I believe there is another way to interpret this text, one which recognizes the role she plays in illuminating the full arc of the gospel, where Jesus reaches across the vast chasm of unbelief separating humans from God. Jesus doesn’t offer Photini abundant life in spite of who she is or what she’s done. He offers it to her because of who she is… A Samaritan. A woman. Ordinary. Imperfect. Human.

By my count there are more important things about the Samaritan woman than the number of husbands she’s had. In fact she’s a record holder in John’s Gospel:

She has one of the longest theological discussions with Jesus.[1]

She is the first person to whom Jesus directly identifies himself.

She’s the first to go to tell others who Jesus is and what he does.

This is why Byzantine chants sing of “Photini: Equal to the Apostles”[2]

[1] Woman’s Bible Commentary, 522.

[2] Coloe, Mary. Wisdom Commentary: John 1–10. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2021, 121.