Mary Magdalene: Beyond the Myth [Paperback]

Esther A. de Boer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1997

Much has been written recently about Mary Magdalene, mostly about who she was not. She was not the sister of Martha. She was not the fallen woman who was raised up again by Jesus. She was not the prostitute who repented and did penance for the rest of her life. The picture of Mary Magdalene cherished by the ages, which emphasized her sexuality and suppressed her weakness, lies in shreds. Who really was Mary Magadalene? The living woman behind the image is still too little known and Esther de Boer here attempts to fill this gap. Examining not only the Gospel texts and texts from the church fathers, but also examining texts discovered in the Egyptian desert during the last century that were not contained in the church's tradition (not least of which is the Gospel of Mary), de Boer presents a vivid, fascinating and attractive picture of Mary of Magdala—disciple, apostle, and human being. Esther de Boer studied theology at the Free University of Amsterdam and is now a minister of the Dutch Reformed Churches in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A fine book of scholarship which is quite readable." —The Living Church (Living Church, The )

"The Mary Magdalene of Esther de Boer is credible—and fascinating. Her research is well-documented in end-notes, bibliography and index of ancient texts, and challenges readers to re-examine their own views of this important woman of the Bible." —The Message-for Catholics of Southwestern Indiana, February 6, 1998 (Message, The )

"De Boer helps the reader explore the assumptions behind the portrayals and offers her own statement of Mary's portrait as rooted in the Bible—one that presents her as disciple, apostle, and faithful woman." —The Bible Today, March 1998 (Bible Today, The )

"De Boer offers significant new insights into the real Mary Magdalene in a very readable, well-documented work which focuses on the first 400 years of pertinent Christian texts and traditions. I highly recommend this book, for it exemplifies an excellent methodology for dealing with ancient texts." —Sonya A. Quistlund (Emeritus, George Washington University) writing in Theological Studies (Theological Studies )

"A meticulously reasoned and researched explication of Mary Magdalene's place in the lives of Jesus and the early Christians….Using the Gospels, the writings of the early Church Fathers and their contemporaries, as well as recent archeological discoveries, de Boer portrays Mary Magdalene as an intelligent, cosmopolitan women, comfortable with a variety of cultures...This book is a refreshing change from the usual speculations about this most intriguing and elusive woman." — Dixie Tracy-Kinney, reviewing for Gnosis Magazine, Fall 1998 (Dixie-Tracy-Kinney Gnosis )

"Valuable in a look behind the clarity of myth and into the vagaries and ambiguities of historical reality." — Kim Paffenroth, Villanova University, reviewing for Religious Studies Review, October 1998 (Kim Paffenroth, Villanova University Religious Studies Review )

"...interesting, insightful, and intriguing historical study."—Aida Besancon Spencer, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, reviewing for Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, March 2000 (Journal Of The Evangelical Theological Society )

"A meticulously reasoned and researched explication of Mary Magdalene's place in the lives of Jesus and the early Christians….Using the Gospels, the writings of the early Church Fathers and their contemporaries, as well as recent archeological discoveries, de Boer portrays Mary Magdalene as an intelligent, cosmopolitan women, comfortable with a variety of cultures...This book is a refreshing change from the usual speculations about this most intriguing and elusive woman." — Dixie Tracy-Kinney, reviewing for Gnosis Magazine, Fall 1998 (, Gnosis )

"Valuable in a look behind the clarity of myth and into the vagaries and ambiguities of historical reality." — Kim Paffenroth, Villanova University, reviewing for Religious Studies Review, October 1998 (, Religious Studies Review )

"...interesting, insightful, and intriguing historical study."—Aida Besancon Spencer, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, reviewing for Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, March 2000 (, Journal Of The Evangelical Theological Society )

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Dutch

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Trinity Press Int'l (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563382121
• ISBN-13: 978-1563382123
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,664,166 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

65 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars clear and informative, September 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Mary Magdalene: Beyond the Myth (Paperback)

This book was truly a pleasure to read. It is written clearly and gives a great deal of information in a relatively small space. It is worthy reading for one doing serious research, yet also qualifies as fun reading for one who is simply interested in Mary Magdalene. It includes excerpts from the Gospel of Mary, which are fascinating. I highly recommend this book to anyone.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Meditations on the record, September 29, 2004

By 

Mark Mills (Glen Rose, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mary Magdalene: Beyond the Myth (Paperback)

I enjoyed this book a great deal. I failed to agree with the author's conclusions, but doubt the intent was to convince. She shares her own meditations, but they are inspirational comments rather than legal epitaphs.

The book starts with a review of contemporary treatment of the icon 'Mary Magdalene'. We make a pilgrimage to a church dedicated to her and experience the emotions her passion play evokes. This image is then undermined by reviewing the history of Mary Magdalene's persona as described by church fathers over the last 1800 years.

De Boer then goes beyond the church fathers to the earliest evangelical quotes attributed to Mary herself: The Gospel of Mary Magdalene. While the document is at least 1500 years old, it isn't clear what it represents: does it quote the words Mary spoke or is it simply another 'myth' about Mary.

De Boer spends a good deal of time addressing the problem of differentiating the three personas attributed to Mary:
1. Mary, the follower of Jesus presented in the canonic gospels,
2. Mary, the priestess of Christ as presented in the Gospel of Mary Magdalene,
3. Mary, the 'reformed prostitute' as presented by medieval European church fathers.

In the end, De Boer concludes the 'real' Mary was accurately quoted in the Gospel of Mary Magdalene.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jesus' Constant Companion, June 13, 2006

By 

Readalots (South Texas, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mary Magdalene: Beyond the Myth (Paperback)

Originally penned in Dutch, Esther de Boer's "Mary Magdalene" (1996) arrives in the English translation (Bowden's 1997) as a fresh new look at Jesus' closest female disciple (p. 65-67). Although Mary is historically elusive de Boer proffers considerable well-reasoned insight and scholarly reflection about this great lady saint. This 143-page paperback is well resourced with a five page select bibliography and 14 pages of endnotes. De Boer concludes the book with a helpful 3-page index of ancient texts.

Incorporating each of the earliest references about Mary of Magdala (from the New Testament Gospels, to the Gospel of Mary, to the Gospel of Philip, to various patristic writings) the author understands that "the earliest sources that mention [Mary] are not about her" (p. 19). De Boer believes the early silence about Mary is deliberate. She works diligently to fill in many of the Magdalene story spaces.

Avoiding the controversial arguments about Magdalene's personal (and perhaps married) life with Jesus of Nazareth, De Boer speaks only from documented Marian traditions. Mary Magdalene comes from the area of Tiberias, in Galilee. She follows Jesus through his ministry providing for him out of her own means. She is present for his crucifixion and resurrection. Then, she disappears from the official pages of history.

De Boer shows that Mary Magdalene does not receive much press in the synoptic gospels but that the Gospel of John gives her a real presence allowing Magdalene to speak (p. 56). From this book one learns early church leaders knew Mary as an "apostle" (p. 60), that Peter appears hostile to Magdalene in the Gospel of Mary (p.69), and that the Gospel of Philip calls Mary Jesus' constant "companion" (p. 71). She is quick to point out that such companionship does not necessarily connote sexuality. De Boar then provides a helpful six page insertion from the Gospel of Mary (her own translation from the original Greek) to enhance her interpretation (chapter 4).

De Boer's writing style is more devotional than academic giving this book an approachable feeling that convinces. Although she occassionally gets side-tracked by her feminist background, De Boer's opinions do not distract from her subject.

If you are unfamiliar with Mary of Magdala this book will quickly inform you. I read it in a very short time (making notes on almost every page). Much of its information has been transcribed into my Revised English Bible.

This book is recommended to all who are curious about Mary Magdalene, New Testament students, and Bible studiers.