Since the publication of the Gospel of Mary and the Nag Hammadi Library in the last fifty years, Mary Magdalene scholarship has increased a great deal. Based on these texts as well as some other non-canonical orthodox texts, some scholars have concluded that she was honored by some of the earliest Christians as a disciple, apostle, and leader. This stands in stark contrast to her traditional role as penitent sinner, and some people, scholars, theologians and lay people, have begun working as activists to restore what they see as Mary Magdalene's important role in early Christianity.

Viewing Mary Magdalene as an apostle isn't a new thing, however. In one of the earliest commentaries on the Song of Songs, Hippolytus in the 3rd century referred to Mary Magdalene as "apostle to the apostles." He did so not based on the Gnostic accounts of her but on the role she played in the New Testament as the first witness to the resurrection. In spite of the shady reputation that dogged her throughout history, she was at times periodically remembered for her role as an apostle.

There are generally two categories to apostleship when using the label to refer to Mary Magdalene, both having to do with the type of commission received. Mary Magdalene is frequently thought to have received a "local" commission, that is, she was told to spread the good news only to the other disciples, not to the world at large. The male disciples, on the other hand, received a "global" commission, or instructions to spread the good news to everyone in the whole world. With this in mind, many have criticized those who push for recognition of Mary Magdalene as an apostle by minimizing her importance to the spread of the Gospel since her message was carried to the disciples only. This is sometimes countered with the suggestion that Mary Magdalene was, in effect, responsible for the news of the resurrection reaching anyone in the first place. The message she carried, therefore, wasn't simply "secretarial" in nature.

An organization of note in the push for recognition of Mary Magdalene's importance as an apostle is FutureChurch, which helps organize events to honor Mary Magdalene every year on her feast day, July 22.