The Three Named Mary

       More Letters From Paradise
         The Three Named Mary
It was recently reported in the news, that the ancient Coptic fragment telling that Jesus had a wife, was genuine. The fragment had been found some 14 years earlier.

Biblical scholars and students of theology had long suspected that this was true. The source of their information came from the Gnostic gospels. These were other Christian writings that failed to make the cut. In other words, there are other Gospels besides the four in the Christian Bible. They provide a rich treasury of information abut Jesus, and the life and times of that era.

When the Roman Emperor Constantine became Christian, he called for a meeting to decide what Christian writings would be the canon scripture for the Catholic Church. The Council of Nicaea then decided which gospels were in, and what gospels were excluded. The four Gospels we are familiar with in the Bible made the cut, all the others were attacked. But, some of them survived.

These surviving gospels have some interesting information. For instance ;
The lord loved Mary more than all the disciples, and often used to kiss her on the mouth. When the others saw how he loved Mary, they said "Why do you love her more than you love us?" the savior answered them in this way "How can it be that I do not love you as much as I love her?"
    Gospel of Philip 59.9

And also in another writing..
Three women always used to walk with the Lord--Mary, his mother; Mary, his sister; and the Mary Magdalene, who is called his partner.
                   Philip 60:8
We should also note that the idea that Mary Magdelene was a prostitute is clearly false. There is no direct reference anywhere in the Gospels that she was a prostitute. Her identification comes from Homily 33 of Pope Gregory I in 591, who told the faithful that she was to be seen as a penitent whore. And so, the tradition continues in our Bibles.

Some scholars write that it was expected for a Jewish male to marry. They had to be married to teach in synagogues. Not to marry was being disobedient to God.

There is much to be seen in the Gnostic Gospels. I would mention the Gospel of Philip, Peter, Bartholomew, Thomas, and Mary. The Gospel of Mary was unknown for centuries. There is much to learn and understand from these writings that failed to make the cut.

         Aloha
         Grant