The Lost Gospel of Judas

With the discovery of the "Gospel of Judas" came an outpouring of hyperbolic language, both negative and positive. Alongside the overwhelming opinions of historians and scholars was the quiet bewilderment of people who simply weren't sure what to think -- confusion that wasn't helped by vast media attention. In "The Lost Gospel of Judas," Stanley Porter and Gordon Heath attempt to set the record straight. They begin with a look at the initial responses to the announcement of the gospel's existence, then provide a brief history of Judas himself as seen in the New Testament and in church history, and of Gnostic philosophy. Further sections consider other recent textual finds and examine the discovery, content, and authenticity of the gospel. They also delve into the relationship this new gospel has with the New Testament canon and contemplate the "Lucky Winner" theory of canonical history. "The Lost Gospel of Judas" sifts through all the evidence, presenting the results with more than enough scholarship to be respected and enough clarity to be easily understood.

Gordon L. Heath is assistant professor of Christian history and director of the Canadian Baptist Archives at McMaster, Divinity College.