The success of Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code has raised new interest in Mary Magdalene and in the Gospel of Mary. Here, the author examines Mary Magdalene's influence on the beginnings of Christianity and asks what was her impact and her message and furthermore, what became of her and her ideas. Esther de Boer studies the Gospel of Mary (the only Gospel to be named after a woman) to discover what it reveals about Mary Magdalene and to determine the origin of its portrayal. She argues that the Gospel of Mary is not a Gnostic writing but is more closely related to the writings of Philo, the letters of Paul and the Gospel of John. She demonstrates that esteem of Mary Magdalene did not just belong to the Gnostic tradition but to a broader Christian context. In order to determine this context, the study identifies the different portrayals of Mary Magdalene in the New Testament, analyses their concepts of discipleship and their views on women, and investigates their historical 'reality'. Esther de Boer concludes that the portrayal of Mary Magdalene in the Gospel of Mary is close to that in the Gospel of John, and investigates the possibility that she is concealed in the Johannine disciple loved by Jesus.

About the Author
Esther de Boer completed her PhD at the Theological University of Kampen, Holland. She is the author of 'Mary Magdalene: beyond the Myth" (Trinity Press International, 1997).

Reviews
"A fine book of scholarship which is quite readable." - The Living Church "The Mary Magdalene of Esther de Boer is credible - and fascinating" - The Message-for Catholics of Southwestern Indiana, February 6, 1998 "De Boer helps the reader explore the assumptions behind the portrayals and offers her own statement of Mary's portrait as rooted in the Bible - one that presents her as disciple, apostle, and faithful woman." - The Bible Today, March 1998 "De Boer offers significant new insights into the real Mary Magdalene in a very readable, well-documented work..." - Sonya A. Qulstlund (Emeritus, George Washington University) writing in Theological Studies "...interesting, insightful, and intriguing historical study." - Aida Besancon Spencer, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, reviewing for Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, March 2000



Book Information
ISBN 9780826480019
Author Esther A. de Boer
Format Paperback
Page Count 264
Imprint Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd.
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Weight(grams) 404g