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Peter, Paul, and Mary Magdalene: The Followers of Jesus in History and Legend (2006) is a book by Bart D. Ehrman.

Abstract

<Bart Ehrman, author of the highly popular books Truth and Fiction in The Da Vinci Code, Lost Christianities, and the New York Times bestseller Misquoting Jesus, here takes readers on another engaging tour of the early Christian church, illuminating the lives of Jesus' most intriguing followers: Simon Peter, the Apostle Paul, and Mary Magdalene. What does the Bible 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 there is no evidence to suggest that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute (this legend can be traced to a sermon preached by Gregory the Great five centuries after her death), and little reason to think that she was married to Jesus. Similarly, there is no historical evidence for the well-known tale that Peter was crucified upside down. A serious book but 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.>--Publisher description.

Editions

Published in Oxford [England] and New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2006.

Translations

• Simón Pedro, Pablo de Tarso y María Magdalena = Peter, Paul, and Mary Magdalene (2007 Ehrman / Noriega), book (Spanish ed.)

• Pietro, Paolo e Maria Maddalena = Peter, Paul, and Mary Magdalene (2008 Ehrman / Valdré), book (Italian ed.)

• Петр, Павел и Мария Магдалина = Peter, Paul, and Mary Magdalene (2009 Ehrman), book (Russian ed.)

• Naśladowcy Jezusa = Peter, Paul, and Mary Magdalene (2010 Ehrman / Hejmej), book (Polish ed.)

Table of contents

• Introduction
• Part 1: Simon Peter
  • 1: Quarry: our sources for Peter the rock
  • 2: Peter: solid rock or shifting sand?
  • 3: Rocky beginning
  • 4: Peter at the Passion
  • 5: On this rock I will build my church
  • 6: Peter: Christian author and martyr
• Part 2: Apostle Paul
  • 7: Apostle Paul: polling our sources
  • 8: Paul the convert
  • 9: Paul the apostle
  • 10: Paul's proclamation according to later sources
  • 11: Paul's impassioned allies
  • 12: Paul's embittered enemies
• Part 3: Mary Magdalene
  • 13: Mary Magdalene in popular culture and history
  • 14: Mary during the ministry of Jesus
  • 15: Jesus and Mary in conversation
  • 16: Mary at the Passion
  • 17: Mary and her revelations
  • 18: Mary: the residual questions
• Conclusion: Peter, Paul, and Mary in perspective

External links

• WorldCat -- Google Books