Summary of Cynthia Bourgeault's The Meaning of Mary Magdalene

By IRB Media

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Book Preview:

#1 The current Mary Magdalene craze has been fueled by the recovery of the so-called gnostic gospels, which detail the life of Mary Magdalene. But in no way do they contradict the picture already available in the canonical gospels.

#2 The story of Mary Magdalene is rich in symbolism, and it is up to us as Christians to decipher what it all means. We will start by looking at what the four canonical gospels have to say about her, and then we will see what makes sense.

#3 The Gospel of John mentions that Mary Magdalene was the first person to see Jesus after his resurrection. She was also the one who commissioned the other women to announce the good news of the resurrection.

#4 The four gospels mention Mary Magdalene by name as the first witness to the resurrection, and all four gospels portray her in the role of apostle to the apostles. In two of the four gospels, this is a charge to which she is specifically commissioned by Jesus himself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IRB Media
• Release date: Aug 3, 2022
• ISBN: 9798822563438

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Insights on Cynthia Bourgeault's The Meaning of Mary Magdalene

Contents

Insights from Chapter 1

Insights from Chapter 2

Insights from Chapter 3

Insights from Chapter 1

#1

The current Mary Magdalene craze has been fueled by the recovery of the so-called gnostic gospels, which detail the life of Mary Magdalene. But in no way do they contradict the picture already available in the canonical gospels.

#2

The story of Mary Magdalene is rich in symbolism, and it is up to us as Christians to decipher what it all means. We will start by looking at what the four canonical gospels have to say about her, and then we will see what makes sense.

#3

The Gospel of John mentions that Mary Magdalene was the first person to see Jesus after his resurrection. She was also the one who commissioned the other women to announce the good news of the resurrection.

#4

The four gospels mention Mary Magdalene by name as the first witness to the resurrection, and all four gospels portray her in the role of apostle to the apostles. In two of the four gospels, this is a charge to which she is specifically commissioned by Jesus himself.

#5

The four gospels mention Mary Magdalene as a witness to the burial of Jesus. She was always accompanied by at least one other of the group of holy women. She was not mentioned by name in any of the accounts, but she was a member of the delegation.

#6

The four gospels mention Mary Magdalene being present at the crucifixion. She was either present from a distance or at the foot of the cross, together with Mary, Jesus’s mother, and Mary, the wife of Cleophas.

#7

The passage that mentions Mary Magdalene’s former demon possession is only found in Luke. It reads: Jesus walked through towns and countryside, preaching and giving the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve followed him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and diseases: Mary called Magdalene who had been freed of seven demons.

#8

The idea that Jesus had an inner circle and an outer circle, with the inner circle open only