Rating: 
Summary: The Woman Apostle
Review: A great deal of mystery surrounds the recently discovered documents of early Christianity. The conflict they create with the accepted Gospels lead some to dispel them as heresy, refusing to acknowledge them as Christian docterine. The issue is worth examining. For those who seek, shall find!Much of the Gospel of Mary of Magdala is missing, destroyed by years of decay where it was hidden. The portions that we have tell two main stories. One story shows Mary to be motivating the apostles to spread the word after Jesus's death. The other story is Jesus discussing the soul's passage into the afterlife. Much like the Gospel of Thomas, many of the stories from the canon gospels are absent. The Gospel of Mary does give readers insight into the importance of Mary in the development of Christianity. The author speculates as to why the canon Gospels downplay Mary's role. Karen King also explores the myth of Mary of Magdala as a prostitute as part of this discussion. While we may never know the complete story of early Chirstianity, the new Gospels and lost writings help us get a more complete picture. Because Christianity was spread so far by different people, stories will not always be exactly the same. This accounts for differences in Gospels and schools of thought in Christianity. The big picture of Christainity stays largely unobscured.
Rating:
Summary: The Woman Apostle
Review: A great deal of mystery surrounds the recently discovered documents of early Christianity. The conflict they create with the accepted Gospels lead some to dispel them as heresy, refusing to acknowledge them as Christian docterine. The issue is worth examining. For those who seek, shall find! Much of the Gospel of Mary of Magdala is missing, destroyed by years of decay where it was hidden. The portions that we have tell two main stories. One story shows Mary to be motivating the apostles to spread the word after Jesus's death. The other story is Jesus discussing the soul's passage into the afterlife. Much like the Gospel of Thomas, many of the stories from the canon gospels are absent. The Gospel of Mary does give readers insight into the importance of Mary in the development of Christianity. The author speculates as to why the canon Gospels downplay Mary's role. Karen King also explores the myth of Mary of Magdala as a prostitute as part of this discussion. While we may never know the complete story of early Chirstianity, the new Gospels and lost writings help us get a more complete picture. Because Christianity was spread so far by different people, stories will not always be exactly the same. This accounts for differences in Gospels and schools of thought in Christianity. The big picture of Christainity stays largely unobscured.
Rating:
Summary: THe apostle to the apostles
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: THe apostle to the apostles
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful book - more like it are needed!
Review: Harvard Professor Karen King has done an amazing thing with this book: She has provided a scholarly in-depth review of a lost Christian text using language that I can understand! Not only that, she has provided a brilliantly compact yet broad perspective of how this text fits in with canonical and other non-canonical Christian texts - theologically, historically, and contextually. In addition, Dr. King is able to survey the profiles of the main characters in the text, Peter, Mary, Andrew and Levi throughout the ancient Christian literature. Finally, she is able to place the key issues developed in the Gospel of Mary into today's perspective - these are not "dead" issues. Pretty good for about 200 pages of prose!! Professor King appears to believe that the Christian path of faith will only be enhanced and enriched by having as complete as possible an understanding of its earliest days. Ignoring or attacking a Christian text just because it did not make it into the canon of scripture is narrow-minded. I, for one, want to know everything I can about Christian origins. As a practicing Christian, I learned much about our faith story by reading this book. I would dearly love to see similar books written on other non-canonical Christian texts in so clear, fresh and relevant a fashion as Karen King has done. Highly recommended for anyone interested in early Christianity.
Rating:
Summary: A Glimpse of Early Christianity
Review: 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
Rating: 
Summary: Secrets on Secret Teachings
Review: King leads an interesting discussion on 'The Gospel of Mary of Magdala' as she attempts a scholarly study on this controversial Gnostic text. King claims this writing is an 'early Christian gospel', but on further examination the claims of this late text contrast sharply with the claims of Jesus in the synoptic texts. As other reviewers noted the claims of this text lead to a radical reinterpretation of Jesus' teaching. For instance, the 'Gospel of Mary' rejects Christ's suffering and death as the path to eternal life. This is the key, central, and foundational teaching of the Christian gospel. Jesus being the 'Lamb who takes away the sins of the world' is the essence of the gospel. To deny this is to purport something different that Christianity and in the case of the 'Gospel of Mary' it was an attempt to usurp Christianity with Gnosticism. I wish King had pointed this out. King argues that this Gnostic gospel of Mary prefers 'inner spiritual knowledge' as oppose to the claims of Jesus - His claims that he is the way, truth, life, and light. As a result, this other gospel contradicts Jesus' teachings about himself as it separates truth from his very person. In fact, the text King examines claims that Mary alone was imparted esoteric teachings. This is, of course, Gnostic teaching, which claims elite 'special knowledge' or 'secret teachings'. However, this is far different from what is found in the synoptic gospels where Jesus' teaching is always about himself with no secret knowledge outside of his person. King doesn't seem to make this point. After evaluating King's book I wonder why it was that Gnosticism dried up and blew away while Christianity thrived. I have to believe it has to do with Jesus being the 'good news' for common people, common sinners, common weary men and women. This appeals to people far more than a 'secret society'. People want a person to know, a person who loves them, and a person who forgives them. Jesus offered that in the first century and still does today.
Rating:
Summary: Secrets on Secret Teachings
Review: King leads an interesting discussion on 'The Gospel of Mary of Magdala' as she attempts a scholarly study on this controversial Gnostic text. King claims this writing is an 'early Christian gospel', but on further examination the claims of this late text contrast sharply with the claims of Jesus in the synoptic texts. As other reviewers noted the claims of this text lead to a radical reinterpretation of Jesus' teaching. For instance, the 'Gospel of Mary' rejects Christ's suffering and death as the path to eternal life. This is the key, central, and foundational teaching of the Christian gospel. Jesus being the 'Lamb who takes away the sins of the world' is the essence of the gospel. To deny this is to purport something different that Christianity and in the case of the 'Gospel of Mary' it was an attempt to usurp Christianity with Gnosticism. I wish King had pointed this out. King argues that this Gnostic gospel of Mary prefers 'inner spiritual knowledge' as oppose to the claims of Jesus - His claims that he is the way, truth, life, and light. As a result, this other gospel contradicts Jesus' teachings about himself as it separates truth from his very person. In fact, the text King examines claims that Mary alone was imparted esoteric teachings. This is, of course, Gnostic teaching, which claims elite 'special knowledge' or 'secret teachings'. However, this is far different from what is found in the synoptic gospels where Jesus' teaching is always about himself with no secret knowledge outside of his person. King doesn't seem to make this point. After evaluating King's book I wonder why it was that Gnosticism dried up and blew away while Christianity thrived. I have to believe it has to do with Jesus being the 'good news' for common people, common sinners, common weary men and women. This appeals to people far more than a 'secret society'. People want a person to know, a person who loves them, and a person who forgives them. Jesus offered that in the first century and still does today.
Rating:
Summary: A scholarly work should not be confused with a work of faith
Review: Reviewers who downgrade this scholarly work have confused their beliefs with an impartial evaluation of the merit of this book. The scholarship here allows us to have a glimpse of the early Christian era separate and apart from the politics--and power--established by the Church. To say that the Bible in its current form fell from heaven is to preach ignorance, and anyone who wants to know the truth about Jesus and his message will embrace this and other scholarly works if they love the truth.
Rating: 
Summary: Church-bound foil for seekers of spirit
Review: The Gospel of Mary is unquestionably an important early Gnostic gospel and it should be read by anyone interested in spirituality, East or West. However, there are many translations available; this one, though very scholarly, suffers from a doctrinaire lack of vision. And though her commentary is very learned, I found myself disagreeing with almost everything she said. Her main point is political: Mary Magdalene, the first disciple, was a woman-so let's reform the Church to make room for women's leadership roles [p. 3]. The strongest praise I can give is this: the conclusions of her Church-bound preconceptions, though wrong at almost every turn, are nothing if not thought-provoking.
Our translator would first dispute that this is a Gnostic treatise-or even that such a group as "Gnostics" ever existed (p. 155). That they were perceived as heretical by the emerging catholic ("universal," as opposed to Gnostic interiority) hegemony can hardly be disputed. Witness Irenaeus "Against Heresy," Paul's efforts to refute what remained of the ancient Greek mystery religions, or the legions of Roman soldiers guarding entrance to Constantine's council wherein Official (i.e., Roman Catholic) Christianity was born-without the help of Gnostic midwifery, thank you very much. One can only wonder what her real point here is. Maybe they buried entire libraries out in the desert after a cook-out? Or was it a college prank by sophmorish imitators of Ialdabaoth ("Abandon hope, all ye who incarnate here")?
"Contrary to popular Western tradition, Mary Magdalene was never a prostitute [149]." This is ridiculous, as a devout friend of mine from the Orthodox Church knows very well. Could the Magdalene have been a sacred prostitute, in the Isis tradition? Or an adulterer, metaphorically mixing up spirit with matter (p. 50)? Never mind all that "theological fiction [p. 3]:" history and institution are more important than individual and meaning, and so our learned author would overturn millennia of art, literature and archetypal symbolism incarnated in the Magdalene (see Haskins, "Mary Magdalene;" Starbird, "Woman with the Alabaster Jar"). There is a surprisingly good section on Plato [pp. 41-44, 50-53] including moments of humor (for example, when our learned author, a Harvard professor, calls Plato an elitist [pp. 52, 194]).
The author suggests that, since the relationship to Judaism was central to defining Christianity, "the impact [of the Magdalene's gospel] on Jewish-Christian relations must be a vital consideration [p. 40])." That is, since everyone else in the Church has been doing it this way for the past 2000 years, we must do so as well. This seems to me little short of ridiculous. Is not the point to free ourselves from the accidents of history, to interpret what little has survived of Jesus' teachings from a broader spiritual standpoint, a yoga of spiritual practice rather than dogma and official sanctioned belief? How anyone can correctly understand that "Son of Man" is not a messianic title but a reference to the True Self within (p. 60), yet still ignore Gnosis and choose instead to be bound by 2000 years of politics, errors and historical accidents is quite beyond me.
This translation/commentary will appeal to believing Christians seeking to push the envelope a bit in the direction of the G-word, to those of feminist persuasion, and to anyone who likes seeing facsimiles of the original papyri [pp. 19-27]. For free spirits, yogis and Gnostics of all persuasion, whose understanding of spirituality remains unbound by any external church, better translations & more perennial commentaries can be found in Jean-Yves Laloup (as a Frenchman, his wide-ranging discourse can occasionally be hard to follow), the unsurpassable Marvin Meyer's excellent collection/translation, "The Gospels of Mary," and MacRae & Wilson's translation in Robinson's "Nag Hammadi Library."
The true, inner meaning of these gospels will be revealed by study of and comparison with Eastern meditative traditions, including yoga, not by remaining hidebound by the Church. "Rather than accept an external authority, [we ourselves] are to discover the truth [p. 32]"-isn't this the real message of all Gnostic gospels, including Magdalene's? Three & ½ stars.
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