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The Gospel of Mary of Magdala: Jesus and the First Woman Apostle (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Few people today are acquainted with the Gospel of Mary..." (more)
Key Phrases: anyone with two ears, promulgate law like the lawgiver, peace within yourselves, Gospel of Mary, New Testament, Mary Magdalene (more...)

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The Gospel of Mary of Magdala, a second-century 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. King, a professor at Harvard Divinity School and author of What Is Gnosticism?, argues that the Gospel prefers inner spiritual knowledge to exterior forms such as the law and that it reveals some of the gender conflicts and spiritual divisions of the early Christian movement. King places translations of two extant fragments of the Gospel of Mary side by side, so readers can see the slight differences that appear in the originals. (Because approximately 10 pages of the Gospel are still lost, scholars believe we only have about half of its original material.) In the brief text, the male apostles are afraid and despondent after Jesus' post-resurrection departure, so Mary tries to cheer them by revealing some of the esoteric teachings that Jesus imparted to her alone. But the teachings cause discord, as Peter and others refuse to believe that Jesus would have given such "strange ideas" to a woman. ("Did he choose her over us?" a petulant Peter asks.) The bulk of King's book takes up various issues raised by the text-questions about the Son of Man, law, women's authority, visionary experiences and the body. This is a serious scholarly study with the apparatus of an academic book, including Coptic facsimiles of the papyrus, and Coptic and Greek phrases sprinkled throughout the text.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

a complete translation ... together with a lucidly written, marvelously informative discussion of where it comes from and what it means. -- Elaine Pagels, Harrington Spear Paine Foundation Professor of Religion at Princeton University

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Product Details

Paperback: 230 pages
Publisher: Polebridge Press (November 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0944344585
ISBN-13: 978-0944344583
Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (32 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #16,012 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
Popular in these categories: (What's this?)
#1 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Church History > Gnosticism
#5 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Bible & Other Sacred Texts > Apocrypha

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Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
Few people today are acquainted with the Gospel of Mary. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
anyone with two ears, promulgate law like the lawgiver, peace within yourselves, illegitimate domination, only existing copy, revelation dialogue, true spiritual nature, repentant prostitute, women prophets, male disciples, master story, gospel literature, prominent disciple, prophetic experience

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Gospel of Mary, New Testament, Mary Magdalene, Gospel of John, Mary of Magdala, Divine Realm, Gospel of Thomas, Berlin Codex, Jesus Christ, Gospel of Marv, Gospel of Matthew, Gospel of Luke, Jewish Christianity, Margarete Busing, Apocalypse of Peter, Elaine Pagels, First Apocalypse of James, Holy Spirit, Agyptisches Museum, Apocalypse of Paul, Carl Schmidt, Hebrew Scriptures, Human One, Nag Hammadi, Pistis Sophia

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Citations (learn more)

This book cites 61 books:

Mary Magdalen by Susan Haskins on 5 pages
The Gnostic Gospels by Elaine Pagels on 4 pages
Peter in the New Testament by Raymond Brown in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
In Memory of Her: A Feminist Theological Reconstruction of Christian Origins by Elisabeth Fiorenza in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
The Nag Hammadi Library by James M. Robinson in Front Matter, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)

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17 books cite this book:

Invoking Mary Magdalene: Accessing the Wisdom of the Divine Feminine by Siobhan Houston on page 58, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Mary Magdalene by Lesa Bellevie on page 191, and Back Matter
Mary Magdalene Understood by Jane Schaberg in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
The Gospel of Thomas: A Guidebook For Spiritual Practice by Ron Miller in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
Jesus at the Movies: A Guide to the First Hundred Years by W. Barnes Tatum in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)

See all 17 books citing this book

Books on Related Topics (learn more)

The Complete Gospels by Robert J. Miller

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The Gospels of Mary by Marvin Meyer

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The Gospel Code by Ben Witherington III

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	5% buy The Gospels of Mary: The Secret Tradition of Mary Magdalene, the Companion of Jesus 4.4 out of 5 stars (5) $11.69
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Customer Reviews

32 Reviews

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4.4 out of 5 stars (32 customer reviews)

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181 of 188 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THe apostle to the apostles, December 30, 2003

By	R. BULL "a reader" (Kansas City, MO United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Even in the canonical gospels Mary from Magdala was a remarkable woman. She followed Jesus, witnessed the crucifixion, saw the empty tomb and was one of the first, if not the very first person, the risen Christ appeared to. In Karen King's translation of the Gospel of Mary, she is no less remarkable.

Incomplete, brief and based on three fragments from the 5th and 3rd centuries the Gospel of Mary reveals what Andrew refers to as "strange ideas." In a dialogue first between the risen Savior and disciples, and then between the disciples themselves about a vision of Jesus and teachings revealed to Mary alone ideas are presented that are unique to this gospel although there are clearly echoes of these ideas in other sacred writings. For example, there is a distinction made between the material body and the soul with the true self defined as the soul alone. Sin exists only when the soul is distracted by passions of the body and therefore is estranged from spiritual concerns. The familiar, "seek and you will find" is interpreted as the need to seek inwardly to discover the spiritual that is within us all.

The teachings from Mary's vision of Christ are disputed by Andrew and denied by Peter who says he does not believe that Christ would tell a woman what he did not reveal to men. Levi confronts Andrew and Peter affirming that Mary is spiritually mature and as worthy as anyone. Levi then heeds the direction given by Jesus to go and teach the word.

Ms. King discusses the changing role of women in the early church and the gradual establishment of the canonical gospel. Perhaps most interesting of all, she emphasizes the variety and diversity of early church writings and beliefs reminding us that our religious heritage is much more unsettled and unsettling than out view from the present looking backwards may suggest.

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147 of 153 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Glimpse of Early Christianity, November 19, 2003

By	William M. Linden (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews

Karen L. King has written a groundbreaking book about the Gospel of Mary (of Magdala), a manuscript which was discovered in the dry sands of Egypt. King's study gives us glimpses of early Christianity which she believes was far more diverse than we had ever before imagined.

The Gospel of Mary (of Magdala) was written in the 2nd Century and purports to be a conversation between the resurrected Jesus, Peter, Andrew, Levi and Mary. Each of these people, of course, was an historical figure, but their roles in the Gospel of Mary not only includes what has been remembered of the historical people, but also the positions they have come to represent in the 2nd Century Christian Church. Of prime importance is the role of women in the leadership of the Christian Church. According to King, the historical Mary of Magdala probably was an eminent leader in the early Church and the role she plays in the book is an advocate of women's leadership. Peter is opposed to her and Andrew supports him. Levi plays a peace-making role and Mary is shown to understand the teachings of Jesus more than all of the other Apostles. After Jesus departs the scene in the book's dialogue, Mary steps into his place to comfort and encourage the others demonstrating that she is the most outstanding Disciple of all.

King takes a fleeting look at other newly-discovered manuscripts of Christian origins, giving the reader a kaleidoscope view of how much the early Christian communities had different theologies, all of which stemmed from the life the teachings of the Historical Jesus.

Karen King is an excellent scholar and I highly recommend her book, The Gospel of Mary (of Magdala). It is an education.

William M. Linden
Houston, Texas
BillLindenTX@aol.com

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90 of 97 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Readable, November 25, 2003

By	Peter Kenney (Birmingham, Alabama, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

THE GOSPEL OF MARY OF MAGDALA is a scholarly work written in a very readable style. 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. The Gospel of Mary represents one viewpoint which just happened to lose favor in the long run. Anyone interested in topics such as women's leadership in the church or the authority of apostolic tradition will surely enjoy Karen L. King's latest publication.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Mary Magdalene
I found the book a credible, enlightening, and encouraging presentation of the Gospel of Mary Magdalene. I'd like more like this book.

Published 4 months ago by Cassandra Foster

5.0 out of 5 stars A GREAT GOSPEL.
If the Catholic church in 400 AD accepted this Gospel, Dan Brown would be a poor man. The argument between science and religion would never have happen. Read more

Published 4 months ago by rich allen

4.0 out of 5 stars An Interesting Alternative
This is a beautiful story and one that I personally believe is as valid as any other book in the New Testament. Read more

Published 5 months ago by E. A. Eaves

5.0 out of 5 stars The Gospel of Mary of Magdala
This is a very nice book, well published and in good condition/ Any Gnostic Christian would be blessed by the addition of this piece to his or her library, as knowledge increases... Read more

Published 9 months ago by Mary Shepard

5.0 out of 5 stars Dare To Be A Free Thinker (The Gospel of Mary of Magdala)
Very, very interesting. I am an ever present student/seeker of the truth. This book has given me insight that I think may be as close to the truth of Jesus as we will get (how... Read more

Published 10 months ago by Barbara L. Mcgillicuddy

4.0 out of 5 stars Gospel of Mary of Magdala
This book is interesting and easy to read. It provides a fresh look at women as disciples, and a different slant on 'sin'. Read more

Published 15 months ago by Mrs. Heather M. Kent

5.0 out of 5 stars The Gospel of Mary of Magdala
I would recommend this book as an introduction to the gnostic writings and the history of the pre-orthodox Christian thinking. Read more

Published 16 months ago by Daniel J. Pawlak

5.0 out of 5 stars King on the Gospel of Mary
The Gospel of Mary offers an intriguing insight into an early church community. King, a scholar at the Harvard Divinity School, compares its theology to other Gnostic works (she... Read more

Published 18 months ago by Stephen Esser

5.0 out of 5 stars interesting
very inetersting and informative - well wriiten - easy to follow with many historical references -loved learning something new - highly recommended -thank you.

Published on September 21, 2007 by Renate M. Merrick

5.0 out of 5 stars The Gospel of Mary of Magdala
As with anything Karen L. King has written about Mary, it is a great read. Opens up a whole different scenario for women in the church.

Published on August 9, 2007 by Mrs. Marian M. Campbell

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