The recent National Geographic special on the Gospel of Judas was a major media event, introducing to tens of millions of viewers one of the most important biblical discoveries of modern times. Now, a leading historian of the early church, Bart Ehrman, offers the first comprehensive account of the newly discovered Gospel of Judas, revealing what this legendary lost gospel contains and why it is so important for our understanding of Christianity. Ehrman, a featured commentator in the National Geographic special, describes how he first saw the Gospel of Judas--surprisingly, in a small room above a pizza parlor in a Swiss town near Lake Geneva--and he recounts the fascinating story of where and how this ancient papyrus document was discovered, how it moved around among antiquities dealers in Egypt, the United States, and Switzerland, and how it came to be restored and translated. More important, Ehrman gives the reader a complete and clear account of what the book teaches and he shows how it relates to other Gospel texts--both those inside the New Testament and those outside of it, most notably, the Gnostic texts of early Christianity. Finally, he describes what we now can say about the historical Judas himself as well as his relationship with Jesus, suggesting that one needs to read between the lines of the early Gospels to see exactly what Judas did and why he did it. The Gospel of Judas presents an entirely new view of Jesus, his disciples, and the man who allegedly betrayed him. It raises many questions and Bart Ehrman provides illuminating and authoritative answers, in a book that will interest anyone curious about the New Testament, the life of Jesus, and the history of Christianity after his death.
"Readers of Ehrman's popular scholarly works such as Misquoting Jesus should be pleased with his latest offering...a compelling study of an important archaeological find..."-- Dallas Morning News
"A must for those interested in the subject of early Christianity,this volume will also attract readers intrigued by all the hoopla arising from the discovery of the lost Gospel."-- Booklist
"In typically brilliant fashion, Ehrman tells the lively tale of the modern discovery of the Gospel of Judas and its significance for us today." -- Publishers Weekly
" The Lost Gospel of Judas Iscariot is a gem of a book. Smart, lively, and eminently readable, this book provides a brilliant glimpse into the world of research and scholarship on one of the most provocative gospels from the world of the early church. It is required reading for anyone who wishes to learn more about Judas and the Gospel of Judas." --Marvin Meyer, Griset Professor of Bible and Christian Studies, Chapman University, and co-author of The Gospel of Judas
"An insightful, penetrating and provocative study of Christian origins. Bart Ehrman brings a scholarly, encyclopedic mind and a talented pen to this study. The Judas who has inspired centuries of anti-Semitism, feeding the dark side of Christian history, will never be the same. Neither will be the reader who engages this book." --John Shelby Spong, author of The Sins of Scripture: Exposing the Bible's Texts of Hate to Reveal the God of Love , and Bishop, The Episcopal Church
Book Description
Best-selling author Bart Ehrman offers the first full account of the discovery and impact of the Gospel of Judas, highlighting the full significance of this remarkable ancient text
About the Author
Bart D. Ehrman chairs the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. One of the major public experts on early Christianity, Jesus, and the New Testament, he is very well known in his field and to a general audience through his books, including the New York Times bestseller Misquoting Jesus, Peter, Paul, and Mary Magdalene, Lost Christianities, Lost Scriptures , and Truth and Fiction in The Da Vinci Code. He has appeared on NBC's Dateline, A&E, the History Channel, CNN, and a number of nationally syndicated NPR programs, and has taped several highly popular lecture series for "The Teaching Company."
The recent National Geographic special on the Gospel of Judas was a major media event, introducing to tens of millions of viewers one of the most important biblical discoveries of modern times. Now, a leading historian of the early church, Bart Ehrman, offers the first comprehensive account of the newly discovered Gospel of Judas, revealing what this legendary lost gospel contains and why it is so important for our understanding of Christianity.
Ehrman, a featured commentator in the National Geographic special, describes how he first saw the Gospel of Judas--surprisingly, in a small room above a pizza parlor in a Swiss town near Lake Geneva--and he recounts the fascinating story of where and how this ancient papyrus document was discovered, how it moved around among antiquities dealers in Egypt, the United States, and Switzerland, and how it came to be restored and translated. More important, Ehrman gives the reader a complete and clear account of what the book teaches and he shows how it relates to other Gospel texts--both those inside the New Testament and those outside of it, most notably, the Gnostic texts of early Christianity. Finally, he describes what we now can say about the historical Judas himself as well as his relationship with Jesus, suggesting that one needs to read between the lines of the early Gospels to see exactly what Judas did and why he did it.
The Gospel of Judas presents an entirely new view of Jesus, his disciples, and the man who allegedly betrayed him. It raises many questions and Bart Ehrman provides illuminating and authoritative answers, in a book that will interest anyone curious about the New Testament, the life of Jesus, and the history of Christianity after his death.
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. In typically brilliant fashion, Ehrman ( Misquoting Jesus ) tells the lively tale of the modern discovery of the Gospel of Judas and its significance for us today. In order to differentiate the Judas of the newly discovered text from the character in the canonical gospels, he examines the portrayal of Judas in Mark, Matthew, Luke and John, as well as in other early Christian gospels such as the Gospel of Nicodemus. He chronicles the events surrounding the discovery of the text and its transmission since its discovery (which involves rumors of black market trading in looted documents). Ehrman also provides a helpful overview of the content of this once lost gospel, which depicts Jesus teaching Judas about a divine realm that no one has ever seen and to which Jesus must return. Ehrman concludes that the discovery of the Gospel of Judas is significant not only because it adds to our knowledge of the diversity of early Christianity but also because it portrays a Judas who is not a traitor to the cause but one who is instrumental in fulfilling Jesus' divine mission. Ehrman's fast-paced study introduces us engagingly to the Gospel of Judas. (Oct. 6)
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From Booklist
Starred Review There's been a flurry of attention about a biblical discovery recently brought to light--a Gospel that paints the apostle Judas in a very different light than the four Gospels of the New Testament. The National Geographic Society, which was instrumental in bringing the lost Gospel of Judas to light, has already put out two books and one TV show on the subject. Ehrman, who was one of the few people called upon to authenticate the manuscript, goes beyond those two volumes, examining the lost Gospel for new insights about early Christianity and putting the codex into a historical context. Always an engaging writer, Ehrman has his work cut out for him here. The Gospel of Judas, which falls into the Gnostic tradition, can be puzzling, even bizarre. But, in step-by-step fashion, Ehrman leads his readers through the maze, covering the background of Gnosticism in general, exploring how this Gospel fits into that tradition, and examining precisely what the book says: that Judas was the recipient of secret revelations because he alone of all the disciples understood Jesus' message of salvation, and that he is to be honored for executing his part of the divine plan. A must for those interested in the subject of early Christianity, this volume will also attract readers intrigued by all the hoopla arising from the discovery of the lost Gospel. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Review
"Readers of Ehrman's popular scholarly works such as Misquoting Jesus should be pleased with his latest offering...a compelling study of an important archaeological find..."-- Dallas Morning News
"A must for those interested in the subject of early Christianity,this volume will also attract readers intrigued by all the hoopla arising from the discovery of the lost Gospel."-- Booklist
"In typically brilliant fashion, Ehrman tells the lively tale of the modern discovery of the Gospel of Judas and its significance for us today." -- Publishers Weekly
" The Lost Gospel of Judas Iscariot is a gem of a book. Smart, lively, and eminently readable, this book provides a brilliant glimpse into the world of research and scholarship on one of the most provocative gospels from the world of the early church. It is required reading for anyone who wishes to learn more about Judas and the Gospel of Judas." --Marvin Meyer, Griset Professor of Bible and Christian Studies, Chapman University, and co-author of The Gospel of Judas
"An insightful, penetrating and provocative study of Christian origins. Bart Ehrman brings a scholarly, encyclopedic mind and a talented pen to this study. The Judas who has inspired centuries of anti-Semitism, feeding the dark side of Christian history, will never be the same. Neither will be the reader who engages this book." --John Shelby Spong, author of The Sins of Scripture: Exposing the Bible's Texts of Hate to Reveal the God of Love , and Bishop, The Episcopal Church
Book Description
Best-selling author Bart Ehrman offers the first full account of the discovery and impact of the Gospel of Judas, highlighting the full significance of this remarkable ancient text
About the Author
Bart D. Ehrman chairs the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. One of the major public experts on early Christianity, Jesus, and the New Testament, he is very well known in his field and to a general audience through his books, including the New York Times bestseller Misquoting Jesus, Peter, Paul, and Mary Magdalene, Lost Christianities, Lost Scriptures , and Truth and Fiction in The Da Vinci Code. He has appeared on NBC's Dateline, A&E, the History Channel, CNN, and a number of nationally syndicated NPR programs, and has taped several highly popular lecture series for "The Teaching Company."