The Lost Gospel of Judas Iscariot: A New Look at Betrayer and Betrayed | Bart D. Ehrman

The Lost Gospel of Judas Iscariot: A New Look at Betrayer and Betrayed | Bart D. Ehrman | Another Great Book

books:

The Lost Gospel of...

	The Lost Gospel of Judas Iscariot: A New Look at Betrayer and Betrayed Bart D. Ehrman Oxford University Press, USA, 2006 - 208 pages average customer review:based on 21 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

highly recommended

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.

for more information click here

The Yin & Yang of Judas Iscariot

Professor Ehrman gave a fascinating account on his personal involvement in Gospel of Judas, the long lost scripture. In this book, he did not render a direct translation from Coptic writings. Instead, he compared and contrasted Paul's writing with the later four Gospels. With his scholar study work, he presented an unorthodox Judas Iscariot contrary to the familiar image of a greedy, evil, Christ-killer with the fatal kiss.
The Jesus in Gospel of Judas was a happy one as he laughed four times - quite different from the familiar scripture - Jesus wept, (John 11:35). Ehrman rightly pointed out the Tao of Gnosticism - the more information you have, the less you realized you know (P.100)

He spent a few chapters in the development of Gnosticism which teaches enlightenment and transcendence by self-cultivated knowledge - a challenge alternative to the organized faith associated with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. His last three chapters concentrated on the point of why Judas betrayed his master. Judas simply helped Rabbi Jesus fulfill his mission by releasing his soul trapped in this earthy body to join the one realm of heavenly home. Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32).

Ehrman offered a good church history not commonly available on Sunday. Readers will have a better understanding on the Yin and Yang of Judas Iscariot, on the diverse groups of Christian sects (comparable to contemporary 296) and on the struggle to define Christianity by orthodox and heresy. No doubt, Gospel of Judas will stir up debate and controversy. Hopefully, Gnostic Christians will not be forced out completely with another seventeen century resurrection.

for more information click here

Another Great Book

Once again Dr. Ehrman has written an excellent book. Well thought out and very informative. Perhaps the best writer on the early Christians there is and this is but another example of his scholarly approach and general knowledge.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

products you might be interested in