Gospel of Mary Magdalene
Publishers: Éditions Albin Michal, 1977; Inner Traditions International, Rochester VT, 2002
The gospel contains nineteen pages, of which 1-6, 11-14 are missing. On the left-hand pages of this book is the Aramaic text. On the right-hand pages is the English text. Part Two contains a commentary of each line.
The gospel is part of the Berlin Papyrus and has been stored in the Egyptology section of the National Museum of Berlin since 1896. It is believed to have been found near Akhmin, Egypt. This copy is dated to the early fifth century. A Greek fragment -- the Rylands Papyrus -- is dated 463. The first edition is believed to have been made about 150.
This is a gospel inspired by -- and possibly written by -- Miriam of Magdala. In this writing, she is the intimate friend of Jesus, transmitting his most subtle teachings. It is a writing that is not accepted, especially arising from the nature of its teaching, from the anthropology and metaphysics that are implicit in it.
Mary's identity as a prostitute stems from Homily 33 of Pope Gregory I, delivered in the year 591,in which he declared that she and the unnamed woman in Luke 7 are, in fact, one and the same, and that the faithful should hold Mary as the penitent whore.
