Reading Judas: The Gospel of Judas and the Shaping of Christianity

This author team, writing in an engaging, accessible style, is the first to reflect on the recent discovery of the Gospel of Judas and how that text provides insight into explaining how Jesus' followers understood his death, why Judas betrayed Jesus, and why God allowed it. The instant New York Times bestseller interpreting the controversial long-lost gospel The recently unearthed Gospel of Judas is a source of fascination for biblical scholars and lay Christians alike. Now two leading experts on the Gnostic gospels tackle the important questions posed by its discovery, including: How could any Christian imagine Judas to be Jesus' favorite?

And what kind of vision of God does the author offer? Working from Karen L. King's brilliant new translation, Elaine Pagels and King provide the context necessary for considering its meaning.

Reading Judas plunges into the heart of Christianity itself and will stand as the definitive look at the gospel for years to come.