The Lost Gospel of Judas: Separating Fact from Fiction

by Gordon Heath; Stanley E. Porter

Publisher:

Eerdmans

, 2007

Overview

With the discovery of the Gospel of Judas came an outpouring of hyperbolic language, both negative and positive. Alongside the loudly stated opinions of historians and scholars was the quiet bewilderment of people who simply weren't sure what to think -- confusion not helped by vast, often incorrect, media attention.

In this book Stanley Porter and Gordon Heath set the muddied record straight. After first looking at the initial commotion surrounding the publication of the Gospel of Judas, they carefully set the Gospel in context, providing a brief history of Judas himself as seen in the New Testament and in church history, discussing Gnostic philosophy and other recent textual finds, and examining the content and authenticity of the Gospel of Judas. Porter and Heath's Lost Gospel of Judas sifts through all the evidence and presents the results with scholarly clarity.

Key Features

• Examines the content and authenticity of the Gospel of Judas
• Provides a brief history of Judas as seen in the New Testament and church history
• Discusses Gnostic philosophy and other recent textual finds

Contents

• Judas in Scripture and Church History: A Brief Introduction
• Gnosticism: What Was It, How Widespread Was It, and Why Was It a Problem for the Church?
• The Early Church and the Gospel of Judas
• The Discovery of the Gospel of Judas and Other Recent Finds
• The Content of the Gospel of Judas
• The Authenticity of the Gospel of Judas
• Rehabilitation Literature of the Gnostics
• The Gospel of Judas and Its Relationship to the New Testament Canon
• Orthodoxy versus Heresy: Lost Christianities and the “Lucky Winner” Thesis

Praise for the Print Edition

Puts a fascinating new discovery—the Gospel of Judas—in its proper historical and religious context. This book is must reading.

—Craig A. Evans, Payzant Distinguished Professor of New Testament, Acadia Divinity College

A needed correction to the hype and even false publicity connected with the marketing of the newly translated Gospel of Judas. Porter and Heath challenge some of the scholars involved to a more responsible presentation of the history of early Christianity. The final chapter takes on a bigger task — defense of the four canonical Gospels as witnesses to the truth of apostolic Christian tradition.

—Pheme Perkins, professor of theology, Boston College

Product Details

• Title: The Lost Gospel of Judas: Separating Fact from Fiction
• Author: Stanley E. Porter and Gordon L. Heath
• Publisher: Eerdmans
• Publication Date: 2007
• Pages: 135
• Christian Group: Evangelicals
• Resource Type: Topical
• Topic: Early Church

About Stanley E. Porter

Stanley E. Porter is president, dean, and professor New Testament at McMaster Divinity College in Hamilton, Ontario.

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