Canon Status
Not canonical in any tradition. Gnostic in orientation.
Date & Provenance
Composed in Greek in the 2nd century CE.
Language & Manuscripts
Coptic text in Papyrus Berolinensis 8502 (5th c.). Greek fragments from Oxyrhynchus (P. Oxy. 3525, 3rd c.).
Why It Matters for Study
Presents Mary Magdalene as a visionary leader and recipient of secret teachings. Important for understanding the role of women in early Christianity and the diversity of early Christian traditions.
" Will matter then be destroyed or not? The Savior said, All nature, all formations, all creatures exist in and with one another." — Gospel of Mary 6:1
Read the Text & External Resources
Public-domain translations and scholarly databases where the text can be read online or downloaded.
- The Gospel of Mary — Gnostic Society Full translation with introduction.
- Early Christian Writings — Gospel of Mary Indexed text and scholarly resources.
External links open in a new tab. Sources are chosen for public-domain or open-access availability; always verify edition and translation when citing in academic work.
Further Reading
King, K. L. The Gospel of Mary of Magdala. Polebridge Press, 2003.
Robinson, J. M., ed. The Nag Hammadi Library in English. Harper & Row, 1988.
Tuckett, C. The Gospel of Mary. Oxford University Press, 2007.