Nag Hammadi - The Gospel of Mary
THE GOSPEL OF MARY (BG 8502, 1)
Introduced and translated by GEORGE W. MACRAE and R. MCL. WILSON
Edited by DOUGLAS M. PARROTT
The Gospel of Mary is the first of the four tractates found in the Berlin Gnostic Codex. Although the date of composition is unknown, the Coptic manuscript itself has been dated to the early fifth century, and a Greek fragment of this gospel to the early third century.
The text can easily be divided into two distinct parts. The first part opens with a familiar scene in Gnostic literature: the resurrected Christ in dialogue with his disciples, who raise questions for him to answer. The disciples grieve at his departure, and at the awesome task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles; but Mary strengthens them with the message that his grace will remain and give protection. Peter then asks Mary to tell the group of disciples the Savior’s words which she alone knows. Here begins the second part of the Gospel of Mary : Mary relates a vision of the Lord, and describes a revelation of the ascending soul being interrogated by the powers. When she finishes her speech (from which, unfortunately, four pages are missing), some of the disciples react with disbelief and hostility; but Levi reminds them that the Savior made Mary worthy, knows her well, and in fact loved her more than the disciples. With this rebuke they adjourn, going forth to preach.
THE GOSPEL OF MARY
BG 7, 1-19, 5
[. . .] (pp. 1-6 missing) will matter then be [destroyed] or not?” The Savior said, “All natures, all formations, all creatures exist in and with one another, 5 and they will be resolved again into their own roots. For the nature of matter is resolved into (the roots of) its nature alone. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” 10
Peter said to him, “Since you have explained everything to us, tell us this also: What is the sin of the world?” The Savior said, “There is no sin, but it is you who make sin when 15 you do the things that are like the nature of adultery, which is called ‘sin.’ That is why the Good came into your midst, to the essence of every nature, in order to restore it 20 to its root.” Then he continued and said, “That is why you [become sick] and die, for [. . .] 8 of the one who [. . . . He who] understands, let him understand. [Matter gave birth to] a passion that has no equal, which proceeded from (something) contrary to nature. 5 Then there arises a disturbance in the whole body. That is why I said to you, ‘Be of good courage,’ and if you are discouraged (be) encouraged in the presence of the different forms 10 of nature. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
When the blessed one had said this, he greeted them all, saying, “Peace be with you. Receive 15 my peace to yourselves. Beware that no one lead you astray, saying, ‘Lo here!’ or ‘Lo there!’ For the Son of Man is within you. Follow 20 after him! Those who seek him will find him. Go then and preach the gospel of the kingdom. Do not 9 lay down any rules beyond what I appointed for you, and do not give a law like the lawgiver lest you be constrained by it.” 5 When he had said this, he departed.
But they were grieved. They wept greatly, saying, “How shall we go to the Gentiles and preach the gospel of the kingdom of the Son 10 of Man? If they did not spare him, how will they spare us?” Then Mary stood up, greeted them all, and said to her brethren, “Do not weep 15 and do not grieve nor be irresolute, for his grace will be entirely with you and will protect you. But rather let us praise his greatness, for he has 20 prepared us (and) made us into men.” When Mary said this, she turned their hearts to the Good, and they began to discuss the words of the [Savior]. 10
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 which you 5 remember—which you know (but) we do not nor have we heard them.” Mary answered and said, “What is hidden from you I will proclaim to you.” And she began to speak to them 10 these words: “I,” she said, “I saw the Lord in a vision and I said to him, ‘Lord, I saw you today in a vision.’ He answered and said to me, ‘Blessed are you, that you did not waver 15 at the sight of me. For where the mind is, there is the treasure.’ I said to him, ‘Lord, now does he who sees the vision see it ⟨through⟩ the soul ⟨or⟩ through the spirit?’ The Savior answered and 20 said, ‘He does not see through the soul nor through the spirit, but the mind which [is] between the two—that is [what] sees the vision and it is [. . .].’ (pp. 11-14 missing)
“[. . .] 15 it. And desire said, ‘I did not see you descending, but now I see you ascending. Why do you lie, since you belong to 5 me?’ The soul answered and said, ‘I saw you. You did not see me nor recognize me. I served you as a garment, and you did not know me.’ When it had said this, it went away rejoicing 10 greatly.
“Again it came to the third power, which is called ignorance. [It (the power)] questioned the soul, saying, ‘Where are you going? In 15 wickedness are you bound. But you are bound; do not judge!’ And the soul said, ‘Why do you judge me, although I have not judged? I was bound, though I have not bound. I was not 20 recognized. But I have recognized that the All is being dissolved, both the earthly (things) 16 and the heavenly.’
“When the soul had overcome the third power, it went upwards and saw the fourth power, (which) took 5 seven forms. The first form is darkness, the second desire, the third ignorance, the fourth is the excitement of death, the fifth is the kingdom of the flesh, 10 the sixth is the foolish wisdom of flesh, the seventh is the wrathful wisdom. These are the seven [powers] of wrath. They ask the soul, ‘Whence do you come, 15 slayer of men, or where are you going, conqueror of space?’ The soul answered and said, ‘What binds me has been slain, and what turns me about has been overcome, and my desire 20 has been ended, and ignorance has died. In a [world] I was released 17 from a world, [and] in a type from a heavenly type, and (from) the fetter of oblivion which is transient. From this time on 5 will I attain to the rest of the time, of the season, of the aeon, in silence.’”
When Mary had said this, she fell silent, since it was to this point that the Savior had spoken with her. 10 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 15 are strange ideas.” Peter answered and spoke concerning these same things. He questioned them about the Savior: “Did he really speak privately with a woman 20 (and) not openly to us? Are we to turn about and all listen to her? Did he prefer her to us?” 18
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 5 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 10 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 15 than us. Rather let us be ashamed and put on the perfect man, and separate as he commanded us and preach the gospel, not laying down 20 any other rule or other law beyond what the Savior said.” When 19 [. . .] and they began to go forth [to] proclaim and to preach.
[The] Gospel
According to 5
Mary
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