Jesus, His Mother, Her Sister Mary and Mary Magdalene: The Gnostic Background to the Gospel of John - Paperback

by Robert Grotty (Author)

The Gospel of John has always been difficult to interpret: it has proved enigmatic and even opaque. This book demonstrates that the present text has followed a long and tortuous journey from Jewish Gnosticism to Christian Gnosticism and into Roman Christianity. The result is a surprising re-reading both of the earlier versions of the text and the editing done by the Roman Christians. It throws light on a different Jesus to the canonical one, a different Mother, a different Sister Mary and a different Mary Magdalene who was called the Beloved Disciple in the gospel text. 'This book is a bold, brilliant unearthing of the religious roots of the Gospel of John' - Dr Norman Habel, Editor of 'The Earth Bible' Project. 'Robert Crotty applies a lifetime of acclaimed scholarship to the historical and literary foundations of the Hebrew and Christian scriptures. His exciting insights into the Gnostic foundations of the Gospel of John are ground-breaking and will lead the way in New Testament scholarship' - Dr Lorraine Parkinson, Vice-President of the Progressive Christian Network of Victoria.

Author Biography

Emeritus Professor Robert Crotty, STL (Rome), SSL (Rome), MA (Melbourne), PhD (Adelaide), Elève Titulaire de l'Ecole Biblique (Jerusalem), has studied history, Christian theology, biblical studies and education in Australia, Rome and Jerusalem. He became the Professor of Religion and Education at the University of South Australia and is at present an Emeritus Professor at the same University. He had written over thirty books on religious and related topics.