Debbi's Reviews > The Gospel of Mary of Magdala: Jesus and the First Woman Apostle

Karen King begins with the translation of the Gospel of Mary of Magdala which was found in Egypt. The first 12 pages of the Gospel are missing, and what is there begins in the middle of a conversation between Mary and the Savior. It moves on to Mary comforting the Apostles after Jesus' crucifixion and from there to a dialog in which Peter asks her if she can give them any information which the Savior might have communicated to her. She does, but after telling them what she and Jesus talked about, both Peter and Andrew are angry and disbelieving. Only Levi offers any support.

The commentary that follows the translation takes the reader into the politics and the various positions of belief taken by different communities of Jesus' followers. We are reminded that the early Christians had neither a "New Testament" nor a written creed (eg. the Nicene Creed) when they were establishing the church. Many of them would be quite surprised by the direction that organized Christianity eventually took. The Gospel of Mary places emphasis, not on apostolic succession, but on personal steadfastness and faith in the Savior. It never brings up the idea of salvation, nor does it discuss the resurrection. The entire book takes place after the Savior has departed. Many of the apostles were concerned about His command to preach his gospel, believing that their lives would be forfeit, just as His was. Mary reminds them that our aim is to purify ourselves and our spirits so as to be able to be with Him in "the Good," and that our bodies are mere shells that house our spirits. Sin results from our attachment to the body and the pleasures it craves.

Rejected by the organized church, the Gospel of Mary demonstrates the accepted leadership of women among the early believers as well as placing emphasis not on sin and judgment but on steadfastness and purifying one's spirit to find the true Child of Humanity (in other words the Peace of Christ) in oneself.