The Gospels of the Marginalized

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.In this new book Marvin Meyer displays two sides of his rare and peculiar genius: competence and creativity. Few scholars have a grasp of the technical challenges posed by these gospels equal to Meyer's, and fewer still would dare to bring that expertise to bear on a project that is part scholarship and part creative fiction. For anyone ready to re-imagine the beginnings of Christianity, The Gospels of the Marginalized will offer a feast of delights.--Stephen J. Patterson, Professor of Religious and Ethical Studies, Willamette UniversityMarvin Meyer (1948-2012) was Griset Professor of Bible and Christian Studies at Chapman University and Director of the Chapman University Albert Schweitzer Institute. Among his books are The Gospel of Judas: On a Night with Judas Iscariot (Cascade Books), The Gospels of Mary: The Secret Tradition of Mary Magdalene, the Companion of Jesus, and The Gospel of Thomas: The Hidden Sayings of Jesus.