false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170782676m/71656.jpg 71656 5 Bart Ehrman, author of the highly popular Truth and Fiction in The Da Vinci Code and Lost Christianities, here takes readers on another engaging tour of the early Christian church, illuminating the lives of three of Jesus' most intriguing followers: Simon Peter, Paul of Tarsus, and Mary Magdalene. What do the writings of the New Testament tell us about each of these key followers of Christ? What legends have sprung up about them in the centuries after their deaths? Was Paul bow-legged and bald? Was Peter crucified upside down? Was Mary Magdalene a prostitute? In this lively work, Ehrman separates fact from fiction, presenting complicated historical issues in a clear and informative way and relating vivid anecdotes culled from the traditions of these three followers. He notes, for instance, that historians are able to say with virtual certainty that Mary, the follower of Jesus, was from the fishing village of Magdala on the shore of the Sea of Galilee (this is confirmed by her name, Mary Magdalene, reported in numerous independent sources); but there is no evidence to suggest that she was a prostitute (this legend can be traced to a sermon preached by Gregory the Great five centuries after her death), and little reason to think that she was married to Jesus. Similarly, there is no historical evidence for the well-known tale that Peter was crucified upside down. Ehrman also argues that the stories of Paul's miracle working powers as an apostle are legendary accounts that celebrate his importance. A serious book but vibrantly written and leavened with many colorful stories, Peter, Paul, and Mary Magdalene will appeal to anyone curious about the early Christian church and the lives of these important figures. 69390 1 5 2006 Peter, Paul, and Mary Magdalene: The Followers of Jesus in History and Legend total:77|5:8|4:28|3:27|2:12|1:2| 77 259 144 13 4 0 false false Sun Aug 16 16:54:45 -0700 2009 Wed Aug 19 07:50:09 -0700 2009 4 0 false false Tue May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Mon Jan 26 09:49:21 -0800 2009 Mon Jan 26 09:51:04 -0800 2009 4 0 false false Sat Jun 27 15:28:49 -0700 2009 Sat Jun 13 14:52:44 -0700 2009 Sat Jun 27 15:28:49 -0700 2009 1 0 false false Tue Nov 03 05:56:01 -0800 2009 Tue Nov 03 05:56:20 -0800 2009 ]]> 3 0 false false Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2006 Tue Apr 01 08:31:25 -0700 2008 Tue Apr 01 08:33:59 -0700 2008 more...]]> 3 0 false false Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Thu Jul 19 10:12:44 -0700 2007 Tue Aug 07 07:20:38 -0700 2007 more...]]> 4 0 false false Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2006 Wed Mar 05 12:03:46 -0800 2008 Thu Mar 06 08:48:46 -0800 2008
Again, if you are interested in this subject, you'll want to check ...more...]]> 4 0 false false Mon Jun 09 10:17:54 -0700 2008 Fri Jun 06 13:29:27 -0700 2008 Mon Jun 09 10:17:54 -0700 2008 2 0 false false Sun Jul 27 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Thu Jul 24 16:19:02 -0700 2008 Sun Jul 27 13:12:55 -0700 2008 5 0 false false Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Sun Mar 30 22:18:37 -0700 2008 Tue Apr 01 21:48:07 -0700 2008 3 0 false false Thu Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007 Wed Feb 20 11:43:27 -0800 2008 Wed Feb 20 11:44:55 -0800 2008 0 0 false false Wed Jan 09 09:17:10 -0800 2008 Wed Jan 09 09:17:24 -0800 2008 2 0 false false Fri Jul 24 23:05:59 -0700 2009 Fri Jul 24 23:07:00 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Wed Dec 02 11:47:15 -0800 2009 Wed Dec 02 11:47:15 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Mon Nov 23 01:42:11 -0800 2009 Mon Nov 23 01:42:11 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Wed Nov 18 10:39:44 -0800 2009 Wed Nov 18 10:39:44 -0800 2009 2 0 false false Sun Nov 15 08:27:05 -0800 2009 Sun Nov 15 08:27:05 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Fri Nov 13 13:28:58 -0800 2009 Fri Nov 13 13:28:58 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Mon Oct 26 10:23:33 -0700 2009 Mon Oct 26 10:23:33 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Mon Oct 19 23:00:51 -0700 2009 Mon Oct 19 23:00:51 -0700 2009 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=71656