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Gospel of Mary
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The Gospel of Mary is a collection of writings attributed to Jesus as told through and for Mary of Magdala. As with most Gospels, it is unlikely she wrote it herself; it is more likely that followers of her Church wrote it.[1][2]
Along with the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Judas, the Gospel of Mary is part of the Gnostic tradition, which holds that Jesus passed along secret traditions to his disciples for finding Union with God.
Mary as Church Leader
Karen King, in her work on the Nag Hammadi library, writes of Mary:
The confrontation of Mary with Peter, a scenario also found in The Gospel of Thomas, Pistis Sophia, and The Gospel of the Egyptians, reflects some of the tensions in second-century Christianity. Peter and Andrew represent orthodox positions that deny the validity of esoteric revelation and reject the authority of women to teach. The Gospel of Mary attacks both of these positions head-on through its portrayal of Mary Magdalene. She is the Savior's beloved, possessed of knowledge and teaching superior to that of the public apostolic tradition. Her superiority is based on vision and private revelation and is demonstrated in her capacity to strengthen the wavering disciples and turn them toward the Good.[2][3]
Existent text
The Gospel of Mary is a fragmented text. Chapters 1-3 and 11-14 have been lost, and some of the other pages, while having been expertly restored, have missing details.
External links
- English Translation of the Gospel of Mary.
References
- ↑ John D. Crossan has stated in Jesus, a Revolutionary Biography that there is sufficient evidence to accept that there was a church that was in Mary's name and that it is likely Mary was the leader and preacher.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Karen L. King, The Gospel of Mary of Magdala: Jesus and the First Woman Apostle. Polebridge Press, 2003. ISBN 0944344585
- ↑ Gospel of Mary, Early Christian Writings.