Peter, Paul, and Mary Magdalene Audiobook By Bart D. Ehrman cover art

Peter, Paul, and Mary Magdalene

The Followers of Jesus in History and Legend

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Peter, Paul, and Mary Magdalene

By: Bart D. Ehrman
Narrated by: Grover Gardner
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Bart Ehrman, author of the best sellers Misquoting Jesus and Truth and Fiction in The Da Vinci Code, here takes listeners on another engaging tour of the early Christian church, illuminating the lives of three of Jesus' most intriguing followers: Simon Peter, Paul of Tarsus, and Mary Magdalene.

What do the writings of the New Testament tell us about each of these key followers of Christ? What legends have sprung up about them in the centuries after their deaths? Was Paul bow-legged and bald? Was Peter crucified upside down? Was Mary Magdalene a prostitute? In this lively work, Ehrman separates fact from fiction, presenting complicated historical issues in a clear and informative way and relating vivid anecdotes culled from the traditions of these three followers. He notes, for instance, that historians are able to say with virtual certainty that Mary, the follower of Jesus, was from the fishing village of Magdala on the shore of the Sea of Galilee; but there is no evidence to suggest that she was a prostitute, and little reason to think that she was married to Jesus.

Vibrantly written and leavened with many colorful stories, Peter, Paul, and Mary Magdalene will appeal to anyone curious about the early Christian church and the lives of these important figures.

©2006 Bart D. Ehrman (P)2006 Tantor Media, Inc. Christianity Ministry & Evangelism Tradition Bible Legends

Critic reviews

"Uncompromising in its scholarship yet utterly engaging." (Publishers Weekly)
"Terrific....Ehrman presents his case clearly and succinctly." (Publishers Weekly)
Scholarly Research • Historical Context • Great Narrator • Freeing Perspective • Entertaining Storytelling • Witty Tone
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This book will be good for those who do not already have an in depth knowledge of the Bible. However, if you have studied the Bible in detail this will be a real waste of your time. If you have a degree in religious studies or have been to seminary, don't waste your money.

Limited audience

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I love the writing of this american theologian. He frequently uses a witty tone to lighten what could be heavy material. He is able to present a wealth of information in a scholarly fashion and yet he never makes you feel you are listening to a lecture. It always seems more like a good story. I'm looking forward to his next book.

another Ehrman gem

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If this is your first book with Dr. Ehrman, you are in for a treat. If not, there’s a fair amount of material you have already heard. There is even a curious repetition in different chapters within this book. The narrator does a great job but pronounces words differently than Dr. Ehrman, which can be distracting for those who know his Great Courses work. Nevertheless, it’s a great and deep academic dive into early Christianity’s biggest figures.

Great but Repetitive

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As Usual, Ehrman offers exceptional scholarship on historical Christianity and Early Christian ideas. This book is clearly more oriented to general readership, but it still thoroughly investigates these three early apostles. With thought provoking scholarly inquiry with many references to historical documents and scripture

As Usual, Ehrman illuminates

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The Jesus Professor dud it again. Kudos on such an accurate and amazing account! I'm definitely going to keep this in my library for future lessons and references!

Excellent history and proofs

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The bible comes alive when you can take all of the different religions out of it and really look at the books. This is a great listen, be prepared to learn.

The real deal

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Many questions were raised, but not answered nor addressed, in the sense of the character of the person in question. Jesus could never have an earthly relationship with Mary or anyone, because it's not his ministry nor in his character to do so.

Varieties of opinions

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I especially like the the parts outlining the conflicts between Peter and Mary and how history probably was changed by a male dominated culture.

Most interesting are some of many details about Peter, Paul, and Mary I was previously not award of.

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After listening to "Misquoting Jesus" (by the same author), I decided to get this audiobook. Much to my disappointment, Mr. Ehrman repeats basically everything he said in that book literally word by word! He did not even bother re-phrasing his ideas; it feels like a "cut & paste" job...

He does, however, give some new information on the lives and works of Peter and Paul but sometimes he is so "re-iterative" (i.e repetitive) that one feels compelled to skip entire chapters.

Now, regarding Mary Magdalene, he basically focuses not on WHO she was but on who she was NOT. He actually spends more time in describing the beliefs and practices of the various forms of early christianity than in describing the Magdalene herself.

His conclusion is somehow contradictory for on the one hand he claims that, since the Gospels speak so little about her, she must have been someone who bore little importance in Jesus's life and ministry; or at least not more than any of the other women that are also mentioned in the New Testament.

But on the other hand, he claims that had it not been for the Magdalene's discovery of Jesus's empty tomb, Christianity might have evolved very differently, for she was the one who encouraged the Apostles to start spreading the Good News after she had witnessed the miraculous resurrection of her Lord.

In conclusion, if you have already read "Misquoting Jesus", you do not need to buy this book, unless you want a more specific focus on the lives and works of Peter and Paul. But if what you want instead is more information about the Magdalene, then look elsewhere...

A re-write of "Misquoting Jesus"

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Presents a logical development of Christianity outside of the "magic" view. Like all religion a need that developed into an answer. Which also best out the alternative answers proposed by fellow human thinkers.

Serious look at our "Christian" beliefs

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