Includes bibliographical references (pages 147-155).

Not another new Gospel? -- Second-century Gnosticism -- The Judas of faith and the Iscariot of history -- When is a Gospel not a Gospel? -- Lord of the world or escaper from the world? -- Spinning Judas : the new myth of Christian origins -- The challenge of "Judas" for today.

"Joining other recently found and publicized "gospels," the Gospel of Judas has found its way into the limelight. The ancient manuscript appears to be genuine-so what are we to make of the claims therein? Claims such as: Judas was doing what Jesus asked him to do when he betrayed Jesus, Jesus came to offer secret knowledge of how to escape this earthly world, rather than to usher in God's kingdom on earth, Jesus felt no pain on the cross, and more. This timely response to the Gospel of Judas is the authoritative, orthodox word on what the Gospel of Judas really tells us-and does not tell us-about Jesus, Judas, early Christianity, and Gnosticism. Book jacket."--BOOK JACKET.