A short personal name can carry a large bundle of expectations. When an ancient dialogue names Mary or Judas, a reader may instantly supply a biography. Careful reading pauses between the name on the page and the proposed identification.
Keep two levels visible
Anna Cwikla’s NASSCAL entry on the Dialogue of the Savior identifies Judas, Matthew and Mary as named participants. It distinguishes those names from scholarly identifications, including the common association of Mary with Mary Magdalene.
The distinction does not forbid interpretation. It shows where interpretation enters the discussion and allows readers to examine its supporting arguments.
Use a two-column character note
In the first column, record what your chosen translation explicitly says. In the second, record the identification proposed by its introduction or commentary. Include the source and its degree of certainty.
If an editor writes “probably”, retain that word in your summary. Removing a qualification can make a debated identification appear to be a direct statement of the manuscript.
Read the exchange, not only the name
Notice which question a character asks and how the reply develops. You can study a participant’s role in the dialogue while leaving a biographical question open.
Our guide to identifying a speaker in historical writing offers a wider framework for separating characters, narrators and editorial explanation.