live a conventional life.

When Paul was imprisoned, Thecla risked everything to see him. According to the story, she bribed the guards with her bracelets and her mirror so that she could visit him in secret. She sat at his feet in the prison, listening to his words and choosing the life of a disciple despite the dangers this posed to her.

Her defiance only grew and her own family had her condemned to die in the arena. She was thrown to the beasts, but a lioness that came out to kill her, recognised her courage and defiance and instead protected her. She emerged unharmed, which the crowds saw as a sign of divine favour. Later, in Antioch, she was attacked again, yet still survived. Her courage became legendary.

One of the most striking parts of her story is her baptism. Paul initially told Thecla that she was not ready to be baptised but she refused to accept this. While being threatened with death in a pool filled with wild sea lions, she declared her faith, threw herself into the water, and baptised herself. Her survival was seen as another miracle, and it showed that her faith did not depend on Paul’s approval or authority.

Although she loved Paul and was inspired by his teachings, Thecla realised she did not need his help to claim her spiritual authority. She became a leader in her own right, preaching, teaching, and baptising others. Communities across the Mediterranean revered her as an apostle, and for centuries women turned to her story as proof that they too could step into roles of authority and vision.

The fact that Thecla’s story was eventually excluded from the Bible shows how threatening her independence was to the hierarchy that developed. She embodied a model of leadership that was not dependent on men, and that was too radical for a Church intent on cementing male power. I encourage you to explore her story in more depth.

Why Their Stories Were Left Out of the Bible

In the first three centuries of Christianity, there was no single official scripture. Communities shared many different writings, including gospels, letters, and acts. Some of these writings highlighted the authority of women and their direct roles as teachers. But when Christianity became the religion of the Roman Empire under Constantine, there was pressure to create one unified faith.

At the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE, bishops debated doctrine and began shaping which texts would carry authority. Over time, only four gospels were chosen- Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These texts supported the growing emphasis on order, male leadership, and obedience. Writings that elevated women’s voices or suggested alternative structures were excluded.

The stories of Mary Magdalene and Thecla did not fit the image of a male-only hierarchy. Mary’s authority was reduced to a symbol of repentance rather than leadership. Thecla’s acts, though once beloved, were removed from the central narrative entirely. What remained was a carefully chosen version of Christianity that placed men firmly in control.

Male Hierarchy and the Erasure of Women

As Christianity became institutionalised, women were steadily silenced. In the earliest gatherings, women hosted meetings in their homes, preached, and held positions of influence. But by the second and third centuries, Church leaders were issuing rules that restricted women from teaching or leading. These restrictions were not about theology alone; they reflected the growing power of a male hierarchy aligned with the empire.

By the fourth century, Christianity had become an official arm of political authority. The new order required clear structures of male leadership. Women who once stood at the centre of the story were pushed to the margins. Their contributions were rewritten, reduced, or erased altogether but I, along with other voices and platforms are bringing their voices back.

Why Their Voices Matter Today

Mary Magdalene and Thecla remind us that women were present at the very foundations of Christianity. Mary delivered the central message of the resurrection. Thecla baptised and preached with courage. Both lived lives that challenged the norms of their time.

Their removal from the official story is a reminder that history is shaped by power. But remembering them today allows us to restore some of what was lost. Their voices challenge us to reimagine leadership as something that belongs to all people, not just those in positions of authority.

By bringing their stories back, we honour not only Mary and Thecla but the countless women whose wisdom has been silenced. We remind ourselves that true vision and spiritual courage are not limited by gender, and that every tradition is richer when all voices are heard.