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.
"An informed
but breezy look at the myths surrounding Jesus' most
influential followers.... This book contains valuable
historical scholarship. It also encourages readers to
approach the Scriptures with fresh and enlightened
eyes." —Christian Science Monitor
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