The Gospels of the Marginalized: The Redemption of Doubting Thomas, Mary Magdalene, and Judas Iscariot in Early Christian Literature

Description

The Gospels of the Marginalized provides an exciting new study of three of the most maligned figures in the New Testament story of Jesus: Thomas, usually considered the quintessential doubter among the disciples; Mary Magdalene, characterized as a repentant prostitute during much of the history of the church; and Judas Iscariot, presented as the despicable disciple of Jesus who betrayed his master for money. In this book Marvin Meyer, one of the most prominent of the scholars of gnostic texts and other early Christian literature, offers fresh and accurate translations of the Gospels of Thomas, Mary, and Judas, with their proclamation of the good news of the wisdom of Jesus, and he uses these gospels as the occasion to reexamine the place of Thomas, Mary Magdalene, and Judas Iscariot in the Jesus movement. His striking analysis suggests that Thomas was no doubter, that Mary Magdalene was a beloved disciple in the inner circles of disciples around Jesus, and that the tale of Judas Iscariot as betrayer of Jesus is a piece of fiction. Meyer adds a "Gospel of the Redeemed" as a vivid illustration of how the gospel story of Jesus might read with Jesus as a Jewish teacher of wisdom and Thomas, Mary, and Judas restored as loyal followers of the teacher from Nazareth. CONTENTS Preface 1 Introduction 2 Thomas Introduction Translation: The Gospel of Thomas Translation: The Greek Gospel of Thomas Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 654 Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 655 Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 1 Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 655 Hippolytus of Rome, Refutation of All Heresies 5.7.20 Hippolytus of Rome, Refutation of All Heresies 5.8.32 Endnotes 3 Mary Magdalene Translation: The Gospel of Mary Endnotes 4 Judas Iscariot Translation: The Gospel of Judas Endnotes 5 Epilogue: Gospel of the Redeemed—Draft Chapters in a Gospel of Wisdom, with Restored Disciples Translation: Gospel of the Redeemed Endnotes Bibliography Index of Ancient Documents