The Gospel of Mary Magdalene
by Jean-Yves Leloup
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Book Reviews of The Gospel of Mary Magdalene
Book Review: A meditation on the fragments
Summary: 4 Stars
I had read the 'Gospel of Mary Magdalene' in 'The Other Gospels: Non-Canonical Gospel Texts', by Ron Cameron. Finding the commentary a little thin, I looked for something a bit more thought provoking and got a copy of this book.The book is organized into introductory comments, the ancient text itself and an extended exegesis. For my taste, the introductory comments were too short and the exegesis too long. I had to force my way through LeLoup's geometric hierarchies of spiritual insights which include a quadrangle labeled in counter clockwise order from the top, 'I AM', 'The Teacher', I am not' and 'The Human'. In the center, within 4 concentric circles is (from top to bottom) 'masculine,' ANTHROPOS' and 'feminine'. Additionally, LeLoup provides us with a 10 page commentary on the 10 Commandments, almost 10% of the exegesis.
The ancient text provides LeLoup plenty of justification for this numerology. Mary describes a vision that includes the soul's journey through 4 climates. The 4th climate (also called wrath) had 7 manifestations darkness, craving, ignorance, lethal jealousy, enslavement of the body, intoxicated wisdom, guileful wisdom. Though I winced more than once, I'm glad I read it. It is important to slow down the thought processes while trying to tease out a context for the ancient-source text. I had to wonder if one could compare the numerology to that originating in India a few hundred year before Jesus and Mary walked the earth.
The introduction was all to brief and will leave you wanting more. The Berlin Papyrus, and the Rylands Papyrus should have been described as physical objects with a chemical composition, process of creation, evidence of age and current condition. What do we know about other documents of the same age? What group of people would have been writing it? Storing it? What can we surmise regarding the missing pages 1-6 and 11-14. Is the Nag Hammadi library's 'Sophia (Wisdom) of Jesus' an embellished version of the Mary Gospel?
More could be done with the translation of specific terms. In particular, what in other translations is rendered 'male' is rendered here as 'fully human'. What is elsewhere rendered 'mind', is rendered 'nous'. The delicate shades need to be explicitly explored, probably by multiple authors (including someone familiar with the 7 chakras). LeLoups takes a start at this, but I can't abide with his geometric solution. Additionally, there ought to be a discussion of what clues in the text might suggest the authority of eye-witness commentary (or lack of same).
Book Review: Comprehensive and thoughtful, at times inspiring
Summary: 5 Stars
The existence of the Gospel of Mary was brought to light in Cairo in 1896. Some fifty years later, what are now known as the Gnostic gospels were discovered in Nag Hammadi, Egypt. Jean-Yves Leloup provides here a fascinating interpretation and commentary of the Gospel of Mary, with a few rewarding diversions into other texts, including some surprising revelations, and his alternate translation of excerpts from other gospels. At the heart of this work is what amounts to a map of human spiritual potential, the essence of Jesus' goal as found in the Gospel of Mary, presented as a way of guiding those who would follow to become fully human.
The material is presented in two parts. Part One is the Coptic text and translation, presented in a simple layout of each page of Coptic text on the left, with the English translation (from French by Joseph Rowe, with some comparison to other translations) on the facing right-hand page. The original pagination is retained and line numbers are added, which correspond roughly, though not exactly, to the original. The text is brief, and there are several missing pages. Of the 19 original pages of script only 9 remain intact. I count 1,145 translated words in all. Though brief and fragmented, this is powerful reading. This gospel presents Mary as closer to her Teacher than is usually evident in the New Testament. It also suggests that her vision of the resurrected Jesus, who's often referred to in this gospel as the Teacher, was of a more spiritual than physical nature.
Part Two is the text with Leloup's commentary, which covers not only his interpretive theories regarding the text of the gospel, but much more. In explaining his reasons for his translation of certain passages and specific words, he also goes into his opinion on the translation of bits of the canonical gospels, retranslating the Beatitudes into a more empowering form by replacing "Blessed are" to create an inspiring and motivating challenge to action in this world, rather than awaiting rewards in the afterlife.
I'm personally intrigued by his translation of portions of the Gospel of Thomas, an added bonus in this comprehensive work. I won't go into all the points of interest I came across in this thoughtful translation and commentary. Let me simply conclude that I recommend it to anyone concerned with learning more about the non-canonical gospels, Christian or Gnostic history, Mary Magdalene and Jesus, the divine feminine, or nuances in translation of the gospels.
Book Review: One of the Nag Hammadi discoveries
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of the scrolls found in the Nag Hammadi desert, in Egypt, in 1945, and is of more importance, from a religious standpoint, than the so-called Dead Sea Scrolls, which dealt more with legal and more mundane affairs and gave an insight into living conditions in the early centuries before the present era.
There is much information about the Nag Hammadi find in Professor Elaine Pagel's book, The Gnostic Gospels. I met her briefly several years ago, in New York.
Only fragments of The Gospel of Mary Magdalene were found, of the total 19 pages. Pages 1-6 are missing, as are 11-14. However, the pages that were found and translated from the coptic are of great interest since they primarily purport to be quotations of Yeshua (better known by his Greek name, Jesus) and conversations between his disciples.
A tension between Mary Magdalene, who is described as being closer to Yeshua than the others, and Peter, is evident: "How is it possible that the Teacher talked in this manner with a woman about secrets with which we ourselves are ignorant? Must we change our customs and listen to this woman? Did he really choose her, and prefer her to us?" Then Mary wept and answered him: "My brother Peter, what can you be thinking? Do you believe that this is just my own imagination, that I invented this vision? Or do you believe that I would lie about our Teacher?"
Is his reaction only male chauvinism, or pure jealousy?
The scrolls found in the Nag Hammadi are important because the Gnostics were opposed by the dominant Constantinians, who tried to stamp them and their writings out, and refused to allow them into the canon of the New Testament. I once heard that Constantine's scholars went into a room, and when they came out, said that the books included in the canon were chosen because they "jumped up on the table" of their own accord, and the ones that did not were not included.
I can't verify the statement's truth, but it is no more far-fetched than some others.
The antiquity of the Nag Hammadi books alone, as well as the subject matter, should make them as valuable as any of the other gospels.
Joseph (Joe) Pierre
author of The Road to Damascus: Our Journey Through Eternity
and other books
Book Review: Sorry "scholar mystics" she belongs to us all
Summary: 2 Stars
I give this work two stars for existing at all - I had not seen this early pre-gnostic treasure and am pleased indeed to read it.
The cover indicates the ideals of the commentator - in what appears to be a medieval shampoo ad featuring an anorexic waif with improbable hair for one so undernourished. One would imagine that if Our Lord wished to sanctify the flesh he'd chose a mate with rather more of it. A similar over-intellectual diagram-rich and flesh-fearing commentary is attatched - with very little power to illumune us on the probable real Magdalena figure - just more fans for Ally McBeal in a wig.
It seems to be a good idea to revisit her most famous scene - it pops in and out of the canon and two different gospels but reads like an eye-witness account - here let me translate it for you and add a few questions.
Magdalena
And all went to their homes,
Jesus to the Olive Mount,
At dawn to be seen once more in the Temple,
The people all around Him,
He seated and teaching them,
She dragged in
By the writers and nit-pickers.
Rabbi - we took her red-handed,
By Moses Law she must be stoned!
What say you to that? Teacher?
Jesus bent to the earth and with his finger Wrote
She before him.
They hard hassling for his answer.
That man among you who has no error:
He will now be first to stone her?
He again to the ground inscribing dirt.
First the eldest - shamed - went
Then the rest of them.
Only Jesus remained
The woman standing.
He then with straight back, softly:
Where are they? Is there no soul left to Damn you?
Not one sir?
Nor I woman. Go now be free of fault.
What sign, phrase or Signature of All Things did He write?
Who was she? Some whore, a girl as you or me, Pallas Athene?
Later, did she softly touch him, promise to be there for him:
At the eventual opening of Death?s Oven?
In that garden.
Was she very beautiful indeed?
Download the web version and skip the Gnostic spin.
Book Review: Interesting, but not Worth the Hype
Summary: 2 Stars
Let's be honest here and cut through the chase. In this age of rampant conspiracy theories and films that excite the imagination the idea of a secret coverup by the church to defame these wonderful works makes a tempting plot. And there is just enough truth to make it sound feasable. But before you all tell me how closed minded I am, let me offer a few alternatives.IF YOU REALLY WANT TO LEARN ABOUT GNOSTICISM: Research it throughly from BOTH sides, and keep an open mind. This was a major struggle in the early church. A lot of scholarly work is available from different perspectives. Gnosticism is alive and well today, as is orthodox Christianity. Many good books are available on Amazon.
IF YOU REALLY WANY TO READ ONE OF THE GNOSTIC GOSPELS:
I suggest you choose the Gospel of Thomas. It is easy to find and has a lot more meat. The Gospel of Mary Magdalene has only 161 lines and about 175 pages of author added commentary and filler to stretch it out. The Gospel of Magdalene is not a complete work.
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DEBATE OVER MARY:
I suggest you purchase the video, "Mary Magdalen: An Intimate Portrait" It is sold by Amazon. I reviewed it and find it to be a balanced, serious attempt at honesty without dodging extreme views on any side of the debate.
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO STUDY THE "LOST BOOKS OF THE BIBLE":
I suggest you begin with the "Shepherd (Pastor) of Hermas" This book was so accepted in the early church that it can still be seen in our earliest known New Testament, Codex Sinaiticus, dating back to the 4th century. Then, after inclusion, it was removed, because it flunked the test of "Apostolic Authority". Other major very early works include the Didache, and Apostolic Constitutions. These will open plenty of scholarly debate.
IF SOMETHING INSIDE YOU STILL SAYS YOU JUST HAVE TO HAVE THIS BOOK:
Then download it over the net. The book isn't much longer than this review and it is in the public domain.