Customer Reviews

The Gospel of Mary Magdalene

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This is one of the scrolls found in the Nag Hammadi desert, in Egypt, in 1945, and is of more importance, from a religious standpoint, than the so-called Dead Sea Scrolls, which dealt more with legal and more mundane affairs and gave an insight into living conditions in the early centuries before the present era.

There is much information about the Nag Hammadi find in Professor Elaine Pagel's book, The Gnostic Gospels. I met her briefly several years ago, in New York.

Only fragments of The Gospel of Mary Magdalene were found, of the total 19 pages. Pages 1-6 are missing, as are 11-14. However, the pages that were found and translated from the coptic are of great interest since they primarily purport to be quotations of Yeshua (better known by his Greek name, Jesus) and conversations between his disciples.

A tension between Mary Magdalene, who is described as being closer to Yeshua than the others, and Peter, is evident: "How is it possible that the Teacher talked in this manner with a woman about secrets with which we ourselves are ignorant? Must we change our customs and listen to this woman? Did he really choose her, and prefer her to us?" Then Mary wept and answered him: "My brother Peter, what can you be thinking? Do you believe that this is just my own imagination, that I invented this vision? Or do you believe that I would lie about our Teacher?"

Is his reaction only male chauvinism, or pure jealousy?

The scrolls found in the Nag Hammadi are important because the Gnostics were opposed by the dominant Constantinians, who tried to stamp them and their writings out, and refused to allow them into the canon of the New Testament. I once heard that Constantine's scholars went into a room, and when they came out, said that the books included in the canon were chosen because they "jumped up on the table" of their own accord, and the ones that did not were not included.

I can't verify the statement's truth, but it is no more far-fetched than some others.

The antiquity of the Nag Hammadi books alone, as well as the subject matter, should make them as valuable as any of the other gospels.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre

author of The Road to Damascus: Our Journey Through Eternity
and other books

Jean-Yves Leloup has written a stunning commentary on the ancient Gnostic text, The Gospel of Mary. Discovered in the late 1800's and published with the more recently discovered Nag Hammadi Library, The Gospel of Mary has puzzled many readers because of its missing pages and esoteric language. This book will take much of the mystery out of this text for general readers and scholars alike.

Most notable, I think, is the translation of "anthropos" as "human" rather than "man." This was a problem with the Gospel of Thomas as well; Jesus and the disciples make comments about women turning into men before they can find the Kingdom of God. At best, these comments were mystifying, and more than a few women found them to be shocking. With this translation, however, Leloup encourages us to think of the comments as meaning that women (and men) must become more spiritually aware before understanding the mysteries of Jesus' teachings.

There is a little bit for everyone in this book, ranging from the original Coptic with facing English translation to an in-depth line by line commentary. It's more than enough to stimulate debate about Christianity's early developments, particularly relating to the authority of women.

Nearly all knowledgeable Biblical scholars realize there have been a wide range of writings attributed to Jesus and his Apostles..... and that some of these were selected for compilation into the book that became known as the Bible.....and that some books have been removed from some versions of the Bible and others have been re-discovered in modern times.

The attention focused on Gnosticism by Dan Brown's DaVinci Code may be debatable, but the fact is that increased attention on academics tends to be predominately positive, so I welcome those with first-time or renewed interest. At least first-timers to Gnosticism are not pursuing the oh-so-popular legends of the Holy Grail, Bloodline of Christ, and Mary Magdalene.

This is great......I seldom quote other reviewers, but there is one reviewer of Pagels' books who confided that he had been a Jesuit candidate and had been required to study a wide range of texts but was never was told about the Nag Hamadi texts. He said:

"Now I know why. The Gospel of Thomas lays waste to the notion that Jesus was `the only begotten Son of God' and obviates the need for a formalized church when he says, `When your leaders tell you that God is in heaven, say rather, God is within you, and without you.' No wonder they suporessed this stuff! The Roman Catholic Church hasn't maintained itself as the oldest institution in the world by allowing individuals to have a clear channel to see the divinity within all of us: they need to put God in a bottle, label the bottle, put that bottle on an altar, build a church around that altar, put a sign over the door, and create rubricks and rituals to keep out the dis-believing riff-raff. Real `Us' versus `them' stuff, the polar opposite from `God is within You.' `My God is bigger than your God' the church(s)seem to say. And you can only get there through "my" door/denomination. But Jesus according to Thomas had it right: just keep it simple, and discover the indwelling Divinity `within you and without you.'"

Here are quickie reviews of what is being bought these days on the Gnostic Gospels and the lost books of the Bible in general:

The Lost Books of the Bible (0517277956) includes 26 apocryphal books from the first 400 years that were not included in the New Testament.

Marvin Meyers' The Secret Teachings of Jesus : Four Gnostic Gospels (0394744330 ) is a new translation without commentary of The Secret Book of James, The Gospel of Thomas, The Book of Thomas, and The Secret Book of John.

James M. Robinson's The Nag Hammadi Library in English : Revised Edition (0060669357) has been around 25 years now and is in 2nd edition. It has introductions to each of the 13 Nag Hammadi Codices and the Papyrus Berioinensis 8502.

The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English (0140278079) by Geza Vermes has selected works....a complete work is more difficult to achieve than the publisher's marketing concept indicates. His commentary generates strong reactions.

Elaine Pagels has 2 books (The Gnostic Gospels 0679724532 and Beyond Belief : The Secret Gospel of Thomas 0375501568) that have received considerable attention lately. For many, her work is controversial in that it is written for popular consumption and there is a strong modern interpretation. She does attempt to reinterpret ancient gender relationships in the light of modern feminist thinking. While this is a useful (and entertaining) aspect of college women's studies programs, it is not as unethical as some critics claim. As hard as they may try, all historians interpret the past in the context of the present. Obviously there is value in our attempts to re-interpret the past in the light of our own time.

If you want the full scholarly work it is W. Schneemelcher's 2 volume New Testament Apocrypha.

At last a Gnostic Gospel is presented in a way that even non-Gnostics can love. Leloup's excellent commentary adequately summarizes the Gnostic world-view without being intrusive, and the light he shines on the Gospel of Magdalene will make you ponder no matter what you believe, even if you believe nothing. It is short enough to read quickly -- but you probably won't. It's too good. Savor its wisdom and go back to it often. It's a spiritual experience par excellance and a bargain to boot.

Let's be honest here and cut through the chase. In this age of rampant conspiracy theories and films that excite the imagination the idea of a secret coverup by the church to defame these wonderful works makes a tempting plot. And there is just enough truth to make it sound feasable. But before you all tell me how closed minded I am, let me offer a few alternatives.

IF YOU REALLY WANT TO LEARN ABOUT GNOSTICISM: Research it throughly from BOTH sides, and keep an open mind. This was a major struggle in the early church. A lot of scholarly work is available from different perspectives. Gnosticism is alive and well today, as is orthodox Christianity. Many good books are available on Amazon.

IF YOU REALLY WANY TO READ ONE OF THE GNOSTIC GOSPELS:
I suggest you choose the Gospel of Thomas. It is easy to find and has a lot more meat. The Gospel of Mary Magdalene has only 161 lines and about 175 pages of author added commentary and filler to stretch it out. The Gospel of Magdalene is not a complete work.

IF YOU REALLY WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DEBATE OVER MARY:
I suggest you purchase the video, "Mary Magdalen: An Intimate Portrait" It is sold by Amazon. I reviewed it and find it to be a balanced, serious attempt at honesty without dodging extreme views on any side of the debate.

IF YOU REALLY WANT TO STUDY THE "LOST BOOKS OF THE BIBLE":
I suggest you begin with the "Shepherd (Pastor) of Hermas" This book was so accepted in the early church that it can still be seen in our earliest known New Testament, Codex Sinaiticus, dating back to the 4th century. Then, after inclusion, it was removed, because it flunked the test of "Apostolic Authority". Other major very early works include the Didache, and Apostolic Constitutions. These will open plenty of scholarly debate.

IF SOMETHING INSIDE YOU STILL SAYS YOU JUST HAVE TO HAVE THIS BOOK:
Then download it over the net. The book isn't much longer than this review and it is in the public domain.

March 15, 2005.

I have amended this review in response to the disrespectful tone and dismissive manner in which some reviewers have chosen to portray Mary Magdalene and her Gospel. There are two basic types of skeptics, the mocker and the doubting Thomas. "Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you". Proverbs 9:8. I am giving Mary's skeptics the benefit of the doubt. They know not what they do. With that said, I offer the following Caveat: Jesus thought very highly of Mary Magdalene. He came to Mary's defense on "numerous" occasions in the mainstream Constantine New Testament. I would think twice before I cast any stones her way. On "one" such occasion the self-serving Judas Iscariot criticised Mary's use of expensive Nard on Jesus as a ritualistic act of Consecration. Judas complained to Jesus that the money from the sale of the expensive perfume could have been given to the poor. However, Judas' true agenda was to steal some of this money for himself and now he wouldn't be able to because of Mary's overzealous attention to Jesus. John then records that Jesus, in no uncertain terms, told Judas to leave Mary alone... John 12:1-7. As he told the angry mob on one occasion, as he told her self-righteous sister Martha on another, and so on.

Attack me if you want. Criticise Leloup if you will. Ridicule alternative histories if you believe everything people in positions of authority have to say. But where Mary Magdalene is concerned I believe it wise that if a person doesn't have anything good to say about her then they should listen to the words of Jesus and "...leave Mary alone".

This book is primarily for those that want to know more about the opinion of the person that was closer to Jesus than anyone else. Jesus left us no writings of his own; and yet so much has been written by others about what they say he said. In this light, shouldn't we read what his most intimate Disciple had to say now that the hand of Providence has brought her and her words to our attention. That the Gospel of Mary Magdalene is brief should be commended, not mocked. Should we mock Moses for only writting down Ten Commandments instead of Fifty? Or should we, like Jesus, make spiritual matters as simple and clear as possible. The greatest commandment is love. Honestly, read this book unless you really don't want to hear what a woman has to say.

The Christian religion has never been monolithic. Even in the 1st Century there were differing opinions about Jesus and his message. Some called him Teacher, Prophet, Master, King, Lord, while others called him blasphemer, heretic, false-prophet, Devil... Peter felt one had to become a Jew, circumcised-etc., before one could become a Christian. Paul felt otherwise. Some claimed they had 'Secret' knowledge where Jesus was concerned, others claimed no such secret existed. "When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. Jesus told them, "The 'secret' of the Kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding;.." Mark 4:10-12. NIV. Could it be that those on the outside fail to see with the eyes of their heart? "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened..." Ephesians 1:18.

A close reading of the existing New Testament reveals that Mary Magdalene was closer to Jesus than any other Disciple. Other than the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene is the "Mary" of the New Testament. Don't let anyone deceive you on this matter. The attempts by much of organized religion, past and present, to lose Mary's identity in the 600+ pages of the New Testament have been thwarted. God's invisible hand has intervened and hidden Mary in plain sight. Though pride cannot see this, humility can. As a result those after God's heart get to watch Mary grow from sinner to Saint. Those that say that Mary could not possibly have been a prostitute betray their own hypocritical natures and/or miss the point entirely. God is telling us that we can change. That we can become close companions of God no matter who we are or what we have done. That we don't have to be the victims of our position in life, nor the prisoner of our base desires. That we can find ourself by losing ourself in God. That to serve God and others is the highest calling, and this calling is available to all. As Job came to realize, we have free choice. As Pope John Paul II often said, the good person suffers for God's sake. A sentiment one does not have to completely concur with to pretty much understand. You might want to see the Pope's Apostolic Letter "Salvifici Doloris" concerning Theodicy, the perennial question of why God allows evil in our world. In a nutshell: "If God only favored the righteous, then righteousness would not be for righteousness sake but for favor. Doing the right thing is its own reward."

THE APOSTLE JOHN CALLED MARY MAGDALENE THE GREATEST APOSTLE.

And yet there are those that go on about the legitimate lineage of a State Sanctioned Apostolic Authority that arbitrarily decided not to recognize the significance of Mary or her Gospel three hundred years after the fact. When the male Apostles were all hiding, Mary Magdalene was present at the crucifixion. Three Centuries later State supported Church leaders, Bishops originally convoked by the Roman Emperor Constantine at what came to be known as the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, were now beginning to all but deny Mary's existence. Fact is, Mary Magdalene witnessed Jesus perform numerous miracles, for others including her brother Lazarus, and for herself. Mary Magdalene had a place reserved for her at the Master's feet by the Master himself. Mary was closer to Jesus than anyone else. Come Hell or high-water, Roman Centurion and his Century or the Devil himself and all his Demons, Mary, unlike the other Apostles, would not leave her post at the tomb of her fallen Lord. She was the first to see the risen Spirit of Jesus. The first to tell others, including the other Apostles. MARY MAGADALENE WAS THE FIRST CHRISTIAN. She had inside information concerning Jesus and his most private thoughts. Some of those thoughts are to be found in this book.

This book contains a reasonable description of what the Gospel of Mary is, where and how it was found, and what it implies for early Christianity. It is not the last work on the subject, but it is written in a fairly accessible way, and avoids the conspiracy theories that are so common when discussing the early history of Christianity. Jean-Yves Leloup's translation of the Gospel does show a feminist bias. This is not nessesarily a bad thing considering that the Biblical gospels show a strong patriarchal bias, but it is distracting and I found myself translating the translation at times. My only other concern with this book is that it is not always made clear that the Gospel of Mary was not written until at least a generation after the death of Jesus, and was probably not written by anyone who had first-hand knowledge of the what the Apostles did in the days after the Crucifixion. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn about the Gospel of Mary, and about Gnostism, but this should not be the only book that you read on the subject.

What I enjoyed the most about The Gospels of Mary Magdalene was the fact that it was written with a female perspective. As a woman I find the Old Testament to be "Barbaric" at times towards women. Jesus loved everyone equally rather male or female. The only problem I had with this book was that it left me wanting to know more.

I found more in a book here on Amazon called The Book of Thomas by Daniel Aber and Gabreael that went places most author's fear to tread. It is written from an Esoteric Christian perspective as well. It dealt with issues such as The Christ Consciousness, Universal Law, The Genetic Code, The Levels of Heaven and Hell, Reincarnation, and much more.

It is always interesting to look at the scriptures which were rejected by the early church leaders. In this instance it seems that two of the more threatening elements are probably the special emphasis placed on the Presence to be discovered and allowed to grow within us as well as the central position accorded to Mary Magdalene.

The format of the text is done in a highly readable style. You don't have to be an academic to understand it. The commentary is particulary good. The author highlights both the unique aspects of this gospel and also its similarities to the four canonical Gospels. Anyone interested in learning more about Mary Magdalene and the development of early Christianity will enjoy reading THE GOSPEL OF MARY MAGDALENE.

Leloup's edition of the Gospel of Mary Magdalene is of minimal value in light of the new publication of an authoritative edition by Karen King: The Gospel of Mary of Magdala. Karen King's edition offers both a far superior translation of the original text, and a superb commentary on importance and interpretation of the Gospel of Mary.

If you do choose to purchase this Leloup edition, please be sure and also pick up a copy of King's new edition. Then judge for yourself.