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The Mary Magdalene Cover-Up: The Sources Behind the Myth
Mary Magdalene has always been the subject of both popular and scholarly intrigue. Was she the wife of Jesus, his complete initiate, a Goddess or a priestess? Did the Church dramatically alter her image to deny her importance? These questions have inspired representations of her in art, film and literature, from Caravaggio to The Last Temptation of Christ and The Da Vinci Code. The Mary Magdalene Cover-Up is the first book to bring the original sources that have informed our current day view of Mary to a wider audience. Esther de Boer has brought together an impressive array of texts from the first century, when Mary Magdalene was alive, to the sixth century, when her image as a penitent sinner was invented.
Each text is accompanied by an informed and lively commentary by the author placing it in its historical context. This combination of original texts and commentary enables the reader to draw their own conclusions about this most enigmatic of first-century women.
Each text is accompanied by an informed and lively commentary by the author placing it in its historical context. This combination of original texts and commentary enables the reader to draw their own conclusions about this most enigmatic of first-century women.
224 pages, Paperback
First published August 30, 2007
About the author
Esther A. de Boer
6 books4 followersEsther de Boer is professor in New Testament at the Protestant Theological University (Kampen). She is internationally known for her books on Mary Magdalene in biblical and extra-biblical texts.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 1, 2017
This is another pretty good book on Mary Magdalene (although I don't like the cover very much.) The book takes a topic, usually quotes from various sources and then has an explanation of how that all ties in to the topic. Some of the main points of the book include:
The idea of Mary Magdalene being a sinner and a prostitute is based on legends and on an order by Pope Gregory the Great.
As far as actual straight facts about Mary there is very, very little known. There just aren't any objective writings from that time. What there is is either from the Bible itself (which had a purpose in portraying Mary Magdalene as a prostitute, etc.) or from various gnostic writings.
There is no historical proof of Mary and Jesus being married.
Even the material about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus was written at least two decades after the event so again it's accuracy can be questioned.
The male disciples had a tendency to disappear when things got rough. One even betrayed Jesus.
From the Gnostic materials and from interpreting what is written in the Bible it seems obvious that the male disciples, particularly Peter, had a major problem with Mary, a woman, being with their group, being like by Jesus and seeming to have a better grasp on Jesus' teachings then they did.
There is no doubt that Mary was, at the very least, a devoted follower of Jesus and may very well have bankrolled his journeys.
No one knows who wrote the Gospel of Mary. A fair bit of that is also missing.
Several of the Gnostic writings suggest that Mary had her own disciples.
The way Peter defines discipleship makes sure that women are excluded.
Around the fourth century the role of women in the church began to be very strictly controlled, giving them less and less of any say in anything at all.
'I permit no woman to teach.' Peter.
',,,the man is the head of the woman.' Peter again.
The book also has a bibliography. This is an academic-type book and very well done.
The idea of Mary Magdalene being a sinner and a prostitute is based on legends and on an order by Pope Gregory the Great.
As far as actual straight facts about Mary there is very, very little known. There just aren't any objective writings from that time. What there is is either from the Bible itself (which had a purpose in portraying Mary Magdalene as a prostitute, etc.) or from various gnostic writings.
There is no historical proof of Mary and Jesus being married.
Even the material about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus was written at least two decades after the event so again it's accuracy can be questioned.
The male disciples had a tendency to disappear when things got rough. One even betrayed Jesus.
From the Gnostic materials and from interpreting what is written in the Bible it seems obvious that the male disciples, particularly Peter, had a major problem with Mary, a woman, being with their group, being like by Jesus and seeming to have a better grasp on Jesus' teachings then they did.
There is no doubt that Mary was, at the very least, a devoted follower of Jesus and may very well have bankrolled his journeys.
No one knows who wrote the Gospel of Mary. A fair bit of that is also missing.
Several of the Gnostic writings suggest that Mary had her own disciples.
The way Peter defines discipleship makes sure that women are excluded.
Around the fourth century the role of women in the church began to be very strictly controlled, giving them less and less of any say in anything at all.
'I permit no woman to teach.' Peter.
',,,the man is the head of the woman.' Peter again.
The book also has a bibliography. This is an academic-type book and very well done.
October 18, 2024
This book is academic and scholarly in nature. The author provides great explanations following source materials so the reader can engage in critical thinking and self determination of what they believe to be most credible regarding the life and role of Mary Magdalene in respect to the building of early Christian communities. This book will open your eyes as well as your soul..
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews