From the Introduction to:

The Gospel of Mary of Magdala:

Jesus and the First Woman Apostle
by Karen L. King
Excerpt from:
The Gospel of Mary of Magdala: Jesus and the First Woman Apostle
by Karen L. King (Polebridge Press, Santa Rosa, California, 2003), pp. 3-12

Early Christianity & the Gospel of Mary
e! people today are a"#$ainted !it% t%e Gospel of Mary. &ritten early in t%e
se"ond "ent$ry C', it disappeared for o(er fifteen %$ndred years $ntil a single,
frag)entary "opy in Copti" translation "a)e to lig%t in t%e late nineteent% "ent$ry.
*lt%o$g% details of t%e dis"o(ery itself are obs"$re, !e do +no! t%at t%e fift%-"ent$ry
)an$s"ript in !%i"% it !as ins"ribed !as p$r"%ased in Cairo by Carl Rein%ardt and
bro$g%t to ,erlin in 1-./. 0!o additional frag)ents in 1ree+ %a(e "o)e to lig%t in t%e
t!entiet% "ent$ry. 2et still no "o)plete "opy of t%e Gospel of Mary is +no!n. e!er t%an
eig%t pages of t%e an"ient papyr$s te3t s$r(i(e, !%i"% )eans t%at abo$t %alf of t%e
Gospel of Mary is lost to $s, per%aps fore(er.
2et t%ese s"ant pages pro(ide an intrig$ing gli)pse into a +ind of C%ristianity lost
for al)ost fifteen %$ndred years. 0%is astonis%ingly brief narrati(e presents a radi"al
interpretation of 4es$s5 tea"%ings as a pat% to inner spirit$al +no!ledge6 it re7e"ts %is
s$ffering and deat% as t%e pat% to eternal life6 it e3poses t%e erroneo$s (ie! t%at 8ary of
8agdala !as a prostit$te for !%at it is-a pie"e of t%eologi"al fi"tion6 it presents t%e )ost
straig%tfor!ard and "on(in"ing arg$)ent in any early C%ristian !riting for t%e legiti)a"y
of !o)en5s leaders%ip6 it offers a s%arp "riti#$e of illegiti)ate po!er and a $topian
(ision of spirit$al perfe"tion6 it "%allenges o$r rat%er ro)anti" (ie!s abo$t t%e %ar)ony
and $nani)ity of t%e first C%ristians6 and it as+s $s to ret%in+ t%e basis for "%$r"%
a$t%ority. *ll !ritten in t%e na)e of a !o)an.
0%e story of t%e Gospel of Mary is a si)ple one. Sin"e t%e first si3 pages are lost,
t%e gospel opens in t%e )iddle of a s"ene portraying a dis"$ssion bet!een t%e Sa(ior and
%is dis"iples set after t%e res$rre"tion. 0%e Sa(ior is ans!ering t%eir #$estions abo$t t%e
end of t%e )aterial !orld and t%e nat$re of sin. 9e tea"%es t%e) t%at at present all t%ings,
!%et%er )aterial or spirit$al, are inter!o(en !it% ea"% ot%er. :n t%e end, t%at !ill not be
so. 'a"% nat$re !ill ret$rn to its o!n root, its o!n original state and destiny. ,$t
)ean!%ile, t%e nat$re of sin is tied to t%e nat$re of life t%is )i3ed !orld. People sin
be"a$se t%ey do not re"ogni;e t%eir o!n spirit$al nat$re and, instead, lo(e t%e lo!er
nat$re t%at de"ei(es t%e) and leads to disease and deat%. Sal(ation is a"%ie(ed by
dis"o(ering !it%in oneself t%e tr$e spirit$al nat$re of %$)anity and o(er"o)ing t%e
de"epti(e entrap)ents of t%e bodily passions and t%e !orld. 0%e Sa(ior "on"l$des t%is
tea"%ing !it% a !arning against t%ose !%o !o$ld del$de t%e dis"iples into follo!ing
so)e %eroi" leader or a set of r$les and la!s. :nstead t%ey are to see+ t%e "%ild of tr$e
9$)anity !it%in t%e)sel(es and gain in!ard pea"e. *fter "o))issioning t%e) to go
fort% and prea"% t%e gospel, t%e Sa(ior departs.
,$t t%e dis"iples do not go o$t 7oyf$lly to prea"% t%e gospel6 instead "ontro(ersy
er$pts. *ll t%e dis"iples e3"ept 8ary %a(e failed to "o)pre%end t%e Sa(ior5s tea"%ing
Rat%er t%an see+ pea"e !it%in, t%ey are distra$g%t, frig%tened t%at if t%ey follo! %is
"o))ission to prea"% t%e gospel, t%ey )ig%t s%are %is agoni;ing fate. 8ary steps in and
"o)forts t%e) and, at Peter5s, relates tea"%ing $n+no!n to t%e) t%at s%e %ad re"ei(ed
fro) t%e Sa(ior in a (ision. 0%e Sa(ior %ad e3plained to %er t%e nat$re of prop%e"y and
t%e rise of t%e so$l to its final rest, des"ribing %o! to !in t%e battle against t%e !i"+ed,
illegiti)ate Po!ers t%at see+ to +eep t%e so$l entrapped in t%e !orld and ignorant of its
tr$e spirit$al nat$re.
,$t as s%e finis%es %er a""o$nt, t!o of t%e dis"iples #$ite $ne3pe"tedly "%allenge
%er. *ndre! ob7e"ts t%at %er tea"%ing is strange and %e ref$ses to belie(e t%at it "a)e
fro) t%e Sa(ior. Peter goes f$rt %er, denying t%at 4es$s !o$ld e(er %a(e gi(en t%is +ind
of ad(an"ed tea"%ing to a !o)an, or t%at 4es$s "o$ld possibly %a(e preferred %er to
t%e). *pparently !%en %e as+ed %er to spea+, Peter %ad not e3pe"ted s$"% ele(ated
tea"%ing, and no! %e #$estions %er "%ara"ter, i)plying t%at s%e %as lied abo$t %a(ing
re"ei(ed spe"ial tea"%ing in order to in"rease %er stat$re a)ong t%e dis"iples. Se(erely
ta+en aba"+, 8ary begins to "ry at Peter5s a""$sation. Le(i "o)es #$i"+ly to %er defense,
pointing o$t to Peter t%at %e is a notorio$s %ot%ead and no! %e is treating 8ary as t%o$g%
s%e !ere t%e ene)y. &e s%o$ld be as%a)ed of o$rsel(es, %e ad)onis%es t%e) all6
instead of arg$ing a)ong o$rsel(es, !e s%o$ld go o$t and prea"% t%e gospel as t%e Sa(ior
"o))anded $s.
0%e story ends %ere, b$t t%e "ontro(ersy is far fro) resol(ed. *ndre! and Peter at
least, and li+ely t%e ot%er fearf$l dis"iples as !ell, %a(e not $nderstood t%e Sa(ior5s
tea"%ing and are offended by 4es$s5 apparent preferen"e of a !o)an o(er t%e). 0%eir
li)ited $nderstanding and false pride )a+e it i)possible for t%e) to "o)pre%end t%e
tr$t% of t%e Sa(ior5s tea"%ing. 0%e reader )$st bot% !onder and !orry !%at +ind of
gospel s$"% pro$d and ignorant dis"iples !ill prea"%.
9o! are !e to $nderstand t%is story< :t is at on"e re)inis"ent of t%e =e!
0esta)ent gospels and yet "learly different fro) t%e). 0%e gospel5s "%ara"ters-t%e
Sa(ior, 8ary, Peter, *ndre!, and Le(i-are fa)iliar to t%ose a"#$ainted !it% t%e gospels
of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. o, too, is t%e t%eologi"al lang$age of gospel and
+ingdo), as !ell as s$"% sayings of 4es$s as >0%ose !%o see+ !ill find> or >*nyone !it%
t!o ears s%o$ld listen.> *nd t%e =e! 0esta)ent gospels and A!ts repeatedly )ention t%e
appearan"e of 4es$s to %is dis"iples after t%e res$rre"tion. 2et it is also "lear t%at t%e story
of t%e Gospel of Mary differs in signifi"ant respe"ts. or e3a)ple, after 4es$s
"o))issions t%e dis"iples t%ey do not go o$t 7oyf$lly to prea"% t%e gospel, as t%ey do in
Matthew" instead t%ey !eep, fearing for t%eir li(es. So)e of t%e tea"%ings also see)
s%o"+ing "o)ing fro) 4es$s, espe"ially %is assertion t%at t%ere is no s$"% t%ing as sin.
8odern re aders )ay !ell find t%e)sel(es sy)pat%i;ing !it% *ndre!5s assess)ent t%at
>t%ese tea"%ings are strange ideas.>
0%e Gospel of Mary !as !ritten !%en C%ristianity, still in its nas"ent stages, !as
)ade $p of "o))$nities !idely dispersed aro$nd t%e 'astern 8editerranean,
"o))$nities !%i"% !ere often relati(ely isola ted fro) one ot%er and probably ea"%
s)all eno$g% to )eet in so)eone5s %o)e !it%o$t attra"ting too )$"% noti"e. *lt%o$g%
!ritings appeared early-espe"ially letters addressing t%e "on"erns of lo"al "%$r"%es,
"olle"tions "ontaining 4es$s5 sayings, and narrati(es interpreting %is deat% and
res$rre"tion?oral pra"ti"es do)inated t%e li(es of early C%ristians. Prea"%ing, tea"%ing,
and rit$als of table fello!s%ip and baptis) !ere t%e "ore of t%e C%ristian e3perien"e<
&%at !ritten do"$)ents t%ey %ad ser(ed at )ost as s$pple)ental g$ides to prea"%ing and
pra"ti"e. =or "an !e ass$)e t%at t%e (ario$s "%$r"%es all possessed t%e sa)e do"$)ents6
after all, t%ese are t%e people !%o !rote t%e first C%ristian literat$re. C%ristop%
8ar+s"%ies s$ggests t%at !e %a(e lost -@A of C%ristian literat$re fro) t%e first t!o
"ent$riesBand t%at in"l$des only t%e literat$re !e +no! abo$t. S$rely t%ere )$st be e(en
)ore, for t%e dis"o(ery of te3ts li+e t%e Gospel of Mary "a)e as a "o)plete s$rprise. &e
%a(e to be "aref$l t%at !e don5t s$ppose it is possible to re"onstr$"t t%e !%ole of early
C%ristian %istory and pra"ti"e o$t of t%e fe! s$r(i(ing te3ts t%at re)ain. C$r pi"t$re !ill
al!ays be partial?not only be"a$se so )$"% is lost, b$t be"a$se early C%ristian pra"ti"es
!ere so little tied to d$rable !riting.
Partly as a "onse#$en"e of t%eir independent de(elop)ent and differing
sit$ations, t%ese "%$r"%es so)eti)es di(erged !idely in t%eir perspe"ti(es on essential
ele)ents of C%ristian belief and pra"ti"e. S$"% basi" iss$es as t%e "ontent and )eaning of
4es$s5 tea"%ings, t%e nat$re of sal(ation, t%e (al$e of prop%eti" a$t%ority, and t%e roles of
!o)en and sla(es "a)e $nder intense debate. 'arly C%ristians proposed and
e3peri)ented !it% "o)peting (isions of ideal "o))$nity.
:t is i)portant to re)e)ber, too, t%at t%ese first C%ristians %ad no =e! 0esta)ent,
no =i"ene Creed or *postles Creed, no "o))only establis%ed "%$r"% order or "%ain of
a$t%ority, no "%$r"% b$ildings, and indeed no single $nderstanding of 4es$s. *ll of t%e
ele)ents !e )ig%t "onsider to be essential to define C%ristianity did not yet e3ist. ar
fro) being starting points, t%e =i"ene "reed and t%e =e! 0esta)ent !ere t%e end
prod$"ts of t%ese debates and disp$tes6 t%ey represent t%e distillation of e3perien"e and
e3peri)entation?and not a s)all a)o$nt of strife and str$ggle.
*ll early C%ristian literat$re bears tra"es of t%ese "ontro(ersies. 0%e earliest
s$r(i(ing do"$)ents of C%ristianity, t%e letters of Pa$l s%o! t%at "onsiderable differen"e
of opinion e3isted abo$t s$"% iss$es as "ir"$)"ision and t%e 4e!is% food la!s or t%e
relati(e (al$e of spirit$al gifts. 0%ese and ot%er s$"% "ontentio$s iss$es as !%et%er t%e
res$rre"tion !as p%ysi"al or spirit$al !ere sti)$lating t%eologi"al "on(ersations and
"a$sing rifts !it%in and a)ong C%ristian gro$ps. ,y t%e ti)e of t%e Gospel of Mary,
t%ese dis"$ssions !ere be"o)ing in"reasingly n$an"ed and )ore polari;ed.
9istory, as !e +no!, is !ritten by t%e !inners. :n t%e "ase of early C%ristianity,
t%is %as )eant t%at )any (oi"es in t%ese debates !ere silen"ed t%ro$g% repression or
negle"t. 0%e Gospel of Mary, along !it% ot%er ne!ly dis"o(ered !or+s fro) t%e earliest
C%ristian period, in"reases o$r +no!ledge of t%e enor)o$s di(ersity and dyna)i"
"%ara"ter of t%e pro"esses by !%i"% C%ristianity !as s%aped. 0%e goal of t%is (ol$)e is
to let t!enty-first-"ent$ry readers %ear one of t%ose (oi"es?not in order to dro!n o$t t%e
(oi"es of "anon and tradition, b$t in order t%at t%ey )ig%t be %eard !it% t%e greater
"larity t%at "o)es !it% a broadened %istori"al perspe"ti(e. &%et%er or not t%e )essage of
t%e Gospel of Mary s%o$ld be e)bra"ed is a )atter readers !ill de"ide for t%e)sel(es.
Discoery and !u"lication
&%ere did t%e Gospel of Mary "o)e fro)<
C(er a %$ndred years ago, in 4an$ary of 1-./, a see)ingly insignifi"ant e(ent
too+ pla"e on t%e anti#$ities )ar+et in Cairo. * )an$s"ript dealer, !%ose na)e %istory
%as forgotten, offered a papyr$s boo+ for sale to a 1er)an s"%olar na)ed Dr. Carl
Rein%ardt.< :t e(ent$ally be"a)e "lear t%at t%e boo+ !as a fift%-"ent$ry C' papyr$s
"ode3, !ritten in t%e Copti" lang$age (see ,o3 1). Enbe+no!nst to eit%er of t%e), it
"ontained t%e Gospel of Mary along !it% t%ree ot%er pre(io$sly $n+no!n !or+s, t%e
Apo!ryphon of John, t%e ophia of Jesus #hrist, and t%e A!t of $eter. 0%is see)ingly
s)all e(ent t$rned o$t to be of enor)o$s signifi"an"e.
Dr. Rein%ardt "o$ld tell t%at t%e boo+ !as an"ient, b$t %e +ne! not%ing )ore
abo$t t%e find t%an t%at t%e dealer !as fro) *"%)i) in "entral. 0%e dealer told %i) t%at a
peasant %ad fo$nd t%e boo+ in a ni"%e of a !all, b$t t%at is i)possible. 0%e boo+5s
e3"ellent "ondition, e3"ept for se(eral pages )issing fro) t%e Gospel of Mary, )a+es it
entirely $nli+ely t%at it %ad spent t%e last fifteen %$ndred years $nnoti"ed in a !all ni"%e.
=o boo+ "o$ld %a(e s$r(i(ed so long in t%e open air. :t )ay be t%at t%e peasant or t%e
dealer %ad "o)e by it illegally and, %en"e, !as e(asi(e abo$t t%e a"t$al lo"ation of t%e
find. Cr it )ay %a(e been only re"ently pla"ed in t%e !all and a""identally fo$nd t%ere. :n
any "ase, !e still don5t +no! anyt%ing spe"ifi" abo$t !%ere it lay %idden all t%ose
"ent$ries, alt%o$g% t%e first editor, Carl S"%)idt, ass$)ed t%at it %ad to %a(e been fo$nd
in t%e gra(eyards of *"%)i) or in t%e area s$rro$nding t%e "ity.
Dr. Rein%ardt p$r"%ased t%e boo+ and too+ it to ,erlin, !%ere it !as pla"ed in t%e
'gyptian 8$se$) !it% t%e offi"ial title and "atalog$e n$)ber of Code3 ,erolinensis
-@02. 0%ere it "a)e into t%e %ands of t%e 'gyptologist Can S"%)idt, !%o set abo$t
prod$"ing a "riti"al edition and 1er)an translation of !%at is no! generally referred to
as t%e ,erlin Code3
ro) t%e beginning, t%e p$bli"ation !as plag$ed by diffi"$lties. irst of all, t%ere
is t%e proble) of t%e )issing pages. 0%e first si3 pages, pl$s fo$r additional pages fro)
t%e )iddle of t%e !or+, are )issing. 0%is )eans t%at o(er %alf of t%e Gospel of Mary is
"o)pletely lost. &%at %appened to t%ese pages< Carl S"%)idt t%o$g%t t%ey )$st %a(e
been stolen or destroyed by !%oe(er fo$nd t%e boo+. 0%e )an itself !as fo$nd prote"ted
inside its original leat%er and papyr$s "o(er b$t by t%e ti)e it rea"%ed Carl S"%)idt in
,erlin, t%e order of t%e pages %ad been 0%e "onsiderably 7$)bled. :t too+ S"%)idt so)e
ti)e to reali;e t%at t%e boo+ !as nearly inta"t and )$st t%erefore %a(e been fo$nd
$nin7$red. :n an $n"%aritable and per%aps e(en ran"oro$s "o))ent, S"%)idt attrib$ted
t%e disorder of t%e pages to >greedy *rabs> !%o )$st also %a(e eit%er stolen or destroyed
t%e )issing pages, b$t to t%is day not%ing is +no!n abo$t t%eir fate. &e "an only %ope
t%at t%ey lie prote"ted so)e!%ere and !ill one day res$rfa"e.
,y 1.12 S"%)idt5s edition !as ready for p$bli"ation and !as sent to t%e
PrieF"%en Press in Leip;ig. ,$t alasG 0%e printer !as nearing "o)pletion of t%e final
s%eets !%en a b$rst !ater pipe destroyed t%e entire edition. Soon t%ereafter '$rope
pl$nged into &orld &ar :. D$ring t%e !ar and its after)at%, S"%)idt !as $nable to go to
Leip;ig and sal(age anyt%ing fro) t%e )ess %i)self, b$t %e did )anage to res$rre"t t%e
pro7e"t. 0%is ti)e, %o!e(er, %is !or+ !as t%!arted by %is o!n )ortality. 9is deat% on
*pril 1H, 1.3-, "a$sed f$rt%er delay !%ile t%e edition !as retrie(ed fro) %is estate and
sent to press. *t t%is point, anot%er s"%olar !as needed to see its p$bli"ation t%ro$g%, a
tas+ t%at $lti)ately fell to &alter 0ill in 1.I1.
:n t%e )eanti)e, in 1.1H a s)all t%ird-"ent$ry 1ree+ frag)ent of t%e Gospel of
Mary %ad been fo$nd in 'gypt (Papyr$s Rylands I/3). ,eing parallel to part of t%e
Copti" te3t, it added no ne! passages to t%e Gospel of Mary, b$t it did pro(ide a fe!
(ariants and additional e(iden"e abo$t t%e !or+5s early date and its "o)position in 1ree+.
0ill in"orporated t%is ne! e(iden"e into %is edition, and by 1.I3, t%e edition !as again
ready to go to press. ,$t no! &orld &ar :: )ade p$bli"ation i)possible.
,y t%e ti)e t%e !ar !as o(er, ne!s %ad rea"%ed ,erlin of a )a7or )an$s"ript
dis"o(ery in 'gypt near t%e (illage of =ag 9a))adi. *s "%an"e !o$ld %a(e it, "opies of
t!o of t%e ot%er te3ts fo$nd !it%in t%e ,erlin Code3 along !it% t%e Gospel of Mary
%Apo!ryphon of John and ophia of Jesus #hrist& appeared a)ong t%e ne! )an$s"ripts.
=o ne! "opies of Gospel of Mary !ere fo$nd at =ag 9a))adi, b$t p$bli"ation !as
delayed yet again as 0ill !aited for infor)ation abo$t t%e ne! )an$s"ripts so t%at %e
"o$ld in"orporate t%is ne! e(iden"e into %is edition of t%e ,erlin Code3. ,$t t%e !%eels
of s"%olars%ip grind slo!ly, and finally in e3asperation, 0ill ga(e $p. 9e "onfides to %is
readersJ
:n t%e "o$rse of t%e t!el(e years d$ring !%i"% : %a(e labored o(er t%e te3ts, :
often )ade repeated "%anges %ere and t%ere, and t%at !ill probably "ontin$e to be t%e
"ase. ,$t at so)e point a )an )$st find t%e "o$rage to let t%e )an$s"ript lea(e one5s
%and, e(en if one is "on(in"ed t%at t%ere is )$"% t%at is still i)perfe"t. 0%at is
$na(oidable !it% all %$)an endea(ors.
*t last in 1.@@, t%e first printed edition of t%e te3t of t%e Gospel of Mary finally
appeared !it% a 1er)an translation.
0ill !as rig%t, of "o$rse6 s"%olars "ontin$e to )a+e "%anges and add to t%e re"ord.
Cf fore)ost i)portan"e !as t%e dis"o(ery of yet anot%er early t%ird-"ent$ry 1ree+
frag)ent of t%e Gospel of Mary(Papyr$s C3yr%yn"%$s 3@2@), !%i"% !as p$blis%ed in
1.-3. &it% t%e addition of t%is frag)ent, !e no! %a(e portions of t%ree "opies of t%e
Gospel of Mary dating fro) anti#$ityJ t!o 1ree+ )an$s"ripts fro) t%e early t%ird
"ent$ry (P. Rylands I/3 and P. C3yr%yn"%$s 3@2@) and one in Copti" fro) t%e fift%
"ent$ry (Code3 ,erolinensis -@2@).
,e"a$se it is $n$s$al for se(eral "opies fro) s$"% early dates to %a(e s$r(i(ed,
t%e attestation of t%e Gospel of Mary as an early C%ristian !or+ is $n$s$ally strong. 8ost
early C%ristian literat$re t%at !e +no! abo$t %as s$r(i(ed be"a$se t%e te3ts !ere "opied
and t%en re"opied as t%e )aterials on !%i"% t%ey !ere !ritten !ore o$t. :n anti#$ity it
!as not ne"essary to b$rn boo+s one !anted to s$ppress (alt%o$g% t%is !as o""asionally
done)6 if t%ey !eren5t re"opied, t%ey disappeared t%ro$g% negle"t. *s far as !e +no!, t%e
Gospel of Mary was ne(er re"opied after t%e fift% "ent$ry6 it )ay %a(e been t%at t%e
Gospel of Mary !as a"ti(ely s$ppressed, b$t it is also possible t%at it si)ply dropped o$t
of "ir"$lation. 'it%er !ay, !%et%er its loss res$lted fro) ani)osity or negle"t, t%e
re"o(ery of t%e Gospel of Mary, in %o!e(er frag)entary "ondition, is d$e in e#$al
)eas$re to p%eno)enal serendipity and e3traordinary good fort$ne.

Dr. King's outline of the surviving manuscript fragments:
The Coptic #anguage
*lt%o$g% t%e Gospel of Mary !as originally "o)posed in 1ree+, )ost of it
s$r(i(es only in Copti" translation. Copti" is t%e last stage of t%e 'gyptian lang$age and
is still in lit$rgi"al $se by 'gyptian C%ristians, "alled Copts. 0%e oldest +no!n 'gyptian
lang$age !as !ritten in %ieroglyp%s, al!ays on stone or so)e ot%er d$rable )aterial. :n
addition, 'gyptians also !rote on papyr$s, and for t%is t%ey $sed a different s"ript "alled
%ierati", e)ployed al)ost solely for !riting sa"red literat$re. * t%ird s"ript, "alled
de)oti", !as de(eloped for e(eryday transa"tions li+e letter-!riting and boo+-+eeping.
'a"% of t%ese s"ripts is (ery "$)berso)e, $tili;ing different "%ara"ters or signs to
represent !%ole syllables, not 7$st indi(id$al so$nds as in 'nglis%. So)eti)e d$ring t%e
late Ro)an period, probably aro$nd t%e se"ond "ent$ry C', s"ribes started !riting t%e
'gyptian lang$age in pri)arily 1ree+ letters, b$t adding a fe! fro) de)oti" 'gyptian.
0%is pro"ess )ade !riting 'gyptian )$"% si)pler and )ore effi"ient. Sin"e Copti" s"ript
!as $sed al)ost e3"l$si(ely by C%ristians in 'gypt, !e "an ass$)e t%at 'gyptian
C%ristians !ere t%e ones !%o translated and preser(ed t%e Gospel of Mary.
The $erlin Code%
0%e boo+ Rein%ardt bo$g%t in Cairo in 1-./ t$rned o$t to be a fift%-"ent$ry
papyr$s "ode3. Papyr$s !as t%e )ost "o))on !riting )aterial of t%e day, b$t "odi"es,
t%e pre"$rsor of o$r boo+ for), %ad "o)e into $se only a "o$ple of "ent$ries earlier,
pri)arily a)ong C%ristians. 0%e "ode3 !as )ade by "$tting papyr$s rolls into s%eets,
!%i"% t%en !ere sta"+ed in a single pile, $s$ally )ade $p of at least 3- s%eets. olding
t%e pile in %alf and se!ing t%e s%eets toget%er prod$"ed a boo+ of abo$t 1@2 pages, !%i"%
!as finally pla"ed inside a leat%er "o(er. 0%e Gospel of Mary is a s%ort !or+, ta+ing $p
only t%e first 1-A pages of a "ode3 t%at itself is relati(ely s)all in si;e, %a(ing lea(es
t%at )eas$re on a(erage only abo$t 12.H ") long and 10.@ ") !ide.
!apyrus &ylands '() *!&yl+
0%is 1ree+ frag)ent of t%e Gospel of Mary !as a"#$ired by t%e Rylands Library
in 8an"%ester, 'ngland, in 1.1H, and p$blis%ed in 1.3- by C. 9. Roberts. Li+e PC3y
3@2@, it !as fo$nd at C3yr%yn"%$s in nort%ern 'gypt, and dates to t%e early t%ird "ent$ry
C'. :t is a frag)ent fro) a "ode3?it %as !riting on bot% sides of t%e papyr$s leaf?and
e3%ibits a (ery "lear literary s"ript. :t )eas$res -.H ") !ide by 10 ") long, alt%o$g%
)ost fibers )eas$re only -.@. "). 0%e front of t%e frag)ent "ontains t%e "on"l$sion of
8ary5s re(elation and t%e beginning of t%e dis"iples5 disp$te o(er %er tea"%ing. *fter a
s%ort gap, t%e disp$te "ontin$es on t%e ot%er side of t%e frag)ent and ends !it% Le(i
lea(ing to anno$n"e t%e good ne!s %GMary .J2.10JI6 10J/-1I). (See p%otos, pp. 1 and
3@.)
!apyrus ,%yrhynchus )-.- */,%y+
0%is tiny and se(erely da)aged papyr$s frag)ent of t%e Gospel of Mary in 1ree+
!as fo$nd d$ring e3"a(ations of t%e to!n of C3yr%yn"%$s, along t%e =ile in lo!er
(nort%ern) 'gypt. P$blis%ed in 1.-3 by P. 4. Parsons, it is no! %o$sed in t%e *s%)olean
Library at C3ford. :t dates to t%e early t%ird "ent$ry C'. 0%e frag)ent %as !riting on
only one side, indi"ating t%at it "a)e fro) a roll, not a "ode3 (boo+). ,e"a$se it !as
!ritten in a "$rsi(e 1ree+ s"ript $s$ally reser(ed for s$"% do"$)entary papyri as
b$siness do"$)ents and letters rat%er t%an literary te3ts, Parsons s$ggested t%at it !as t%e
!or+ of an a)ate$r. &%at re)ains is a (ery frag)entary frag)ent indeed. :t "ontains
appro3i)ately t!enty lines of !riting, none of t%e) "o)plete. 0%e papyr$s )eas$res
11.H ") long and is 11.I ") at its !idest point, b$t t%e top %alf is only abo$t I ") !ide.
0%e restoration is based largely on t%e parallel Copti" te3t. :t "ontains t%e Sa(ior5s
fare!ell, 8ary5s "o)forting of t%e ot%er dis"iples, Peter5s re#$est to 8ary to tea"%, and
t%e beginning of %er (ision %GMary IJ11-HJ3).
Excerpt from:
The Gospel of Mary of Magdala: Jesus and the First Woman Apostle
by Karen L. King (Polebridge Press, Santa Rosa, California, 2003), pp. 3-12
%The footnotes are not in!luded in this e'!erpt&
(") Karen L. King, 2003 *ll rig%ts reser(ed.

The Gospel According to Mary Magdalene
0The Gospel of Mary1
hapter !
%$ages ( to ) of the manus!ript, !ontaining !hapters ( * +, are lost. The e'tant
te't starts on page ,...&
. . . &ill )atter t%en be destroyed or not<
22) 0%e Sa(ior said, *ll nat$re, all for)ations, all "reat$res e3ist in and !it% one
anot%er, and t%ey !ill be resol(ed again into t%eir o!n roots.
23) or t%e nat$re of )atter is resol(ed into t%e roots of its o!n nat$re alone.
2I) 9e !%o %as ears to %ear, let %i) %ear.
2@) Peter said to %i), Sin"e yo$ %a(e e3plained e(eryt%ing to $s, tell $s t%is alsoJ
&%at is t%e sin of t%e !orld<
2/) 0%e Sa(ior said 0%ere is no sin, b$t it is yo$ !%o )a+e sin !%en yo$ do t%e
t%ings t%at are li+e t%e nat$re of ad$ltery, !%i"% is "alled sin.
2H) 0%at is !%y t%e 1ood "a)e into yo$r )idst, to t%e essen"e of e(ery nat$re in
order to restore it to its root.
2-) 0%en 9e "ontin$ed and said, 0%at is !%y yo$ be"o)e si"+ and die, for yo$
are depri(ed of t%e one !%o "an %eal yo$.
2.) 9e !%o %as a )ind to $nderstand, let %i) $nderstand.
30) 8atter ga(e birt% to a passion t%at %as no e#$al, !%i"% pro"eeded fro)
so)et%ing "ontrary to nat$re. 0%en t%ere arises a dist$rban"e in its !%ole body.
31) 0%at is !%y : said to yo$, ,e of good "o$rage, and if yo$ are dis"o$raged be
en"o$raged in t%e presen"e of t%e different for)s of nat$re.
32) 9e !%o %as ears to %ear, let %i) %ear.
33) &%en t%e ,lessed Cne %ad said t%is, 9e greeted t%e) all,saying, Pea"e be
!it% yo$. Re"ei(e )y pea"e $nto yo$rsel(es.
3I) ,e!are t%at no one lead yo$ astray saying Lo %ere or lo t%ereG or t%e Son of
8an is !it%in yo$.
3@) ollo! after 9i)G
3/) 0%ose !%o see+ 9i) !ill find 9i).
3H) 1o t%en and prea"% t%e gospel of t%e Kingdo).
3-) Do not lay do!n any r$les beyond !%at : appointed yo$, and do not gi(e a
la! li+e t%e la!gi(er lest yo$ be "onstrained by it.
3.) &%en 9e said t%is 9e departed.

hapter "
1) ,$t t%ey !ere grie(ed. 0%ey !ept greatly, saying, 9o! s%all !e go to t%e
1entiles and prea"% t%e gospel of t%e Kingdo) of t%e Son of 8an< :f t%ey did not spare
9i), %o! !ill t%ey spare $s<
2) 0%en 8ary stood $p, greeted t%e) all, and said to %er bret%ren, Do not !eep
and do not grie(e nor be irresol$te, for 9is gra"e !ill be entirely !it% yo$ and !ill
prote"t yo$.
3) ,$t rat%er, let $s praise 9is greatness, for 9e %as prepared $s and )ade $s into
8en.
I) &%en 8ary said t%is, s%e t$rned t%eir %earts to t%e 1ood, and t%ey began to
dis"$ss t%e !ords of t%e Sa(ior.
@) Peter said to 8ary, Sister !e +no! t%at t%e Sa(ior lo(ed yo$ )ore t%an t%e rest
of !o)an.
/) 0ell $s t%e !ords of t%e Sa(ior !%i"% yo$ re)e)ber !%i"% yo$ +no!, b$t !e
do not, nor %a(e !e %eard t%e).
H) 8ary ans!ered and said, &%at is %idden fro) yo$ : !ill pro"lai) to yo$.
-) *nd s%e began to spea+ to t%e) t%ese !ordsJ :, s%e said, : sa! t%e Lord in a
(ision and : said to 9i), Lord : sa! yo$ today in a (ision. 9e ans!ered and said to )e,
.) ,lessed are yo$ t%at yo$ did not !a(er at t%e sig%t of 8e. or !%ere t%e )ind
is t%ere is t%e treas$re.
10) : said to 9i), Lord, %o! does %e !%o sees t%e (ision see it, t%ro$g% t%e so$l
or t%ro$g% t%e spirit<
11) 0%e Sa(ior ans!ered and said, 9e does not see t%ro$g% t%e so$l nor t%ro$g%
t%e spirit, b$t t%e )ind t%at is bet!een t%e t!o t%at is !%at sees t%e (ision and it is K...L
%pages (( * (- are missing from the manus!ript&

hapter #:
. . . it.
10) *nd desire said, : did not see yo$ des"ending, b$t no! : see yo$ as"ending.
&%y do yo$ lie sin"e yo$ belong to )e<
11) 0%e so$l ans!ered and said, : sa! yo$. 2o$ did not see )e nor re"ogni;e )e.
: ser(ed yo$ as a gar)ent and yo$ did not +no! )e.
12) &%en it said t%is, it (t%e so$l) !ent a!ay re7oi"ing greatly.
13) *gain it "a)e to t%e t%ird po!er, !%i"% is "alled ignoran"e.
1I) 0%e po!er #$estioned t%e so$l, saying, &%ere are yo$ going< :n !i"+edness
are yo$ bo$nd. ,$t yo$ are bo$nd6 do not 7$dgeG
1@) *nd t%e so$l said, &%y do yo$ 7$dge )e, alt%o$g% : %a(e not 7$dged<
1/) : !as bo$nd, t%o$g% : %a(e not bo$nd.
1H) : !as not re"ogni;ed. ,$t : %a(e re"ogni;ed t%at t%e *ll is being dissol(ed,
bot% t%e eart%ly t%ings and t%e %ea(enly.
1-) &%en t%e so$l %ad o(er"o)e t%e t%ird po!er, it !ent $p!ards and sa! t%e
fo$rt% po!er, !%i"% too+ se(en for)s.
1.) 0%e first for) is dar+ness, t%e se"ond desire, t%e t%ird ignoran"e, t%e fo$rt% is
t%e e3"ite)ent of deat%, t%e fift% is t%e +ingdo) of t%e fles%, t%e si3t% is t%e foolis%
!isdo) of fles%, t%e se(ent% is t%e !rat%f$l !isdo). 0%ese are t%e se(en po!ers of
!rat%.
20) 0%ey as+ed t%e so$l, &%en"e do yo$ "o)e slayer of )en, or !%ere are yo$
going, "on#$eror of spa"e<
21) 0%e so$l ans!ered and said, &%at binds )e %as been slain, and !%at t$rns )e
abo$t %as been o(er"o)e,
22) and )y desire %as been ended, and ignoran"e %as died.
23) :n a aeon : !as released fro) a !orld, and in a 0ype fro) a type, and fro)
t%e fetter of obli(ion !%i"% is transient.
2I) ro) t%is ti)e on !ill : attain to t%e rest of t%e ti)e, of t%e season, of t%e
aeon, in silen"e.

hapter $
1) &%en 8ary %ad said t%is, s%e fell silent, sin"e it !as to t%is point t%at t%e
Sa(ior %ad spo+en !it% %er.
2) ,$t *ndre! ans!ered and said to t%e bret%ren, Say !%at yo$ !is% to say abo$t
!%at s%e %as said. : at least do not belie(e t%at t%e Sa(ior said t%is. or "ertainly t%ese
tea"%ings are strange ideas.
3) Peter ans!ered and spo+e "on"erning t%ese sa)e t%ings.
I) 9e #$estioned t%e) abo$t t%e Sa(iorJ Did 9e really spea+ pri(ately !it% a
!o)an and not openly to $s< *re !e to t$rn abo$t and all listen to %er< Did 9e prefer %er
to $s<
@) 0%en 8ary !ept and said to Peter, 8y brot%er Peter, !%at do yo$ t%in+< Do
yo$ t%in+ t%at : %a(e t%o$g%t t%is $p )yself in )y %eart, or t%at : a) lying abo$t t%e
Sa(ior<
/) Le(i ans!ered and said to Peter, Peter yo$ %a(e al!ays been %ot te)pered.
H) =o! : see yo$ "ontending against t%e !o)an li+e t%e ad(ersaries.
-) ,$t if t%e Sa(ior )ade %er !ort%y, !%o are yo$ indeed to re7e"t %er< S$rely t%e
Sa(ior +no!s %er (ery !ell.
.) 0%at is !%y 9e lo(ed %er )ore t%an $s. Rat%er let $s be as%a)ed and p$t on
t%e perfe"t 8an, and separate as 9e "o))anded $s and prea"% t%e gospel, not laying
do!n any ot%er r$le or ot%er la! beyond !%at t%e Sa(ior said.
10) *nd !%en t%ey %eard t%is t%ey began to go fort% to pro"lai) and to prea"%.