The Gospel of Mary, the only known gospel that is named after a woman, has aroused new interest in the figure of Mary Magdalene and the beginnings of Christianity. What was her impact and her message? What became of her and her ideas? This book examines the Gospel of Mary to discover what it reveals about Mary Magdalene and to determine the origin of its portrayal. It proposes a new perspective on matter and nature in the Gospel of Mary, suggesting that it is not to be categorized as a gnostic writing. Furthermore, the study argues that Mary’s teaching in the Gospel of Mary is more closely related to the writings of Philo, the letters of Paul and the Gospel of John than to the Nag Hammadi Codices. As such, the Gospel of Mary and its portrayal of Mary Magdalene cannot be seen as evidence of a specific gnostic esteem for Mary Magdalene, but rather demonstrates the esteem of believers belonging to a broader Christian context.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“There is much to recommend this book…de Boer provides valuable new insights and is unafraid of tackling well-established presuppositions. De Boer’s study is highly recommended and should be made available in college and university libraries for students and scholars.” –Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2005 (Catholic Biblical Quarterly )
"The author's goal is to evaluate the portrayal of Mary in the late-second-century Coptic text, 'The Gospel of Mary', and also to compare this with Mary's portrayal in the canonical gospels....-The Bible Today, May/June 2006
"...this study is rich in detail and will repay careful consideration by all working in these broad areas of interest. The book is certainly a highly significant addition to the growing literature on the Gospel of Mary and the figure of Mary Magdalene in early Christianity." - The Expository Times, January 2006
(Christopher Tuckett Expository Times )'a well structured piece of research which opens the way for further questions'
Neotestamentica 40.2 (2006)
(Paul B. Decock )"offers a fresh approach that is both interesting and, in many cases, convincing."
(Clare K. Rothschild, Journal of Religion, (86.1) Journal Of Religion )"In amongst the plethora of pseudo-scholarly books concerning ecclesiastical conspiracy theories in the wake of The Da Vinci Code, this short book on the Gospel of Mary is a welcome and illuminating alternative."
ANVIL 23.4 2006
(Amabel Craig Anvil )“The author’s goal is to evaluate the portrayal of Mary in the late-second-century Coptic text, 'The Gospel of Mary’, and also to compare this with Mary’s portrayal in the canonical gospels….-The Bible Today, May/June 2006
"...this study is rich in detail and will repay careful consideration by all working in these broad areas of interest. The book is certainly a highly significant addition to the growing literature on the Gospel of Mary and the figure of Mary Magdalene in early Christianity." - The Expository Times, January 2006
(, Expository Times )'a well structured piece of research which opens the way for further questions'
Neotestamentica 40.2 (2006)
(, )"offers a fresh approach that is both interesting and, in many cases, convincing."
(, Journal Of Religion )"In amongst the plethora of pseudo-scholarly books concerning ecclesiastical conspiracy theories in the wake of The Da Vinci Code, this short book on the Gospel of Mary is a welcome and illuminating alternative."
ANVIL 23.4 2006
(, Anvil )
About the Author
Esther A. de Boer completed her Ph.D. at the Theological University of Kampen, Holland. She is the author of Mary Magdalene: beyond the Myth (Trinity Press International, 1997)
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22 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
major Analysis,
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This review is from: Gospel of Mary: Beyond a Gnostic and a Biblical Mary Magdalene (Library Of New Testament Studies) (Hardcover)
The Gospel Of Mary: Beyond A Gnostic And A Biblical Mary Magdalene by Esther A. De Boer (Journal for the Study of the New Testament Supplement Series: T. & T. Clark Publishers) Two basic viewpoints are usually distinguished in recent scholarly work on the Biblical and Gnostic Mary Magdalene: (1) Gnostic authors have constructed a Gnostic Mary Magdalene using the biblical portrait of her as a vehicle for Gnostic teaching, and, (2) biblical authors neglected the important role of Mary Magdalene, of which Gnostic authors preserved evidence. In addition, on the one hand the Gnostic Mary Magdalene is valued as a female apostolic leader, as an advocate of women and of egalitarian discipleship, and as a revealer of Gnostic insights. On the other hand, scholars point to the specific dualism, and the subsequently negative female imagery in Gnostic writings, and reject a positive evaluation of the Gnostic Mary Magdalene.
To be able to evaluate these different viewpoints on the Gnostic Mary Magdalene, the present study focuses on the Gospel of Mary, which is considered to be the most important early witness to the esteem of Mary Magdalene in Gnostic circles. Boer investigates the following aspects: 1. The dualism involved in the Gospel of Mary: is it a specific Gnostic dualism and does it contain a negative use of female imagery? 2. Mary's teaching in the Gospel of Mary: what is the specific content of her teaching? 3. The Gospel of Mary's view on Mary Magdalene; does this gospel advocate the apostolic leadership of women, an egalitarian discipleship and a non-hierarchical way of being the church? 4. The portrayals of Mary Magdalene in the Now Testament Gospels: to what extent can the portrayal of Mary Magdalene in the Gospel of Mary, her relation to the Saviour, her position among the disciples, her function in the story, be understood from the New Testament Gospels? By addressing these questions Boer contributes to the present debate about the Gnostic Mary Magdalene. The study begins with an introduction to the Gospel of Mary. It goes into its three incomplete manuscripts of the Gospel of Mary, the provenance of the original document, its date and composition, the persons in the story and the identification of Mary as Mary Magdalene. The chapter also provides a new translation of the nine pages from the Coptic manuscript, followed by a study of the meaning of the Gospel of Mary, and of the definition of the term `Gnostic'. Next Boer examines the purpose of and the dualism in the Gospel of Mary and the question whether it is to be seen as a Gnostic document. Boer focuses on the author's portrayal of Mary Magdalene in the Gospel of Mary. What is her relation to the Saviour, what is her position among the disciples and what is her function in the story? The author speaks from the viewpoint of Peter, of Andrew, of Levi, of the Savior, and of Mary herself. Through the interaction of these views, through the extra knowledge and view of the narrator and dialogic structure, through Mary's teaching and through certain indications in the text, Boer examines the development of the plot in which the author's view of Mary Magdalene becomes apparent. To be able to investigate the origin of the portrayal of Mary Magdalene in the Gospel of Mary an examination of the New Testament Gospels is elaborated, since they contain the earliest written material on Mary Magdalene. First Boer studies the portrayal of Mary Magdalene in the Gospel of Mark. Almost at the end of the Gospel, Mark for the first time declares that a considerable number of women had been following Jesus. What to think of these women? What is their function in Mark's story? And what about Mary Magdalene in their midst? In order to fully consider these questions Boer not only focuses on Mark, but also on the historical situation at the time of the Gospel witness and communities Boer also investigates the Gospels of Matthew and Luke and the Gospel of John, considering their view of women and Mary Magdalene in particular as well as possible historical contexts. Boer wraps up with an evaluation of the portrayals of Mary Magdalene in the Gospel of Mary and the New Testament Gospels, reflecting on the substantive questions enumerated above.
5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Gospel of Mary,
By Irish Elf (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Gospel of Mary: Listening to the Beloved Disciple (Paperback)
Did the Church substitute the Virgin Mary for the powerful icon of the Magdalene? It would appear so by the marvelous gnostic wisdom portrayed in this book. Nothing against the Virgin who deserves great honor, but the travesty of slander and pious jealousy strewn upon the path of history towards Mary Magdalene literally brings pain to my soul. Rereading her own words over and over again literally turns on the light inside my heart. The unfortunate backing of the patriarchal force of the Nicean Council only reinforced teachings passed down by Peter and Paul. Mary's teachings should have been presented alongside theirs as a channel of deeper mysteries. Her own take on Jesus Christ as an Apostle and possible intimate companion deserve honor and recognition at last!
If you want two other books on similiar wave-lengths try reading The Woman with the Alabaster Jar by Margaret Starbird and Eclipse of Fate...my healing journey through past-life recall by Barbara Burritt. Both of these books speak about spiritual transformation coming from the nous with two completely different vantage points. Starbird takes the truths of the Magdalene and thouroughly explains the historical clues hidden in the Holy Grail and the sacred feminine teachings stemming from the Magdalene's legend in the south of France. Eclipse of Fate speaks from her first hand knowledge of gnostic truths that are in the Gospel of Mary Magdalene. Burritt took them to task and manifested her own miraculous healing from cancer. May the sacred feminine speak from our own sub-coscious as the dispensation of the Holy Spirit is just now awakening to her full glory.
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