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Mariam, the Magdalen, and the Mother

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Compiled and deftly edited by Deirdre Good (Professor of New Testament, General Theological Seminary, New York City), Mariam, The Magdalen, And The Mother is a compilation of erudite essays by knowledgeable Jewish, Christian and Muslim scholars on the biblical figure of Mary Magdalene as present aspects of her composite identity drawn from Jewish, Gnostic, early Christian, and Manichean traditions. This impressively diverse collection of viewpoints also covers Islamic and patristic traditions about Jesus' mother Mary. Taken as a whole, Mariam, The Magdalen, And The Mother presents a fascinating, scholarly, yet completely accessible exploration of the Miriamic roots of Mary Magdalen's composite identity and prophetic vision that played an important and controversial role during the first five centuries of the Christian movement. Also available in a hardcover edition (02533-45332, $50.00) Mariam, The Magdalen, And The Mother is a strongly recommended addition to personal and academic Christian Studies and Religious Studies library reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Plenty if the name is Mary. For those looking for female figures in scripture, Mary Magdalen has long been an important if mysterious figure. Interest in Mary, the mother of Jesus remains high as well. In Mariam, the Magdalen and the Mother, edited and introduced by Deirdre Good, Professor of New Testament at the General Theological Seminary, Christian, Jewish and Muslim scholars explore the Miriamic tradition from many angles. Prof. Good sets the stage by arguing that Mariam is a better translation of the name we normally render as Miriam or Mary. Seeing Mariam in the text rather than Mary opens up the interconnections among the various Marys not only in Christian scripture but in writings from all the religious traditions of the early Common Era and highlights the coherence in both the name and the roles of these figures. Following on this notion, other contributors to the volume explore Mary Magdalen's various roles as disciple and prophet, examine the role of Mary in Gnostic texts, and trace the evolution of the portrayal of Mary Magdalen in Christian art. The interdisciplinary and interfaith approach of this volume moves the discussion of Mary Magdalen and the Miriamic tradition in ways that a more narrow focus could not, and opens the door for further investigation of Mariam in all her instantiations. It is a fascinating read for anyone interested in the role of women in scripture and in the world in which Christianity developed.

An important, interdisciplinary anthology; engaging, thoughtfully presented, scholarly-yet accessible to the intelligent reader; and with a much-needed historical and inter-religious perspective. Essential reading, especially as a counter to so much fanciful material currently on the market in this area.

The Rev. Dr. Katherine Kurs

Perhaps the most exciting aspect of this volume is the platform for further inquiry which it establishes. Deirdre Good's insistence that we translate Mariam, not Mary, in Jn 20 opens the interesting question of the embeddedness of John in the (at least) trilingual milieu of the first century. Carol Myers' and Mary Rose D'Angelo's essays elicit further probing of the gendered contours of prophecy in the first century. And Diane Apostolos-Cappadona's contribution opens the question of the degree to which Byzantine art concerning Mariam influenced Western depictions to some degree. The other essays will ask the reader to rethink the relation of flesh and spirit, since so much of the significance of Mariam resides in her mediation of the experience of the risen crucified One. The collection includes extensive bibliography and index useful to a wide range of scholars, and is rigorously edited for intelligibility among a general readership. It is perhaps best read in tandem with Bart Ehrmans's LOST CHRISTIANITIES.