Lectures - The Gnostic Mary Magdalene

Mary Magdalene appears in the New Testament gospels as one of Jesus’ close followers—named among the women who provided financial support for his ministry, witnessed his crucifixion, and were the first to proclaim his resurrection. Over time, however, her image became a site of theological imagination, speculation, and reinterpretation. In this lecture, John Hamer of Toronto Centre Place explores how Mary Magdalene was portrayed by Gnostic and other early Christian communities outside the emerging orthodoxy. In texts like the Gospel of Mary, the Dialogue of the Savior, and the Gospel of Thomas, Mary is depicted as a bearer of secret knowledge and a spiritual interlocutor who challenges the authority of male apostles. These writings reflect alternative theological frameworks in which salvation came through inner revelation rather than institutional authority. Join the livestream to participate in the discussion and to ask questions to our lecturer during the Q&A. 📚 Browse our catalogue of free lectures at https://www.centreplace.ca/lectures Your generous support allows us to offer these lectures at no cost. Please consider a making donation (tax deductible in the US and Canada): ❤️ https://www.centreplace.ca/donate ️ #lecture #christianity #judaism #bible #biblestudy