Esther de Boer

The Gospel of Mary, the only known gospel that is named after a woman, has aroused new interest in the figure of Mary Magdalene and the beginnings of Christianity. What was her impact and her message? What became of her and her ideas? This book examines the Gospel of Mary to discover what it reveals about Mary Magdalene and to determine the origin of its portrayal. It proposes a new perspective on matter and nature in the Gospel of Mary, suggesting that it is not to be categorized as a gnostic writing. Furthermore, the study argues that Mary's teaching in the Gospel of Mary is more closely related to the writings of Philo, the letters of Paul and the Gospel of John than to the Nag Hammadi Codices. As such, the Gospel of Mary and its portrayal of Mary Magdalene cannot be seen as evidence of a specific gnostic esteem for Mary Magdalene, but rather demonstrates the esteem of believers belonging to a broader Christian context.

Beyond a Gnostic and a Biblical Mary Magdalene

The Gospel of Mary

John Bowden

A fascinating alternative to the traditional image of Mary of Magdala, with a detailed examination of the Gospel of Mary.

Beyond the Myth

Mary Magdalene

Esther A. de Boer

Even before the publication of The Da Vinci Code, Mary Magdalene has always been the subject of both popular and scholarly attention. In her search for a true historical Mary Magdalene, Esther de Boer has collected together all the texts about Mary Magdalene from the first century, when she was living, to the sixth century when her image as a penitent sinner was invented. All the texts are accompanied by an informed and enlightening commentary from the author placing these works in their historical context.

Esther de Boer

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