Prayer and meditation for tuesday, july 22, 2014 mary magdalen. The name mary seemed popular at that time with several marys mentioned in the canonical books the gospels of matthew, mark, luke, and john. In 1896 a guy finds some ancient manuscripts including one that was a story, supposedly written by mary magdalene. Another portion of the gospel of mary magdalene describes a souls journey after death and the challenges it overcomes. It is a much later idea, pouring water on jesus head from a dish. If mary is connected with peter and andrew and james, and john, this makes it unlikely that shes a pauper or economically distressed. For example, in the gospel of marythe only apocryphal text named for a womanmary magdalene is depicted as a visionary who receives secret revelations from jesus, much to the chagrin of peter. In matthew and john, she also encounters the resurrected jesus. Jul 26, 2017 without mary magdalene s vision of a risen jesus there may never have been a christianity. To the best of our knowledge, neither john was married and mary magdalene was not.
The gospel of mary is an apocryphal book discovered in 1896 in a 5thcentury papyrus codex written in sahidic coptic. According to the gospel of thomas, christ was going to teach mary magdalene how to change genders. Why was john the apostle not in the last supper with the. Margaret was a catholic and is a devout christian, and reading the book incensed her so much that she decided to write a book to refute it. This article makes a case for ascribing authorship of the fourth gospel the gospel of john in the new testament to mary magdalene. She is also known as mary magdalen and mary magdala. The traditional view of the church has been that this is the gospel according to john, john the apostle, that is.
The mandeans saw water as the source of life which refreshed the soul, enabling it to grow towards the light. This berlin codex was purchased in cairo by german diplomat carl reinhardt although the work is popularly known as the gospel of mary, it is not technically classed as a gospel by scholastic consensus because the term gospel is used as a label for any written text that is. This is the conclusion of the early church fathers, and the conclusion of modern researchers such as the threesome. The conspiracy of mary magdalene secrets of the cross. The gospel of mary magdalene would better be titled the gospel of mary, due to the fact that the mary the gospel mentions is nowhere specified as mary magdalene. There is also the possibility that the author of john did not know of mark. Mary magdalene was the first to witness the resurrection and then considered the apostle to the apostles. Many others believe the author was in fact a committee of unknown authors, editors, and redactorsthe johannine community. Given the specific references to mary magdalene, the second step is to examine whether mary magdalene may also be the penitent woman found in the gospel of st.
In margarets book, she refers to the book holy blood, holy grail, which was the first book in recent history to claim that jesus and mary magdalene were married. He shows us that jesus, though fully god, came in the flesh to distinctly and accurately reveal god, and that christ is the. Dan browns 2003 novel the da vinci code invents a scenario in which jesus and mary magdalene were married and had a child. Mary magdalene was a prominent figure at both these. This berlin codex was purchased in cairo by german diplomat carl reinhardt.
I have an internet friend, james david audlin, whos revision of his two volume book on the gospel of john was just released by the publisher. Magdalene extends the echo of her precursor, john the baptist. The gnostics who wrote it obviously knew of jesus and mary magdalene and their circle. Jesus christ married mary magdalene, and the couple had two children. It was written by the discipleapostle john around 8595 a. Only in luke is mary mentioned earlier in the story. Did mary magdalene write the scriptures attributed to john. It was through mary that the truth first became known to the world. It seems to me that mary magdalene was among those who saw jesus baptised. The women are named as mary magdalene, joanna, and susanna and many others. In this gnostic gospel, mary magdalene appears as a disciple, singled out by.
I remain a firm believer that it was mary madgalene who wrote the gospel of john. Mary magdalene was often called the greatest apostle of jesus, and she did indeed write a gospel. Mary magdalene was one of the bibles most mysterious characters even though her name was mentioned around twelve times in the canonical gospels more than some of jesus male disciples. In the new testament, there are six women named mary, with three of them being prominent in the life of jesus.
The gospel of mary magdalene full audio and text youtube. Jesus christ, wife mary magdalene had 2 kids, new book claims. The gospel of mary nowhere states that jesus appointed mary as the leader of the christian church. In this gnostic gospel, mary magdalene appears as a disciple, singled out by jesus for special teachings. I was even the butt of one of bill oreillys attacks and have challenged him to. The gospel of john was composed around 90 to 95 and is distinct. What are the the two things mary magdalene did to jesus. Did mary magdalene write a book for the bible answers. He shows us that jesus, though fully god, came in the flesh to distinctly and accurately reveal god, and that christ is the source of eternal life to all who believe in him.
Scholars writing gospel of john commentary often grapple with the question. Why is there no book of mary magdalene in the bible. The gospel of mary was dated second century and could not have been written by mary magdalene. Jan 18, 2019 the gospel of john was written to prove that jesus christ is the son of god.
John went away when he saw the empty sepulchre, but mary stood without and wept. The gospel of mary magdalene discovered in egypt in 1896 is a gnostic gospel like the gospel of thomas, which was also found in egypt at nag hammadi in 1949. For the first time, it was clear how close to jesus mary magdalene was. It has become quite popular of late, to talk about, other gospels. The book of revelation, also attributed to john, is a genre unto itself, presenting an allegorical story of humanitys journey toward liberation and the key to that inner liberation. It is my belief that mary magdalene was demoted by the early christian leaders from apostle to sinner. As far as i know no previously published work has made an argument in support of this hypothesis. They ascribe authorship to the anonymous beloved disciple. The gospel of john was written to prove that jesus christ is the son of god. This website is designed as a showcase for the books mary magdelene and the gospel of john and mary magdalene and the first chrisitians by dr ian poole.
I was reading john s gospel yesterday, and i came across something that convinced me that jesus could not have been married to mary magdalene. These passages are much like the tibetan book of the dead which reveals the peaceful and wrathful dieties a soul encounters during its. But why do the gospels say almost nothing about her. She possesses the powers of prophecy and sight into the astral worlds. The gospel of mary nowhere states that jesus and mary were romantically involved. People have a lot to say about her, thats for sure, but what does john s gospel want us to know about this infamous mary. He answered and said to me, blessed are you that you did not waver at the sight. After careful consideration of the evidence cited herein, i respectfully submit that the prime suspect in any quest to identify the author of the fourth gospel should be mary magdalene. Although the work is popularly known as the gospel of mary, it is not technically classed as a gospel by scholastic consensus because the term gospel. John the baptist and later mary, each in their own way, granted baptism, initiation, the right of passage, or the means of crossing the threshold. The odds that she could read and write are very slim. Mary magdalene has been represented in many different ways throughout.
Jul 20, 2011 the bible says that mary magdalene was present at the two most important moments in the story of jesus. Let mary go forth from among us, for women are not worthy of the life. The evidence supporting authorship of the fourth gospel by mary magdalene is much stronger than that which established john of zebedee as its author for nearly two thousand years. This book takes up and fully develops that line of research. The books are a genuinely new and quite revolutionary view of the relationship between jesus and mary magdalene, and underlines her seminal role in the foundation of the christian church.
Luke 8 refers to mary, called magdalene, as one of several women who travelled with jesus and the disciples in galilee. Mary magdalene and the cathars i write about mary magdalene. We dont actually know how mary magdalene came to follow jesus, in terms of the time that she did so. Decoding the ancient text that reveals jesus marriage to mary the magdalene, has caused a worldwide theological firestorm, including demonstrations in india. The story of how mary magdalene became known as a prostitute is a complicated one. As she said this she turned around and saw jesus standing there, though she did not recognize him. Christ loved her the most, and in this gospel it is referred to as written by the one whom jesus loved. John calls, her mary magdalen in xix, 25, xx, 1, 18, he calls her simply mary in xx, 11 and 16. Now on the first day of the week mary magdalene came to the tomb early. In your article mary of magdala, apostle to the apostles, you say, among other things, that mary magdalene was not a prostitute. Aug 12, 2019 mary magdalene was a figure in the bibles new testament who was one of jesuss most loyal followers and is said to have been the first to witness his resurrection.
Richard valantasis writes in the beliefnet guide to gnosticism and other. The site includes the gnostic library, with the complete nag hammadi library and a large collection of other primary gnostic scriptures and documents. John is the one writing this whole account of mary being the first, and so we do not see him having any resentment against mary, or the lord, for selecting her to be first. The gospel of mary magdalene and her neardeath experience. However, she is identified as having once been possessed by seven demons in luke 8. Mary magdalene was mentioned only briefly in the christian bible as one of the followers of jesus christ, who was present at his crucifixion, and was the. In movies and books, mary magdalene is often portrayed as a prostitute, but nowhere does the bible make that claim. Jul 15, 2015 but mary magdalene and john the virgin will surpass all my disciples and all men who shall receive mysteries in the ineffable, they will be on my right hand and on my left. Mary magdalene, the woman jesus loved inquirer lifestyle. It is further posited that she was the beloved disciple of the fourth gospel and, therefore, the founder and leader of what has come to be known as the johannine community. In addition to the many biblical references discussed in my article, there are ample historical and credible books, scrolls, and biblical texts a documenting the marriage of jesus and mary magdalene and b explaining why explicit references to the marriage were excised from the bible when it. If you would like the mystery of heaven to be revealed to you please watch this video as i share my thoughts and read the gospel of mary magdalene. Not only did jesus not follow the social norms of his day, he hung out with the. Writing for the ethnic markets the everything mary magdalene book saints blessings subjects.
This question is offtopic a bit, though it does mention mary magdalene. Luke mentions the group but does not identify them. Mary magdalene is only mentioned twicevery late in the gospelbut she gets up close and personal at the most important events in the story. Jan 02, 2020 the gospel of mary magdalene would better be titled the gospel of mary, due to the fact that the mary the gospel mentions is nowhere specified as mary magdalene. The key personalities of this book are jesus christ, his twelve disciples, mary magdalene, john the baptist, lazarus, his sisters mary and martha, jewish religious leaders, and pilate. Aug 29, 2016 mary magdalene was one of the bibles most mysterious characters even though her name was mentioned around twelve times in the canonical gospels more than some of jesus male disciples. Controversial and compelling, secrets of the cross. It was written so that all may believe in jesus christ the son of god who gives eternal life. Nov 10, 2014 a new book based on interpretations of ancient texts features an explosive claim.
Does josephus say that mary magdalene was john the apostles. Mary magdalene went to the disciples with the news. Mary magdalene is mentioned in all four gospels as a witness of the crucifixion and empty tomb. When was mary magdalene first mentioned in the bible. But something to keep in mind, a book written by her is somewhat less likely.
Apr 17, 2018 john is the sole gospel to include the stories of. John and the book of revelations, both of which were written by mary. Including the lost verses of the gospel of mary, revealed and published for the first time as want to read. Two other copies were discovered in northern egypt in later years. However, he makes no mention of john the apostle, especially in relation to his being married to mary magdalene. The gospel of mary was not written by mary magdalene or any other mary of the bible. Jesus marriage to mary the magdalene is fact, not fiction. The gospel of mary is an apocryphal book discovered in 1896 in a 5thcentury papyrus codex. Yet it is mary magdalen who, according to all the evangelists, stood at the foot of the cross and assisted at the entombment and was the first recorded witness of the resurrection. In the new testament book of john, chapter 12, mary of bethany not mary magdalene washed the feet of jesus in gratitude for raising her. Mary magdalene in the bible follower of jesus christ. What is not disputed is the portrayal of mary of magdala as an important woman leader and witness in the earliest christian churches. John lists mary, mother of jesus, her sister mary, wife of cleopas, and mary magdalene.
In the new testament book of john, chapter 12, mary of bethany not mary magdalene washed the feet of jesus in gratitude for raising her brother lazarus from the dead. The wedding feast at cana, the samaritan woman at the well, the last supper discourses, jesus teachings on oneness, the resurrection of lazarus, mary anointing jesus, all of which figure prominently in the archetypal images related to mary magdalene the bride. Remember the penitent woman entered the home of simon the pharisee. From the writing of the new testament to the filming of the da vinci code. The bible never claims that mary magdalene was the woman who was caught in the act of adultery and saved from being stoned to death by jesus in john 8. People have a lot to say about her, thats for sure, but what does johns gospel want us to know about this infamous mary. Mary magdalene was one of the earliest and most devoted followers of jesus. The synoptic gospels as well as traditions that predate their writing agree that mary magdalene and at least one other woman from galilee were the first to discover the empty tomb early on that first easter morning. It is further posited that she was the beloved disciple of the fourth gospel and, therefore, the founder and leader of what has.
Start by marking the secret teachings of mary magdalene. Again, mary magdalene, as the whore of babylon, the woman with the crown of 12 stars with the moon under her feet. Was there a book in the bible about mary magdalene. Mar 28, 2018 the whole problem with mary magdalene mary from the town of magdala is her confused history. Part of a vast collection of materials dealing with gnosis and gnosticism, both ancient and modern. In the gospels mary magdalene is portrayed as an important witness to and follower of jesus and appears in extrabiblical literature as well. John of zebedee did not write the gospel that bears his name. This reflection on mary magdalene is from a year of biblical womanhood. But for some reason, the writer of the gospel of john wanted to remain. It sounds crazy, but for those that rely on the gnostic text for spiritual doctrine, this idea is very real. In this excerpt, the other disciples are discouraged and grieving. It was the common practice for men and women to accompany each other when traveling, but they moved in separate groups. Kings introductory chapter from the gospel of mary of magdala. The cathars studied and taught solely from the new testament, notably the gospel of st.
If mary magdalene did not pen the writings attributed to john, it is highly likely that their author was very close to mary and to the ministry she continued after jesus death, for according to the noncanonical gospel of mary, she was the one who understood the fullness of jesus teachings, especially his teachings on oneness. Nov 17, 2008 the fourth gospel, once universally believed to have been authored by john of zebedee, was actually authored by mary magdalene. Mary magdalene is the unnamed penitent sinner of gospel of luke. Mary magdalene, by virtue of her encounter with jesus in john 20, was regarded as someone who was a special channel of secret knowledge, bowe. The restoration of mary the magdalene in her true identity is also the rightful place of the feminine in religion, in the world, in culture, in spirituality, in politics. It does not say the women baptised people, but i believe they did. In the gospel of john, jesus actually appears to mary magdalene alone after his resurrection, and instructs her to tell his disciples of his return john 20. A book of mary magdalene, or written by her is more than likely out there, its just a matter of finding and validating it. This may be the source of the orthodox tradition that mary was a prostitute before she met jesus. Aug 28, 2018 i would suggest you consider if the few details about mary magdalene that you do have would in anyway suggest to you that she would have wanted or found any way to draw you to believe in her words, in a social context in which in doing so would ha. As an eyewitness to the love and power displayed in the miracles of jesus, john gives us an upclose and personal look at christs identity. The whole problem with mary magdalene mary from the town of magdala is her confused history. Recently the suggestion was made that mary magdalene was the author of the fourth gospel, and only later was it falsely accredited to john. I now believe that john did not write the fourth gospel because it contains within.
Posted on october 4, 2019 october 1, 2019 by lauri lumby an interesting and provocative question was posed to me awhile back during my guest appearance on the healing fountain blogtalk radio show with host cindy bentley. The discovery channel did a fine documentary on the tradition of mary magdalene, with balanced commentary from several recognized scholars of early christian and gnostic tradition. Primary sources the gospel of mary from jesus to christ. In the gospel of philip, a similar statement is made about mary magdalene. Why do gnostics consider mary magdalene the greatest apostle. For more stories like this one, check out last years women of the passion series. From a lover of wisdom, to wisdoms children part 1 the coming of jesus the resurrection this is the book of mary the magdalene, the twin of jesus. Secrets of the baptist i write about mary magdalene.
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