5 or 6 women called Mary in the New Testament

The name Mary appears some 46 times in the NewTestament.

These references concern some different women.

1. Mary the mother of Jesus (Matthew 1:16, etc)

2. Mary Magdalene, who, according to John Wenham (The Easter Enigma) is the same woman as Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus (Matthew 27:56, 61, 28:1, etc inc Luke 8:2 Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out and Luke 10:39, 42).

The idea is that rich Mary left the family home in Bethany and went to Magdala where she became a prostitute but was wonderfully restored.

The woman of John 12:3 is again then the same person.

3. Mary the wife of Clopas (John 19:25). She is probably the other Mary of Matthew 28:1 and the same woman that Mark identifies as Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph (Mark 15:40; see also Matthew 27:56, Luke 24:10).

4. Mary the mother of John Mark (Acts 12:12)

5. Mary of Rome (Romans 16:6). This could be one of the other Marys, such as John Mark's mother.