Subject: Re: Mary Magdalene: Author of the Fourth Gospel?
Date: Sat, 30 Jan 1999 01:09:59 GMT
From:  (Nigel B. Mitchell)
Newsgroups: aus.religion.christian

This idea has been around for a very long time. It is possible, 
but unlikely, that Mary Magdalene was the author of the last
gospel. The fact is, no-one can be entirely certain who wrote any
of the Gospels. The names we traditionally attribute to them are
based on late second- century writings of Irenaeus and others.

Most scholars consider the fourth Gospel to be the product of a
commmunity of Christians in Greece late in the first century or
early in the second. It is possible that this community was
founded by John the Apostle, and it may have included both Mary
Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus as well, and therefore may
reflect their recolections of Jesus as well.

Annotated bibles, encyclopedias (both secular and religious), New
Testament 'introductions' and commentaries on the Gospels will
all contain a discussion of the authorship issue. It is an
important matter for scholarship, and of interest to all people,
but what matters more for most Christians is that the Gospels
were inspired by God, and written and authorised by the Church.
In other words, the content matters more than the authorship. If
Mary Magdalene did write the fourth Gospel, it should not make
any difference to our Christian faith.

Cheers

N+

Nigel B. Mitchell