Peter, Paul, and Mary Magdalene The Followers of Jesus in History and Legend

by Ehrman, Bart D.

• ISBN13: 9780195300130
• ISBN10: 0195300130
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-05-01
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Bart Ehrman, author of the highly popular Truth and Fiction in The Da Vinci Code and Lost Christianities, here takes readers on another engaging tour of the early Christian church, illuminating the lives of three of Jesus' most intriguing followers: Simon Peter, Paul of Tarsus, and MaryMagdalene. What do the writings of the New Testament tell us about each of these key followers of Christ? What legends have sprung up about them in the centuries after their deaths? Was Paul bow-legged and bald? Was Peter crucified upside down? Was Mary Magdalene a prostitute? In this lively work,Ehrman separates fact from fiction, presenting complicated historical issues in a clear and informative way and relating vivid anecdotes culled from the traditions of these three followers. He notes, for instance, that historians are able to say with virtual certainty that Mary, the follower ofJesus, was from the fishing village of Magdala on the shore of the Sea of Galilee (this is confirmed by her name, Mary Magdalene, reported in numerous independent sources); but there is no evidence to suggest that she was a prostitute (this legend can be traced to a sermon preached by Gregory theGreat five centuries after her death), and little reason to think that she was married to Jesus. Similarly, there is no historical evidence for the well-known tale that Peter was crucified upside down. Ehrman also argues that the stories of Paul's miracle working powers as an apostle are legendaryaccounts that celebrate his importance. A serious book but vibrantly written and leavened with many colorful stories, Peter, Paul, and Mary Magdalene will appeal to anyone curious about the early Christian church and the lives of these important figures.

Author Biography

Bart Ehrman chairs the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. One of the major public experts on early Christianity, Jesus, and the New Testament, he is very well known in his field and to a general audience through his books Lost Christianities, Lost Scriptures, and Truth and Fiction in The Da Vinci Code. He has appeared on A&E, the History Channel, CNN, and other TV and radio shows, and has taped several highly popular lecture series for "TheTeaching Company."

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Introduction	xi
PART ONE: Simon Peter
The Quarry: Our Sources for Peter the Rock	3	(11)
Peter: Solid Rock or Shifting Sand?	14	(10)
The Rocky Beginning	24	(15)
Peter at the Passion	39	(19)
On This Rock I Will Build My Church	58	(15)
Peter: Christian Author and Martyr	73	(16)
PART TWO: The Apostle Paul
The Apostle Paul: Polling Our Sources	89	(12)
Paul the Convert	101	(21)
Paul the Apostle	122	(19)
Paul's Proclamation According to Later Sources	141	(12)
Paul's Impassioned Allies	153	(11)
Paul's Embittered Enemies	164	(15)
PART THREE: Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene in Popular Culture and History	179	(14)
Mary During the Ministry of Jesus	193	(13)
Jesus and Mary in Conversation	206	(11)
Mary at the Passion	217	(13)
Mary and Her Revelations	230	(17)
Mary: The Residual Questions	247	(10)
Conclusion: Peter, Paul, and Mary in Perspective	257	(4)
Notes	261	(12)
Credits and Permissions	273	(2)
Index	275