The Gospel of Thomas (Early 2nd Century?)
(114) Simon Peter said to them, ‘Let Mary leave
us, for women are not worthy of life.’
Jesus said ‘I myself shall lead her in order to
make her male, so that she too may become a living spirit resembling you
males. For every woman who makes herself male will enter the kingdom of
heaven.’
The Gospel of Mary (2nd Century?)
Peter said to Mary, ‘Sister, we know that the Savior loved you more than the rest of women. Tell us the words of the Savior that you remember – which you know (but) we do not, nor have we heard them.’ Mary answered and said, ‘What is hidden to you I will proclaim to you.’ And she began to speak to them these words …
…When Mary had said this, she
fell silent, since it was to this point that the Savior had spoken with
her. But Andrew answered and said to the brethren, ‘Say what you (wish
to) say about what she has said. I at least do not believe that the
Savior said this. For certainly these teachings are strange ideas. Peter
answered and spoke concerning these things. He questioned them about
the Savior: ‘Did he really speak with a woman without our knowledge
(and) not openly? Are we to turn about and all listen to her? Did he
prefer her to us?’
Then Mary wept and
said to Peter, ‘My brother Peter, what do you think? Do you think that I
thought this up myself in my heart, or that I am lying about the
Savior?’ Levi answered and said to Peter, ‘Peter you have always been
hot-tempered. Now I see you contending against the woman like the
adversaries. But if the Savior made her worthy, who are you indeed to
reject her? Surely the Savior knows her very well. That is why he loved
her more than us. Rather let us be ashamed and put on the perfect man
and acquire him for ourselves as he commanded us, and preach the gospel,
not laying down any other rule or other law beyond what the Savior
said.’
The Gospel of Philip (3rd Century):
And the companion of the […] Mary
Magdalene. […loved] her more than [all] the disciples [and used to] kiss
her [often] on her […] The rest [of the disciples …] They said to him
‘Why do you love her more than all of us?’ The savior answered and said
to them ‘Why do I not love you like her? When a blind man and one who
sees are both together in darkness, they are no different from one
another. When the light comes, then he who sees will see the light, and
he who is blind will remain in darkness.
(Words in brackets are the translator’s guess. Elsewhere in the Gospel of Philip, ritual significance is attached to kissing on the mouth).
Translations
from Robinson (ed.) The Nag Hammadi Library (San Francisco:
Harper, 1988). Approximate dates from Ehrman, Lost Christianities:
The Battles For Scripture and the Faiths We Never Knew (New York:
Oxford University Press, 2003)
‘Pistis Sophia’ i.e. Faith Wisdom.
This text is not from Nag Hammadi. It was acquired by the British Museum in 1795. Ehrman does not include it in his chronology of writings, but every source that I have consulted states that it dates from the 3rd Century.
Chapter 36:
It happened now, when Jesus finished saying these words to his disciples, he said: "Do you understand in what manner I am speaking with you?" Peter leapt forward, he said to Jesus : "My Lord, we are not able to suffer this woman who takes the opportunity from us, and does not allow anyone of us to speak, but she speaks many times." Jesus answered, he said to his disciples : "Let him in whom the power of his Spirit has welled up so that he understands what I say, come forward and speak. Nevertheless, thou Peter, I see thy power within thee understands the interpretation of the mystery of the repentance which the Pistis Sophia spoke. Now at this time do thou, Peter, speak the thought of her repentance in the midst of thy brethren."
http://gnosis.org/library/psoph1.htm
Chapter 72:
Now it happened when the First Mystery finished saying these words to the disciples, Mary came forward. She said: "My Lord, my mind is understanding at all times that I should come forward at any time and give the interpretation of the words which she spoke, but I am afraid of Peter, for he threatens me and he hates our race."
http://www.pseudepigrapha.com/PistisSophia/pistisSophia_Book2.html
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