Marvin Meyer

Marvin Meyer is a scholar of religion and a tenured professor at Chapman University, in Orange, California.

He is most known for his translations of the texts of documents associated with the ancient mystery religions, early Christian magic, and, Gnostic texts, of which the most notable have been the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Judas.

Dr. Marvin Meyer (Ph.D., Claremont Graduate University; M.Div., Calvin Theological Seminary) is Griset Professor of Bible and Christian Studies and Co-Chair of the Department of Religious Studies, Chapman University. He is also Director of the Chapman University Albert Schweitzer Institute. Recently he has served as Chair of the Chapman University Faculty and President of the Faculty Senate. He is Director of the Coptic Magical Texts Project of the Institute for Antiquity and Christianity, Claremont Graduate University, Fellow of the Jesus Seminar, and a past President of the Society of Biblical Literature (Pacific Coast).

Dr. Meyer is the author of numerous books and articles on Greco-Roman and Christian religions in antiquity and late antiquity, and on Albert Schweitzer's ethic of reverence for life. Among his most recent books are The Gnostic Gospels of Jesus (HarperCollins, 2005), The Gospels of Mary (HarperCollins, 2004), Secret Gospels: Essays on Thomas and the Secret Gospel of Mark (Trinity Press International, 2003), The Ancient Mysteries: A Sourcebook of Sacred Texts (Pennsylvania, 1999), The Unknown Sayings of Jesus (HarperCollins, 1998), The Magical Book of Mary and the Angels (P. Heid. Inv. Kopt. 685): Text, Translation, and Commentary (Heidelberg, 1996), and The Gospel of Thomas: The Hidden Sayings of Jesus (HarperCollins, 1992). He has also edited or co-edited The Gnostic Bible (Shambhala, 2003), Reverence for Life: Albert Schweitzer for the 21st Century (Syracuse, 2002), Magic and Ritual in the Ancient World (Brill, 2002), Jesus Then and Now: Images of Jesus in History and Christology (Trinity Press International, 2001), From Quest to Q (Peeters, 2000), and Ancient Christian Magic: Coptic Texts of Ritual Power (Princeton, 1999).

His books and articles have been translated into Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Japanese, and the Gospel of Thomas, of which his is the standard edition, has been listed as one of the 100 best spiritual books of the 20th century. He has been interviewed on television programs that have aired on ABC, BBC, CNN, A&E, the History Channel, and Odyssey, and on radio programs that include BBC Radio, National Public Radio, and the Voice of America. He lives with his wife, children, and dog in Orange, California.

Dr. Meyer teaches courses on religion and values, the New Testament and early Christianity, Greco-Roman and Egyptian religion and culture, the life and thought of Albert Schweitzer, and peace studies. He also provides instruction in ancient Greek language and, upon occasion, Coptic Egyptian. ¹

References

Los Angeles Times January 6, 2007 Saturday Home Edition SECTION: MAIN NEWS; Metro Desk; Part A; Pg. 1 Marv Meyer official bio
The Gnostic Gospels of Jesus (HarperCollins, 2005)
The Gospels of Mary (HarperCollins, 2004)
Secret Gospels: Essays on Thomas and the Secret Gospel of Mark (Trinity Press International, 2003),
The Ancient Mysteries: A Sourcebook of Sacred Texts (Pennsylvania, 1999)
The Unknown Sayings of Jesus (HarperCollins, 1998)
The Magical Book of Mary and the Angels (P. Heid. Inv. Kopt. 685): Text, Translation, and Commentary (Heidelberg, 1996)
The Gospel of Thomas: The Hidden Sayings of Jesus (HarperCollins, 1992)
The Gnostic Bible (Shambhala, 2003), Reverence for Life: Albert Schweitzer for the 21st Century (Syracuse, 2002) (Editor)
Magic and Ritual in the Ancient World (Brill, 2002) (Editor)
Jesus Then and Now: Images of Jesus in History and Christology (Trinity Press International, 2001) (Editor)
From Quest to Q (Peeters, 2000)(Editor)
Ancient Christian Magic: Coptic Texts of Ritual Power (Princeton, 1999)(Editor)