In the gospel of Mary, the Magdalene is portrayed as a woman of great wisdom and insight. She has experienced visions of Jesus and is regarded by some as his chief disciple. The gospel was probably written in Greek in about 150 CE.
The gospel of Mary is the only one of the gnostic gospels to feature Mary Magdalene as a major character. This could explain why it has been less popular than some others.
This classic Catholic story of the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary comes from a rich literary tradition. Over the centuries, hundreds of authors have added to her life story. Now, for the first time in more than thirty years, bestselling author Alice Baily has brought together these popular episodes—most never published before in English—into one collection that captures the imagination and piety of Catholics everywhere.
The Gospel according to Mary was originally considered apocryphal by the Church. However, since there is a lot of evidence that it was written in the first century, most theologians accept it as canonical now. It’s an alternate gospel, but is quite interesting reading nonetheless.
Gospel Of Mary Mother Of Jesus
The Gospel of Mary is a Gnostic text that was discovered in Egypt in 1896. It is one of the most well-known and controversial of all Gnostic texts. The Gospel of Mary was written sometime between the first century A.D. and the third century A.D., but scholars continue to debate its exact date of authorship. Some believe it was written sometime between 100-125 A.D., while others think it was written later, around 135-150 A.D.
The author of this gospel is unknown, but it has been attributed to Mary Magdalene by some scholars because she plays a central role in this work and because her name appears at the end of the text:
“And Mary said: “O disciple whom I love, who are you?” The disciples said to him: “Mary conceals herself behind us.” Jesus said: “Look at me, O disciples! Look at my eyes that are not like a human being’s eyes; they are like a lion’s eyes.” And when he had said this he showed them his hands and feet.” (Gospel of Mary 8:1-2)
Scholars argue that this passage suggests that Mary Magdalene was the author because only a woman could have written about Jesus
The Gospel of Mary is one of the Gnostic Gospels, a collection of books that were written around the same time as the four New Testament Gospels. While most scholars believe these works were written in order to promote a specific belief system, others argue that they were written by people who knew Jesus personally and wanted to preserve his teachings for later generations. The Gospel of Mary was likely written around the same time as the Gospel of Judas and other Gnostic gospels, which means it could have been written as early as 150 CE.
The author of this gospel is unknown, but some scholars believe it was written by Mary Magdalene. This theory is based on two things: First, Mary Magdalene is mentioned as being present at several important events in Jesus’s life (such as his crucifixion), which makes sense if she was actually one of his disciples; second, there are several passages in which she speaks directly with Jesus about his death, suggesting that she may have been present when he died and experienced some sort of vision afterward.
The Gospel of Mary has 13 chapters (most other Gnostic gospels have 10). Like other Gnostic writings, it has no narrative structure or chronological sequence — only a series of sayings and conversations between characters
CHAP. I.
1 The parentage of Mary. 7 Joachim her father, and Anna her mother, go to Jerusalem to the feast of the dedication. 9 Issachar the high priest reproaches Joachim for being childless.
THE blessed and ever glorious Virgin Mary, sprung from the royal race and family of David, was born in the city of Nazareth, and educated at Jerusalem, in the temple of the Lord.
2 Her father’s name was Joachim, and her mother’s Anna. The family of her father was of Galilee and the city of Nazareth. The family of her mother was of Bethlehem.
3 Their lives were plain and right in the sight of the Lord, pious and faultless before men. For they divided all their substance into three parts:
4 One of which they devoted
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to the temple and officers of the temple; another they distributed among strangers, and persons in poor circumstances; and the third they reserved for themselves and the uses of their own family.
5 In this manner they lived for about twenty years chastely, in the favour of God, and the esteem of men, without any children.
6 But they vowed, if God should favour them with any issue, they would devote it to the service of the Lord; on which account they went at every feast in the year to the temple of the Lord 1
7 ¶ And it came to pass, that when the feast of the dedication drew near, Joachim, with some others of his tribe, went up to Jerusalem, and at that time, Issachar was high-priest;
8 Who, when he saw Joachim along with the rest of his neighbours, bringing his offering, despised both him and his offerings, and asked him,
9 Why he, who had no children, would presume to appear among those who had? Adding, that his offerings could never be acceptable to God, who was
judged by him unworthy to have children; the Scripture having said, Cursed is every one who shall not beget a male in Israel.
10. He further said, that he ought first to be free from that curse by begetting some issue, and then come with his offerings into the presence of God.
11 But Joachim being much confounded with the shame of such reproach, retired to the shepherds, who were with the cattle in their pastures;
12 For he was not inclined to return home, lest his neighbours, who were present and heard all this from the high-priest, should publicly reproach him in the same manner.
CHAP. II.
1 An angel appears to Joachim, 9 and informs him that Anna shall conceive and bring forth a daughter, who shall be called Mary, 11 be brought up in the temple, 12 and while yet a virgin, in a way unparalleled, bring forth the Son of God: 13 gives him a sign, 14 and departs.
BUT when he had been there for some time, on a certain day when he was alone, the angel of the Lord stood by him with a prodigious light.
2 To whom, being troubled at the appearance, the angel who had appeared to him, endeavouring to compose him said:
3 Be not afraid, Joachim, nor troubled at the sight of me, for I am an angel of the Lord sent by him to you, that I might inform you, that your prayers are heard, and your alms ascended in the sight of God. 2
4 For he hath surely seen your shame, and heard you unjustly reproached for not having children: for God is the avenger of sin, and not of nature;
5 And so when he shuts the womb of any person, he does it for this reason, that he may in a more wonderful manner again open it, and that which is born appear to be not the product of lust, but the gift of God.
6 For the first mother of your nation Sarah, was she not barren even till her eightieth year: And yet even in the end of her old age brought forth Isaac, in whom the promise was made a blessing to all nations. 3
7 Rachel also, so much in favour with God, and beloved so much by holy Jacob, continued barren for a long time, yet afterwards was the mot her of Joseph, who was not only governor of Egypt, but delivered many nations from perishing with hunger. 1
8 Who among the judges was more valiant than Samson, or more holy than Samuel? And yet both their mothers were barren. 2
9 But if reason will not convince you of the truth of my words, that there are frequent conceptions in advanced years, and that those who were barren have brought forth to their great surprise; therefore Anna your wife shall bring you a daughter, and you shall call her name Mary;
10 She shall, according to your vow, be devoted to the Lord from her infancy, and be filled with the Holy Ghost from her mother’s womb; 3
11 She shall neither eat nor drink anything which is unclean, nor shall her conversation be without among the common people, but in the temple of the Lord; that so she may not fall under any slander or suspicion of what is bad.
12 So in the process of her years, as she shall be in a miraculous manner born of one that was barren, so she shall, while yet a virgin, in a way unparalleled, bring forth the Son of the most High God, who shall, be called Jesus, and, according to the signification of his name, be the Saviour of all nations. 4
13 And this shall be a sign to you of the things which I declare, namely, when you come to the golden gate of Jerusalem, you shall there meet your wife Anna, who being very much troubled that you returned no sooner, shall then rejoice to see you.
14 When the angel had said this he departed from him.
CHAP. III.
1 The angel appears to Anna; 2 tells her a daughter shall be born unto her, 3 devoted to the service of the Lord in the temple, 5, who, being a virgin and not knowing man, shall bring forth the Lord, 6 and gives her a sign therefore. 8 Joachim and Anna meet and rejoice, 10 and praise the Lord. 11 Anna conceives, and brings forth a daughter called Mary.
AFTERWARDS the angel appeared to Anna his wife saying: Fear not, neither think that which you see is a spirit. 5
2 For I am that angel who hath offered up your prayers and alms before God, and am now sent to you, that I may inform you, that a daughter will be born unto you, who shall be called Mary, and shall be blessed above all women. 6
3 She shall be, immediately upon her birth, full of the grace of the Lord, and shall continue during the three years of her weaning in her father’s house, and afterwards, being devoted to the service of the Lord, shall not depart from the temple, till she arrives to years of discretion.
4 In a word, she shall there serve the Lord night and day in fasting and prayer, 7 shall abstain from every unclean thing, and never know any man;
5 But, being an unparalleled instance without any pollution or defilement, and a virgin not
knowing any man, shall bring forth a son, and a maid shall bring forth the Lord, who both by his grace and name and works, shall be the Saviour of the world.
6 Arise therefore, and go up to Jerusalem, and when you shall come to that which is called the golden gate (because it is gilt with gold), as a sign of what I have told you, you shall meet your husband, for whose safety you have been so much concerned.
7 When therefore you find these things thus accomplished, believe that all the rest which I have told you, shall also undoubtedly be accomplished.
8 ¶ According therefore to the command of the angel, both of them left the places where they were, and when they came to the place specified in the angel’s prediction, they met each other.
9 Then, rejoicing at each other’s vision, and being fully satisfied in the promise of a child, they gave due thanks to the Lord, who exalts the humble.
10 After having praised the Lord, they returned home, and lived in a cheerful and assured expectation of the promise of God.
11 ¶ So Anna conceived, and brought forth a daughter, and, according to the angel’s command, the parents did call her name Mary.
CHAP. IV.
1 Mary brought to the temple at three years old. 6 Ascends the stairs of the temple by miracle. 8 Her parents sacrificed and returned home.
AND when three years were expired, and the time of her weaning complete, they brought the Virgin to the temple of the Lord with offerings.
2 And there were about the temple, according to the fifteen Psalms of degrees, 1 fifteen stairs to ascend.
3 For the temple being built in a mountain, the altar of burnt-offering, which was without, could not be come near but by stairs;
4 The parents of the blessed Virgin and infant Mary put her upon one of these stairs;
5 But while they were putting off their clothes, in which they had travelled, and according to custom putting on some that were more neat and clean,
6 In the mean time the Virgin of the Lord in such a manner went up all the stairs one after another, without the help of any to lead or lift her, that any one would have judged from hence that she was of perfect age.
7 Thus the Lord did, in the infancy of his Virgin, work this extraordinary work, and evidence by this miracle how great she was like to be hereafter.
8 But the parents having offered up their sacrifice, according to the custom of the law, and perfected their vow, left the Virgin with other virgins in the apartments of the temple, who were to be brought up there, and they returned home.
CHAP. V.
2 Mary ministered unto by angels. 4 The high-priest orders all virgins of fourteen years old to quit the temple and endeavour to be married. 5 Mary refuses, 6 having vowed her virginity to the Lord. 7 The high-priest commands a meeting of the chief persons of Jerusalem, 11 who seek the Lord for counsel in the matter. 13 A voice from the mercy-seat. 15 The
high priest obeys it by ordering all the unmarried men of the house of David to bring their rods to the altar, 17 that his rod which should flower, and on which the Spirit of God should sit, should betroth the Virgin.
BUT the Virgin of the Lord, as she advanced in fears, increased also in perfections, and according to the saying of the Psalmist, her father and mother forsook her, but the Lord took care of her.
2 For she every day had the conversation of angels, and every day received visitors from God, which preserved her from all sorts of evil, and caused her to abound with all good things;
3 So that when at length she arrived to her fourteenth year, as the wicked could not lay anything to her charge worthy of reproof, so all good persons, who were acquainted with her, admired her life and conversation.
4 At that time the high-priest made a public order. That all the virgins who had public settlements in the temple, and were come to this age, should return home, and, as they were now of a proper maturity, should, according to the custom of their country, endeavour to be married.
5 To which command, though all the other virgins readily yielded obedience, Mary the Virgin of the Lord alone answered, that she could not comply with it.
6 Assigning these reasons, that both she and her parents had devoted her to the service of the Lord; and besides, that she had vowed virginity to the Lord, which vow she was resolved never to break through by lying with a man.
7 The high priest being hereby brought into a difficulty,
8 Seeing he durst neither on the one hand dissolve the vow, and disobey the Scripture, which says, Vow and pay, 1
9 Nor on the other hand introduce a custom, to which the people were strangers, commanded,
10 That at the approaching feast all the principal persons both of Jerusalem and the neighbouring places should meet together, that he might have their advice, how he had best proceed in so difficult a case.
11 When they were accordingly met, they unanimously agreed to seek the Lord, and ask counsel from him on this matter. 2
12 And when they were all engaged in prayer, the high-priest, according to the usual way, went to consult God.
13 And immediately there was a voice from the ark, and the mercy seat, which all present heard, that it must be inquired or sought out by a prophecy of Isaiah to whom the Virgin should be given and be betrothed;
14 For Isaiah saith, there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a flower shall spring out of its root,
15 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and Might, the Spirit of Knowledge and Piety, and the Spirit of the fear of the Lord shall fill him.
16 Then, according to this prophecy, he appointed, that all
the men of the house and family of David, who were marriageable, and not married, should bring their several rods to the altar,
17 And out of whatsoever person’s rod after it was brought, a flower should bud forth, and on the top of it the Spirit of the Lord should sit in the appearance of a dove, he should be the man to whom the Virgin should be given and be betrothed.
CHAP. VI.
1 Joseph draws back his rod. 5 The dove pitches on it. He betroths Mary and returns to Bethlehem. 7 Mary returns to her parents’ house at Galilee.
AMONG the rest there was a man named Joseph, of the house and family of David, and a person very far advanced in years, who drew back his rod, when every one besides presented his.
2 So that when nothing appeared agreeable to the heavenly voice, the high-priest judged it proper to consult God again,
3 Who answered that he to whom the Virgin was to be betrothed was the only person of those who were brought together, who had not brought his rod.
4 Joseph therefore was betrayed.
5 For, when he did bring his rod, and a dove coming from Heaven pitched upon the top of it, every one plainly saw, that the Virgin was to be betrothed to him:
6 Accordingly, the usual ceremonies of betrothing being over, he returned to his own city of Bethlehem, to set his house in order, and make the needful for the marriage.
7 But the Virgin of the Lord, Mary, with seven other virgins of the same age, who had been weaned at the same time, and who had been appointed to attend her by the priest, returned to her parents’ house in Galilee.
CHAP. VII.
7 The salutation of the Virgin by Gabriel, who explains to her that she shall conceive, without lying with a man, while a Virgin, 19 by the Holy Ghost coming upon her without the heats of lust. 21 She submits.
NOW at this time of her first coming into Galilee, the angel Gabriel was sent to her from God, to declare to her the conception of our Saviour, and the manner and way of her conceiving him.
2 Accordingly going into her, he filled the chamber where she was with a prodigious light, and in a most courteous manner saluting her, he said,
3 Hail, Mary! Virgin of the Lord most acceptable! O Virgin full of Grace! The Lord is with you, you are blessed above all women, you are blessed above all men, that. have been hitherto born. 1
4 But the Virgin, who had before been well acquainted with the countenances of angels, and to whom such light from heaven was no uncommon thing,
5 Was neither terrified with the vision of the angel, nor astonished at the greatness of the light, but only troubled about the angel’s words:
6 And began to consider what so extraordinary a salutation should mean, what it did portend, or what sort of end it would have. 2
7 To this thought the angel, divinely inspired, replies;
8 Fear not, Mary, as though
[paragraph continues]I intended anything inconsistent with your chastity in this salutation:
9 For you have found favour with the Lord, because you made virginity your choice.
10 Therefore while you are a Virgin, you shall conceive without sin, and bring forth a son.
11 He shall be great, because he shall reign from sea to sea, and from the rivers to the ends of the earth. 1
12 And he shall be called the Son of the Highest; for he who is born in a mean state on earth reigns in an exalted one in heaven.
13 And the Lord shall give him the throne of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
14 For he is the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, and his throne is for ever and ever.
15 To this discourse of the angel the Virgin replied not, as though she were unbelieving, but willing to know the manner of it.
16 She said, How can that be? For seeing, according to my vow, I have never known any man, how can I bear a child without the addition of a man’s seed?
17 To this the angel replied and said, Think not, Mary, that you shall conceive in the ordinary way.
18 For, without lying with a man, while a Virgin, you shall conceive; while a Virgin, you shall bring forth; and while a Virgin shall give suck.
19 For the Holy Ghost shall come upon you, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow you, without any of the heats of lust.
20 So that which shall be born of you shall be only holy, be. cause it only is conceived without sin, and being born, shall be called the Son of God.
21 Then Mary stretching forth her hands, and lifting her eyes to heaven, said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord! Let it be unto me according to thy word. 2
CHAP. VIII.
1 Joseph returns to Galilee to marry the Virgin he had betrothed. 4 perceives she is with child, 5 is uneasy, 7 purposes to put her away privily, 8 is told by the angel of the Lord it is not the work of man but the Holy Ghost, 12 Marries her, but keeps chaste, 13 removes with her to Bethlehem, 15 where she brings forth Christ.
JOSEPH therefore went from Judæa to Galilee, with intention to marry the Virgin who was betrothed to him:
2 For it was now near three months since she was betrothed to him.
3 At length it plainly appeared she was with child, and it could not be hid from Joseph:
4 For going to the Virgin in a free manner, as one espoused, and talking familiarly with her, he perceived her to be with child.
5 And thereupon began to be uneasy and doubtful, not knowing what course it would be best to take;
6 For being a just man, he was not willing to expose her, nor defame her by the suspicion of being a whore, since he was a pious man.
7 He purposed therefore privately to put an end to their agreement, and as privately to put her away.
8 But while he was meditating these things, 3 behold the angel of the Lord appeared to him in
his sleep, and said Joseph, son of David, fear not;
9 Be not willing to entertain any suspicion of the Virgin’s being guilty of fornication, or to think any thing amiss of her, neither be afraid to take her to wife;
10 For that which is begotten In her and now distresses your mind, is not the work of man, but the Holy Ghost.
11 For she of all women is that only Virgin who shall bring forth the Son of God, and you shall call his name Jesus, that is, Saviour: for he will save his people from their sins.
12 Joseph thereupon, according to the command of the angel, married the Virgin, and did not know her, but kept her in chastity.
13 And now the ninth month from her conception drew near, when Joseph took his wife and what other things were necessary to Bethlehem, the city from whence he came.
14 And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled for her bringing forth.
15 And she brought forth her first-born son, as the holy Evangelists have taught, even our Lord Jesus Christ, who with the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, lives and reigns to everlasting ages.
Gospel of mary magdalene text
The Gospel of Mary Magdalene is an apocryphal gospel named after the woman who was a disciple of Jesus. It is also called The Apocryphon of Mary Magdalene.
The title of this document refers to its author as “Mary”, but she may be Mary Magdalene or another woman named Mary mentioned in the text. The date of composition is unknown, but it is probably later than the canonical gospels, because it does not contain any reference to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE.
The text was written in Greek, probably in Egypt. It survives in two copies: one fragmentary papyrus (P.Berolinensis 814) and one complete papyrus (P.Oxy.1).
The Gospel of Mary Magdalene is a pseudepigraphical gospel. It is not accepted as canonical by any Christian group and was not included in the canon of any church. The text was known to exist at least since the 8th century, but it was first published in 1655 by Irenaeus Epiphanius Monachus (1655).
The gospel is named after Mary Magdalene, one of Jesus’s closest followers according to the New Testament Gospels and an important figure in Christian tradition.[1] In this gospel she plays an important role as one of the disciples who are instructed by Jesus on how they should live their lives. The text is preserved in two different versions: the longer Greek version and a shorter Latin version. The Greek version has been dated to the early 3rd century and is preserved largely in two manuscripts: Codex Tchacos (Papyrus Berolinensis 22220) and Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 3525.
The Gospel of Mary Magdalene is a Christian apocryphal gospel that was discovered in the early 1900s. It was included as part of the Nag Hammadi library, which contains 13 codices (or books) that were written in Coptic. The Gospel of Mary is actually one of these codices.
The text was written sometime between 200 and 300 CE, which means it was written after the New Testament Gospels but before the Gnostic texts found at Nag Hammadi. Like all Gnostic texts, it contains a mixture of Christianity with paganism and mysticism.
The text has been translated from Coptic into many languages over time, so there are several different versions available today.
here is a beautiful text from the gospel of mary magdalene:
Mary Magdalene said to him, “Master, I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Jesus answered her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'” Mary Magdalene came and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that he had said these things to her.
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 For even as John came into all the world to bear witness to the truth, so also am I sent now to bear witness to it.
3 For those who accepted a testimony from me have themselves borne witness that they have received the word of God not as a human word but as it really is, which effectually works in those who believe.
4 But there are some of you who do not believe and are seeking to kill me because my testimony about God has become known.
5 And these will be put to shame by their unbelief in God; for their deeds will not be reckoned by me or by any other man, but on the day when men will see him whom they have pierced; and they will mourn over him as for an only son who has died according to their hearts’ desires: and there will be no peace for them.’