Gospel of Mary
Date	120–180 CE
Attribution	unknown
Location
Sources
Manuscripts	Berolinensis Gnosticus 8052,1 P. Oxyrhynchus 3525 P. Rylands 463
Audience
Theme	The soul's ascent

Part of a series on Gnosticism

History of Gnosticism For other uses, see number 120. ... For other uses, see number 180. ... In 1896, the Coptic Berlin Codex (aka. ... Oxyrhynchus (Greek: Οξύρυγχος; sharp-nosed; ancient Egyptian Per-Medjed; modern Egyptian Arabic el-Bahnasa) is an archaeological site in Egypt, considered one of the most important ever discovered. ... The John Rylands Library (inaugurated October 1899) is a collection of historic books and manuscripts in Manchester, England. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Image File history File links Simple_crossed_circle. ... The History of Gnosticism is subject to a great deal of debate and interpretation. ...

Gnosticism Mandaeism Manichaeism This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Mandaeism or Mandaeanism (Mandaic: mandaiuta) is a blanket term for the religion of the Mandaeans (Classical Mandaic mandaiia, Neo-Mandaic Mandeyānā) who are the followers of Mendā d-Heyyi (Mandaic manda Knowledge of Life). Mandaeism is a monotheistic religion practiced primarily in southern Iraq and the Iranian province of... Manichean priests, writing at their desk, with panel inscription in Sogdian. ...

Syrian-Egyptic Gnosticism Sethians Thomasines Valentinians Basilideans Syrian-Egyptian Gnostic Schools were ancient Gnostic sects from around the middle east, with some Judaic influences. ... Sethian is also a Finnish progressive metal band. ... Thomas, also called St. ... Valentinius, more usually called Valentinus (c. ... The Basilideans were a Gnostic sect founded by Basilides of Alexandria in the 2nd century. ...

Fathers of Christian Gnosticism Simon Magus Cerinthus Valentinus The death of Simon Magus. ... Simon Magus, also known as Simon the Sorcerer and Simon of Gitta, is the name used by the ancient Christian Orthodoxy to refer to someone they identified as a Samaritan (Proto-)Gnostic, and, also according to ancient Christian Orthodoxy, founder of his own religious sect. ... Cerinthus was the leader of a late first-century or early 2nd century sect, an offshoot of the Ebionites yet similar to Gnosticism in some respects, interesting in that it demonstrates the wide range of conclusions that could be drawn from the life and teachings of Jesus. ... This article is about the Gnostic Valentinus. ...

Early Gnosticism Ophites Cainites Carpocratians Borborites Thomasines Early Gnosticism Ophites Cainites Carpocratians Borborites Thomasines ... The Ophites is a blanket term for numerous gnostic sects in Syria and Egypt about 100 A.D. The common trait was that these sects would give great importance to the serpent of the biblical tale of Adam and Eve, connecting the Tree of Knowledge (of Good and Evil) to... The Cainites, or Cainians, were a Gnostic and Antinomian sect who were known to worship Cain as the first victim of the Demiurge Jehovah, the Old Testament God, who was identified by many groups of gnostics as evil. ... Carpocrates was an early Gnostic from sometime in the second century A.D. who was mentioned by Clement of Alexandria in the Mar Saba letter discovered in 1958 by ancient historian Morton Smith. ... According to Epiphanius of Salamis book Panarion/Adversus Haereses chapter xxv, xxvi and Theodorets Haereticarum Fabularum Compendium the borborites (or barbelos, barbelites, phibionites, stratiotici, coddians etc) were a extraordinarily filthy and evil Gnostic ophite sect. ... ...

Medieval Gnosticism Paulicianism Tondrakians Bogomilism Bosnian Church Catharism Paulicianism was a Gnostic and Manichaean Christian sect that florished between 650 and 872 in Anatolia, outgoing from Armenia and the Eastern Themes of the Byzantine Empire. ... Tondrakians were members of an anti-feudal, heretical Christian sect that flourished in medieval Armenia between the early 9th century and 11th century and centered around the city of Tondrak, north of Lake Van. ... Bogomilism is the Gnostic dualistic sect, the synthesis of Armenian Paulicianism and the local Slavonic Church reform movement in Bulgaria and Bosnia-Herzegovina between 950 and 1396. ... The Bosnian Church (crkva bosanska, ecclesia bosnensis) is historically thought to be an indigenous branch of the Bogomils which existed in Bosnia during in the Middle Ages. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Cathar. ...

Gnosticism in modern times Gnosticism in popular culture This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... // Literature Harold Bloom explores Gnosticism in his novel The Flight to Lucifer: A Gnostic Fantasy, and, with William Golding, traces Gnosticism in American beliefs in The American Religion: The Emergence of the Post-Christian Nation. ...

Gnostic texts Nag Hammadi library Codex Tchacos Gnosticism and the New Testament Gnosticism used a number of religious texts that are preserved, in part or whole, in ancient manuscripts or are lost but mentioned critically in Patristic writings. ... The Nag Hammadi library is a collection of early Christian Gnostic texts discovered near the Egyptian town of Nag Hammadi in 1945. ... The Codex Tchacos is an ancient Egyptian Coptic papyrus document containing early Christian Gnostic texts: The Gospel of Judas The First Apocalypse of James The Letter of Peter to Philip A fragment of Allogenes It is important because it contains the first known surviving text of the Gospel of Judas... This article discusses the relationship between Gnosticism and the New Testament. ...

Related Articles Gnosis Pythagoreanism Neoplatonism and Gnosticism Esoteric Christianity Theosophy This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Bust of Pythagoras Pythagoreanism is a term used for the esoteric and metaphysical beliefs held by Pythagoras and his followers, the Pythagoreans, who were much influenced by mathematics and probably a main inspirational source for Plato and platonism. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Esoteric Christianity refers to the esoteric knowledge of Christian mysticism which adherents view as the inner teachings of early Christianity, seen as a Mystery religion. ... Emblem of the Theosophical Society (Adyar) described at [1] Theosophy, literally wisdom of the divine (in the Greek language), designates several bodies of ideas. ... This box: view • talk • edit

The Gospel of Mary was found in the Akhmim Codex, a gnostic text of the New Testament apocrypha acquired by Dr. Carl Rheinhardt in Cairo in 1896. In 1896, the Coptic Berlin Codex (aka. ... Gnosticism is a blanket term for various religions and sects most prominent in the first few centuries A.D. General characteristics The word gnosticism comes from the Greek word for knowledge, gnosis (γνῶσις), referring to the idea that there is special, hidden mysticism (esoteric knowledge... In the process of determining the Biblical canon, a large number of works were excluded from the New Testament. ... Nickname: Al Qahirah (The Triumphant City) Egypt: Site of Cairo (top center) Coordinates: Government  - Governor Dr. Abdul Azim Wazir Area  - City 210 km²  (81. ... Year 1896 (MDCCCXCVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display calendar). ...

History of the Gospel

The first full translation of the gospel was not published until 1955, ten years after the discovery of the Nag Hammadi library, which notably did not contain the Gospel of Mary despite its duplication of two other Akhmim texts. Though the gospel is at least 19 pages in length, pages 1-6 and 11-14 are missing. It has been suggested in popular literature that this is a Gospel of Mary Magdalene although the central character is always named as simply "Mary" in the text. 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Nag Hammadi library is a collection of early Christian Gnostic texts discovered near the Egyptian town of Nag Hammadi in 1945. ... This article is about the disciple of Jesus. ...

In addition to the Akhmim Codex, which is written in a Coptic dialect and has been dated to the fourth or fifth century AD, a shorter Greek-language manuscript exists on papyrus which contains only the latter portion of the text. The papyrus dates to the third century. Coptic is an adjective referring to the original inhabitants of Egypt, the Copts. ... Greek ( IPA: or IPA: — Hellenic) is an Indo-European language with a documented history of 3,500 years, the longest of any single language in that language family. ... A manuscript (Latin manu scriptus, written by hand), strictly speaking, is any written document that is put down by hand, in contrast to being printed or reproduced some other way. ... Papyrus plant Cyperus papyrus at Kew Gardens, London Papyrus is an early form of paper made from the pith of the papyrus plant, Cyperus papyrus, a wetland sedge that was once abundant in the Nile Delta of Egypt. ...

All of these manuscripts were first discovered and published between 1938 and 1983, but there are Patristic references to the Gospel of Mary as early as the third century. Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Church Fathers or Fathers of the Church are the early and influential theologians and writers in the Christian Church, particularly those of the first five centuries of Christian history. ...

Contents of the Gospel

In the fragmentary text, the disciples ask questions of Jesus Christ. Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...

Then they grieve, saying, "How shall we go to the Gentiles and preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of the Son of Man? If even he was not spared, how shall we be spared?" And Mary bids them take heart: "Let us rather praise his greatness, for he prepared us and made us into men." She then delivers a vision of the Savior that she has had and reports her discourse with him, which shows Gnostic influences. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The phrase son of man is a primarily Semitic idiom that originated in Ancient Mesopotamia, used to denote humanity or self. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...

Her vision does not meet with universal approval:

"But Andrew answered and said to the brethren, 'Say what you think concerning what she said. For I do not believe that the Savior said this. For certainly these teachings are of other ideas.'"

"Peter also opposed her in regard to these matters and asked them about the Savior. 'Did he then speak secretly with a woman, in preference to us, and not openly? Are we to turn back and all listen to her? Did he prefer her to us?'"

However Levi defends Mary and quells Peter's attack on her. In the text, Peter appears to be offended by the discovery that Jesus selected Mary above the other disciples to interpret his teachings. Peter sees Mary as a rival and a contender for the leadership of the group.

Implications of the Gospel

Karen L. King, Winn Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Harvard University Divinity School, concludes that this Gospel provides "...an intriguing glimpse into a kind of Christianity lost for almost fifteen hundred years."^[1] Professor King goes on to say that the Gospel

"...presents a radical interpretation of Jesus' teachings as a path to inner spiritual knowledge; it rejects his suffering and death as the path to eternal life; it exposes the erroneous view that Mary of Magdala was a prostitute for what it is—a piece of theological fiction; it presents the most straightforward and convincing argument in any early Christian writing for the legitimacy of women's leadership; it offers a sharp critique of illegitimate power and a utopian vision of spiritual perfection; it challenges our rather romantic views about the harmony and unanimity of the first Christians; and it asks us to rethink the basis for church authority."^[2]

As Professor King also observed, the tensions in second-century Christianity are reflected in "the confrontation of Mary with Peter, [which is] a scenario also found in The Gospel of Thomas^[3], Pistis Sophia^[4], and The Coptic Gospel of the Egyptians. Peter and Andrew represent orthodox positions which deny the validity of esoteric revelation and reject the authority of women to teach."^{[citation needed]} The Gospel of Thomas is a New Testament-era apocryphon completely preserved in a papyrus Coptic manuscript discovered in 1945 at Nag Hammadi, Egypt. ... The important Gnostic text, the Pistis Sophia, in five copies, which scholars date c. ... Two versions of the suppressed Coptic Gospel of the Egyptians (which is quite distinct from the Greek Gospel of the Egyptians), were among the codices in the Nag Hammadi library, discovered in 1945. ...

The text is primarily concerned with

• mortality and the origin of mortality as a result of the demiurge
• Jesus's ascension
• The ascent of the soul, according to gnosticism

The larger part of these concerns is expressed as a dialogue between the disciples and Mary, who is providing the answers. Within the text, the authority of the church after the departure of Jesus has been placed in Mary, which likely indicates that the text originated within a sect which either recognized Mary as its founder or otherwise valued Mary above other apostles. This favour may have been, in part, due to her ability as a female to represent the important figure of Sophia, the female syzygy of Christ, within gnostic theology. The Demiurge, The Craftsman or Creator, in some belief systems, is the deity responsible for the creation of the physical universe. ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... General understanding of the Christian doctrine of Ascension holds that Jesus bodily ascended to heaven in the presence of his apostles, following his resurrection. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Alternate meaning: See Apostle (Mormonism) The Christian Apostles were Jewish men chosen from among the disciples, who were sent forth (as indicated by the Greek word απόστολος apostolos= messenger), by Jesus to preach the Gospel to both Jews and Gentiles, across the... For the Gnostic Christians, the Sophia was a central element in their cosmological understanding of the Universe. ... Look up Syzygy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Notes

1. ^ King, Karen L. The Gospel of Mary of Magdala: Jesus and the first woman apostle, p. 3. Polebridge Press, 2003
2. ^ King, Karen L. The Gospel of Mary of Magdala: Jesus and the first woman apostle, p. 3-4. Polebridge Press, 2003
3. ^ GThomas log. 114
4. ^ Pistis sophia 1:36

See also

• New Testament apocrypha

In the process of determining the Biblical canon, a large number of works were excluded from the New Testament. ...

External links

• Gospel of Mary Text from the Papyrus Berolinensis
• Early Christian Writings: Gospel of Mary
• Gospel of Mary Magdalene (in Persian)
• Gospel of Mary: (English), syncretic text, incorporating Coptic and earlier Greek versions;further web links
• Gospel of Mary
• Gospel of Mary (in Russian)
• Secrets of Mary Magdalene Website
• Gnostic Judas The Gospel of Mary Magdalene
• Eternal Mary (Version By Julien.C)
• Gospel of Mary Magdalene from the Official Site for The Lost Tomb of Jesus