Mary magdalene the journey of the sacred priestess. The first is her title magdalene, almost identical to magdala, noted earlier to be the name of the tripletowered temple of the goddess. Called the the gospel of mary, it is the first known gospel attributed to a woman author. Contrary to popular belief, the gospel of mary is not found in the nag hammadi library although most versions include it. Other documents show mary magdalene and other women as strong. Recognition of magdala as the birthplace of mary magdalene appears in texts dating back to the 6th century ce. Reprinted by arrangement with shambhala publications, inc. The gospel of mary of magdala is a scholarly work written in a very readable style. Key are the development and unfolding of these characters within the passion narrative and their relation to other female and male characters. Part ii the saviors teaching in the gospel of nary. The secret tradition of mary magdalene, the companion of jesus. One of the main benefits of reading this book is the opportunity to gain. A more complete version of this gospel can be found in the berlin codex, originally discovered in the late 19 th century in upper egypt. This berlin codex was purchased in cairo by german diplomat carl reinhardt although the work is popularly known as the gospel of mary, it is not technically classed as a gospel by scholastic consensus because the term gospel is used as a label for any written text that is.
For some reflections on the meaning and significance of marys gospel for us today, see my book the gospel of mary. The discovery channel did a fine documentary on the tradition of mary magdalene, with balanced commentary from several recognized scholars of early christian and gnostic tradition. Mary of bethany and mary of magdalatwo female characters in. The gospel of mary of magdala, a secondcentury gospel that was discovered in the 19th century and not published until 1955, shows mary to be the apostle yes, apostle to. Oxford early christian gospeltexts general editors christopher tuckett andrew gregory. Poor mary, so human, so in love, so misunderstood throughout the ages. Mary magdalenes gnosis is displayed in full in the gospel of mary. Mary of magdala is never specifically identified as a prostitute in the bible. A complete translation of the gospel of mary aeon byte. Also known as miriam of magdala, mary magdalene was considered by the apostle john to be the founder of christianity because she was the first witness to the resurrection. Beloved disciple in several ancient gnostic documents from a. For the gospel writers did not understand that jesus was born spiritually through mary and not physically. Dan browns the da vinci code rejuvenated public interest in several shadowy characters of history, especially mary magdalene.
Description of the book the gospel of mary magdalene. Short gospel citations and all epistle and old testament citations are from the new revised standard version nrsv. Mary was certainly a curious onlooker, as so many were in jesus day as he went about the towns of galilee teaching in the synagogues, preaching the good news and healing all kinds of illnesses. Mary magdalene is posited as the author of the fourth gospel in the sense in. The gospel of mary is an apocryphal book discovered in 1896 in a 5thcentury papyrus codex.
Karen l king the gospel of mary of magdala last youtube. Mary magdalene in the nag hammadi and related documents. And many women were there, watching from a distance, the same women who had followed jesus from galilee and looked after him. Part of a vast collection of materials dealing with gnosis and gnosticism, both ancient and modern. The gospel of mary is an apocryphal book discovered in 1896 in a 5thcentury papyrus codex written in sahidic coptic. Mary of magdala, ecumenical catholic community, fort collins, colorado. It rejects his suffering and death as a path to eternal life and exposes the view that mary magdalene was a prostitute for what it isa piece of theological fiction. Primary sources the gospel of mary from jesus to christ. Chapter 4 pages 1 to 6 of the manuscript, containing chapters 1 3, are lost. But in reality she was mary the magdalene, the daughter of joseph. The earliest surviving documents of christianity, the letters of paul,4 show that. Jul 31, 2017 mary of magdala celebration july 22, 2009 this lecture looks at the conflation of traditions of mary magdalene as well as scripture references to clarify who this apostle to the apostles was. Description of the book the gospel of mary of magdala. Perhaps no figure in biblical scholarship has been the subject of more controversy and debate than mary magdalene.
Kings introductory chapter from the gospel of mary of magdala. Few people today are acquainted with the gospel of mary. Text of the gospel of mary of magdala from the papyrus berolinensis. Mary magdalene is only mentioned twicevery late in the gospelbut she gets up close and personal at the most important events in the story. Adapted from the meaning of mary magdalene, by cynthia bourgeault, 2010 by cynthia bourgeault. The gospel of mary, however, was not in the nag hammadi library, and the version contained in the berlin codex is the most complete copy of the work, though still only a partial rendering. And it isnt until the sixth century that literary sources inform us about. The gospel of mary of magdala, a secondcentury gospel that was discovered in the 19th century and not published until 1955, shows mary to be the apostle yes, apostle to whom jesus revealed deep theological insights. For a people living in the diaspora, unable to visit the jerusalem temple frequently, what kept the memory and centrality of the temple fresh in their minds. Pdf historical background on mary magdalene find, read and cite all the. One of the main benefits of reading this book is the opportunity to gain a greater appreciation of the many different competing ideas which flourished during the early years of christianity. Karen king introduces the legacy of mary magdalene by saying. The gospel of mary of magdala offers a glimpse into the conflicts and controversies that shaped earliest christianity. The gospel of mary of magdala jesus and the first woman apostle karen l.
When mary had said this, she fell silent, since it was to this point that the. There is no indication in the gospels that mary was a witch or a. Square brackets in the translation indicate a gap in the manuscript where writing once existed. What is not disputed is the portrayal of mary of magdala as an important woman leader and witness in the earliest christian churches. Mary of magdala and mary the mother of joses were looking on to see where he was put. Chapter 4 pages 1 to 6 of the manuscript, containing chapters 1. In the early 1980s when feminist theologians began to analyse the gospel of mary they. Perhaps the only truth in the davinci code is the claim that the apostle from magdala was indeed jesus most beloved. The only possible gospel reference to a place of that name is matthew 15. She is mentioned by name 12 times in the canonical gospels, more than most of the apostles and more than any other nonfamily woman in the gospels.
Celebrating mary of magdala mary of magdala 2016 church for. Lost for more than fifteen hundred years, the gospel of mary is the only existing early christian gospel written in the name of a woman. Celebrating mary of magdala building a mary of magdala 2016 church for our daughters liturgical celebration only we invite you to use or adapt the enclosed prayer service we encourage you to personally invite and include young catholic women your daughters, granddaughters, nieces, goddaughters, etc. This, to be sure, has been a boon for the scholars who have been writing about and discussing mary magdalene for the last generation. Reviewed in the united kingdom on december 23, 2015. Lost for more than fifteen hundred years, the gospel of mary is the only existing early christian gospel written in. Four pieces of gospel evidence strongly point to mary magdalene as a temple priestess of the goddess. Matthew, and received as genuine and authentic by several of the ancient christian sects. Magdalenes authority in the canonical gospels and other noncanonical texts will. The gospel of mary of magdala is a work of gnostic christianity. Polebridge press, 2003 is the most thorough study of this text with a.
In this gnostic gospel, mary magdalene appears as a disciple, singled out by jesus for special teachings. In this category, we can think of the gospel of thomas,thegospel of mary, and the gospel of peter. In the gospel of philip, a similar statement is made about mary magdalene. Square brackets in the translation indicate that a gap exists in the manuscript where writing once existed. In this excerpt, the other disciples are discouraged and grieving. Jan 29, 2015 short gospel citations and all epistle and old testament citations are from the new revised standard version nrsv. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Mary of magdala celebration july 22, 2009 this lecture looks at the conflation of traditions of mary magdalene as well as scripture references to. Celebrating mary of magdala mary of magdala 2016 church.
Written early in the second century ce, it disappeared for over fifteen hundred years until a single. In the gospels this mary is the mother of jesus and husband of joseph. Karen kings gospel of mary of magdala is a book that many readers are waiting for. The gospel of mary of magdala by karen king polebridge press, 2003.
The gospel of mary magdalene, by cynthia bourgeault parabola. It is too simple to turn this into a story of first century misogy ny. This berlin codex was purchased in cairo by german diplomat carl reinhardt. Jesus and the first woman apostle by king, karen l. The site includes the gnostic library, with the complete nag hammadi library and a large collection of other primary gnostic scriptures and documents. Luke 8 associates her with the affluent and politically connected joanna. Interpreting the lost gospel of mary sydney open journals online. According to pheme perkins, on the basis of thirteen works, the gospel follows a format. The magdala, which conferred her name on mary the magdalene one of the numerous migdols, i. In the 8th and 10th centuries ce, christian sources write of a church in the village that was also mary magdalenes house, where jesus is said to have exorcised her of demons. There are now some bible scholars who propose that mary may have been author of john, christians most popular gospel.
What written documents they had served at most as supplemental guides to. And it isnt until the sixth century that literary sources inform us about pilgrimage to mary magdalenes alleged hometown on the shores of the sea of. A great variety of beliefs and interpretations of jesus teachings were around the first 200300 years after jesus died. Into the limits of magadan christ came by boat, over the lake of gennesareth after his miracle of feeding the four thousand on the mountain of the eastern side, matthew 15. People have a lot to say about her, thats for sure, but what does johns gospel want us to know about this infamous mary. In your article mary of magdala, apostle to the apostles, you say, among other things, that mary magdalene was not a prostitute. In the gospel of mary of magdala, king shares with her readers the thrill that comes from finding a reallife buried treasure. Jan 19, 2019 for a people living in the diaspora, unable to visit the jerusalem temple frequently, what kept the memory and centrality of the temple fresh in their minds. Mary magdalene has continued since the early church.
Mary magdalene, sometimes called simply the magdalene or the madeleine, was a jewish woman who, according to the four canonical gospels, traveled with jesus as one of his followers and was a witness to his crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. Fragments from the find at oxyrhynchus in egypt also contain parts of the gospel of mary. An intriguing stone uncovered at the galilean site of magdala might offer a clue. This brief narrative presents a radical interpretation of. The gospel of mary is one of a series of texts unearthed in the mid. Mary magdalene in the nag hammadi library and related documents nag.
The focus of this investigation is on two female characters in johns gospel, mary of bethany and mary of magdala. The gospels of mathew and luke record how the holy spirit came down to mary to give birth to jesus. Gnostic texts portray her as an early apostle and leader who held secret wisdom, as in the pistis sophia, the gospel of mary, and the gospel of. How are we like mary of magdala, sister, disciple, even apostle, lover of her lord. Piously we can claim or reach for that degree of love and devotion, but there is a human story here which we also might. Jesus and the first woman apostle 1st edition by karen l. Very simplistically, gnostics believed that the soul was good and anything material, that is, having to do with this world, was flawed. Jesus and the first woman apostle 2003 my mom had the book and read it.
King tells the story of the recovery of this remarkable gospel and offers a new translation. The gospel of mary of magdala offers a fascinating glimpse into the conflicts and controversies that shaped earliest christianity. Excerpt from the gospel of mary of magdala by karen l. Repent and believe in the gospel, for the kingdom of god is at hand. Gnostic texts portray her as an early apostle and leader who held. Gospel of mary of magdala text from the papyrus berolinensis. Gospel of mary of magdala jesus and the first woman apostle karen l. The secret tradition of mary magdalene, the companion of jesus meyer, marvin w. Mary of bethany and mary of magdalatwo female characters. Written early in the second century ce, it disappeared for over fifteen hundred years until a single, fragmentary. Readings from the gospels mary of magdala matthew 27, 5561. The gospel of mary in catalogue of the greek papyri in the john rylands. Among them were mary of magdala, mary, the mother of james and joseph, and the mother of zebedees sons. For the last twentyfive years, king has been studying a fragment of a gospel that had been lost since the fifth century.
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