Customer Reviews

The Secrets of Judas: The Story of the Misunderstood Disciple and His Lost Gospel

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In recent times, there seems to be a resurgence of interest in the history of religion, and especially in Christian origins and the early "gospels" which didn't make it into the Christian New Testament. This can be seen, for example, in the fairly large number of "popular" books published during the past decade which deal with these topics. Most of these works have been written by qualified scholars rather than by nonprofessionals and are targeted to the ordinary non-specialized reader. I think this point is important because for all too long the writing of religious history has been geared toward the university student or other working scholars in the field. Part of this interest may be the result of recent publications and TV documentaries about the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi codices. Almost everyone is interested in a mystery and new discoveries within the disciplines of biblical archaeology and New Testament history have certainly supplied the content for a contemporary religious detective story.

I have met many people, for instance, who have read Elaine Pagels' "The Gnostic Gospels" or her tempting work "The Origin of Satan" and expressed an interest in pursuing further study of these subjects. I have discussed Burton Mack's "The Lost Gospel: The Book of Christian Origins" with young people who surprised me with their interest in this topic. I remember when "Eyewitness to Jesus: Amazing New Manuscript Evidence About the Origin of the Gospels" by Carsten Peter Thiede and Matthew D'Ancona first appeared on the scene and the controversy it generated among some young college students of my acquaintance. And, of course, there are the ever-popular books by Professor Bart Ehrman, such as his recent "Lost Christianities: The Battles for Scripture and the Faiths We Never Knew" and, even more recently, "Truth and Fiction in The Da Vinci Code," his response to Dan Brown's controversial best-selling book (and forthcoming movie) "The Da Vinci Code."

Now we seem to have another major event about to occur in the world of religious history and early Christianity, this time dealing with what is called "The Gospel of Judas." And that is what James Robinson's new book, "The Secrets of Judas: The Story of the Misunderstood Disciple and His Lost Gospel," is all about. The original document, designated as "The Gospel of Judas," has been, according to Professor Robinson, "kept under wraps until now, to maximize its financial gain for its Swiss owners. The grand expose is being performed by the National Geographic Society, timed for the greatest public impact, right at Easter. Those on the inside have been bought off (no doubt with considerably more than thirty pieces of silver), and sworn to silence on a stack of Bibles -- or on a stack of papyrus leaves." Robinson's book was obviously rushed into print (there are citations from as late as February of this year) and I suspect this was done to predate National Geographic's "Grand Event" and provide a contextual background for it when it occurs.

Professor Robinson is not entirely happy about the protocols surrounding this happening. He writes in the Preface to the book: "I write as a scholar, and, as you will see as you read my narration, I have been involved to a very large extent over the past generation in this adventure. Yet you will also see me, in my capacity as scholar, expressing dismay, even disgust, over much of what has gone on. I lay it all out, with as much documentation as I can muster, for you to see for yourself." And so he does! His statement should whet anyone's appetite for a good historical mystery story and modern-day adventure into the secret world of acquiring (stealing included), hiding, and selling of antiquities. Chapter Five of the book is entitled "The Peddling of 'The Gospel of Judas'." Notice the word "peddling." That ought to give you a clue as to what the author thinks about the whole affair.

This is not a long book (184 pages of actual text) and I read it in one day. It does, however, provide sufficient information to prepare the reader for the "Grand Event." Furthermore, it will probably challenge your current thinking about Judas Iscariot -- after all, he was the "bad" guy who betrayed Jesus. Robinson suggests some other interpretations regarding Judas' behavior different from what most of us have heard as part of traditional Christianity. In other words, the "case" against Judas may have to be rethought; he may deserve another chance to explain himself and his role in the Easter story. To help us out here, Professor Robinson provides an historical examination of biblical writings about Judas and of references to him found in ancient sources outside of the Bible.

I highly recommend this book to all readers interested in religious history and the controversies surrounding new findings about early Christianity. Also, if you read it soon enough, you will be aptly prepared for National Geographic's "Grand Event" and you will have enough information to make an evaluation for yourself as to the circumstances leading up to it. If you like a story full of intrigue and mystery, you'll enjoy "The Secrets of Judas." Professor Robinson is certainly qualified to present this material to the general public. He is a professor emeritus at Claremont Graduate University, is widely known for his pioneering work on the Nag Hammadi codices, and was the general editor of "The Nag Hammadi Library in English" (a reference I have had in my personal library for some years).

Personal Note: I just took a break from writing this review (today is April 6th) to watch the CBS Evening News and they broke the story about the public exhibition of the Judas documents. The panel announcing the news was, indeed, sitting behind a table with a "National Geographic Society" banner across the front. It seems that the "Grand Event" has now commenced.

Like my topic says, be sure you know what you buy. Robinson is giving details on how the book was found, compiled, traded, stolen and so fourth around the world. He goes into why it has been covered up for so long, instead of actually getting into what is written in the Gospel of Judas. If you want to know the History of this Gospel, and why it took so long to surface into the public eye, then I highly recommend this book. However, if your looking into the Gospel of Judas itself, what it says, and it's meanings, I would advise a different book.

The first half of this book does a great job examining Judas Iscariot from 3 different angles the Judas of the New Testament Gospels and Acts, what the historical Judas was probably like, and then the way Judas is portrayed as a Gnostic in the newly published Gospel of Judas. This part of the book I found enlightening and an enjoyable read. The last half fully examines every aspect of how the Gospel of Judas came to light through its discovery in Egypt its theft, and the way the dealer tried to get $3 million for it and it ended up in a citibank safe deposit box in New York. The history of the manuscript is a very interesting story in itself. The final summary of the book is that the Gospel of Judas teaches us nothing about the historical Jesus or Judas, it only shows the opinions and imagination of 2nd century Gnostics.

I have to wonder if the other reviewers have even read this book by what they have stated.

While an interesting subject, the "finding" of the text, unfortunately, appears to be largely trumped up by National Geographic in an attempt to capitalize on the Da Vinci Code craze. The fact of the matter is that the existence of the text and it's general contents have been known for some time (indeed, a VERY long time). Obtaining the physical text (it was "found" quite a while ago) is an exciting event in itself but does not change any substantial understanding from historical or theological contexts. The real embarrassment is that it's being marketed not as a significant artifact but as something that will potentially change our perspective of history. That type of rhetoric will undoubtedly sell more books and make more money but at the same time, it's dangerous to our clear understanding of historic fact as a society.

Robinson's book is as valid an analysis of the subject as any.

Can you say "Sour Grapes"?

The author of this book castigates the owners of the "Gospel of Judas" for what he deems sensationalization for the purpose of making money. He looks down on those who use such a find to "win something from it: money, fame, honor, or whatever." Yet Robinson titles his book "The Secrets of Judas - The Story of the Misunderstood Disciple and the Lost Gospel" and times its release just as National Geographic makes its announcement.

Since the Robinson book says little about "The Story of the Misunderstood Disciple and the Lost Gospel" and spends many words telling us how important Robinson is in the field as well as how many important people he calls by their first names, one can only speculate. This book would seem to be merely an attempt to claim a connection with the find announced for the purpose of winning something from it ... a trait he deplores in others.

My advice? Don't bother with this book.

Yes. Quirky.

The first part about the character of Judas is very good. Robinson's knowledge of languages and Biblical scholarship shines. He shows us how the gospels differ in their text on Judas and how they created his infamy.

After this, we get some high level education on scrolls, codices, papyrus and conservation. It's quirky because it's told with exclamation points on almost every page. Robinson is clearly enthusiastic about this material.

There is also a tale on par with the best spy vs. spy of how this material has been shopped around and the damage that has resulted from poor caretaking and perhaps thievery. The first irregularity of this project was "Hannah" of Egypt's desire to get the material out of the country before s/he was overwhelmed with demands for bakseesh (my term not Robinson's, who does allude to the uncertain environment for getting things out of the country). From this point on, more people, (from Robinson's point of view) of equally secretive modus operandi got involved. This has the exclamation point quirkiness, plus Robinson's (also quirky) penchant for analysing the linguistic derivation of names (i.e. Iscariot, Hannah, Thomas, Mia, Freida, Tchacos...).

Robinson cannot accept the capitalistic aspects of the antiquities market. Perhaps, his attitude towards antiquities investors is why he was not tapped for the project. It is clear he has the experience and expertise to do the work and probably should have been hired. He speculates about the processes being used and wonders if the researchers have the keys to work in the lab late at night. This part is almost like a personal journal (complete with exclamation points).

The book needs an index.

Someone else said 3 1/2 stars and gave it 3. Since I agree I'll give it 4 and the average will right the situation for us both.

When I bought this book, I figured it would be a lot better than what it was. I figured it would be a little more revealing. It was very dry and for a short book, kind of tough to plow through. i would only recomend this for those whose primary interest is religous history and investigation. This is definitely not for the casual reader.

"Step away from the others and I shall tell you the mysteries of the Kingdom. It is possible for you to reach it, but you will grieve a great deal. For someone else will replace you, in order that the twelve disciples may again come to completion with their God." The Gnostic Gospel of Judas



Gnostic Gospel Surfaces:
The rediscovery of a long lost Gospel of Judas Iscariot, has upset the Church and Christian scholarship. What the Synoptic Gospels and that of John inform us on Judas, as the disciple who betrayed Jesus, is here debated as inconsistent and biased. Therefore, the revelation of an ancient gospel that portrays this despised man as someone who saw his role in the Passion of Christ as integral to a Cosmic divine plan brings new vision to the old story. If Judas had not betrayed Jesus, Jesus would not have been handed over to the authorities, crucified, buried, and raised from the dead. So, without Judas, the Easter miracle would never have happened!
At least four ancient codices, in Coptic and Greek, surfaced on the international artifacts black market, in the last two decades. Quite incredible rumors about them circulated online, but their exact whereabouts was a matter of uncertainty. All four were discovered near Minya, in upper Egypt and smuggled by a certain Cairo dealer called Hannah, offering them in Switzerland in 1983 for $3 millions, but decided in 1984 to import them into the USA. They sat safely in a NY bank vault for five years, when Dr. James M. Robinson (Book author) made an attempt to recover them. This transaction failed; and they were later bought in 1999 by Frieda Tchacos, a Swiss dealer who entrusted them to Bruce Ferrini, an American philanthopist dealer. Mrs. Tchacos repossessed what was left after Ferrini's violations, a sole codex of the Gnostic Gospel of Judas, which was then placed in the custody of Mario Roberty, her lawyer, and the established Maecenas Foundation. They ultimately sealed a deal with the National Geographical Society, which published the codex.

Who was Judas Iscariot?
Judas Iscariot,Hebrew: Y'hû''h 'Îs-q'riyyô')was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, according to the New Testament. Among the twelve, he was apparently designated to keep account of the money funds. He is mostly known for his role in Jesus' betrayal into the hands of the Jerusalim Senhadrin authorities. Judas has been a figure of great interest to esoteric groups, and has also been the subject of speculative Gnostic writings. His name is associated with the Gospel of Judas, a Gnostic gospel that existed since the second century, in a Coptic Sahidic text. Although the certain significance of Iscariot, is uncertain, two main assumptions on its etymology have been proposed. A most traditional explanation derives Iscariot from Hebrew that means 'man of Kerioth'. The Gospel of John refers to Judas as "son of Simon Iscariot" (John 6:71), implying what some speculate that Kerioth refers to a region in Judea, or one of two known Judean towns. A second assumption is that 'Iscariot' identifies Judas as a member of the Sicarii, linking him to Nathnael, who may have followed the Messiah, a promised political liberator of Israel, a group of national Jewish rebels intending on driving the Romans out of Judea utilizing guerilla assassination models.

The Gospel of Judas:
A Gnostic gospel, the text of which was partially reconstructed and translated recently from Coptic. It shows a positive perspective of Judas Iscariot, without claiming to have been written by him. According to the canonical Gospels, Judas betrayed Jesus to the Jewish authorities, who then turned him over to the Roman ruler by whom he was crucified. The Gospel of Judas interprets this act positively, as one performed in obedience to the instructions of Jesus, rather than as a betrayal. This positive portrayal follows from the Gnostic notion that Judas helped to release the spirit of Christ from its physical constraints. In the Gnostic view, the human body is a form of a mundane prison.
The Gospel of Judas does not claim that the eleven disciples knew Gnostic teachings. On the contrary, it asserts that the disciples have not learned the true Gospel, which Jesus taught only to Judas Iscariot, as exemplified in the following words: "Knowing that Judas was reflecting upon something that was exalted, Jesus said to him: Step away from the others and I shall tell you the mysteries of the Kingdom. It is possible for you to reach it, but you will grieve a great deal. For someone else will replace you, in order that the twelve disciples may again come to completion with their God." The Gospel of Judas shows Jesus in various occasions criticizing the other disciples for their ignorance. He interprets a vision they told him, clarifying its true meaning as follows, "Those you have seen receiving the offerings at the altar -- that is who you are. That is the God you serve, and you are those twelve men you have seen. The cattle you have seen brought for sacrifice are the many people you lead astray before that altar. (. . .) will stand and make use of My name in this way, and generations of the pious will remain loyal to Him."

The Secrets of Judas:
Dr. James M. Robinson, an expert in Antiquity and early Christianity, examines the Bible and other ancient texts and reveals what we can and cannot conclude about the life of the historical Judas, his role in Jesus's crucifixion, and whether the Church should review his intentions and possible innocence. Robinson recounts the sensational story of the discovery of a gospel attributed to Judas, and debates how this reshapes Judas's reinterpreted meaning for church history and for the Christian faith. Dr. Robinson begins by examining Judas Iscariot in light of the NT, Gospels and Acts. He expounds that the idea of Judas as traitor conflicts with the Gospel accounts, showing an inconsistency between Church doctrine and Scripture. Dr. Robinson performs the same historical search, resulting in fascinating facts that cast doubts in the case against Judas. Then, Dr. Robinson devotes the rest of the book, examining a Gnostic source. Once he introduces The Gospel of Judas, he discusses the text and its implications, in scholarly pursuits of history and archeology. Dr. Robinson's account of underworld of obtaining rare historical documents from shadowy sellers would strike most outsiders as dull, but for a concerned Copt, as the reviewer it is of great consideration, since the curators of the Coptic Museum recovered the Coptic Gnostic Codices half a century ago. I read first about the events, a couple of years just before the Easter of 2006, in an article in the Coptic weekly, Mia Patria. This book, written by the father of American Coptology is informative and thought-provoking, as well as entertaining.

Author James Robinson:
James M. Robinson is the founding director of the Institute for Antiquity and Christianity and professor emeritus at the Claremont Graduate School. He is the general editor of The Nag Hammadi Library in English, author of A New Quest of the Historical Jesus, Trajectories Through Early Christianity, and The Secrets of Judas, and is widely known for his pioneering work on the Sayings of Gospel Q.

Judas and the Gospel of Jesus: Have We Missed the Truth about Christianity?
Judas: The Definitive Collection of Gospels and Legends About the Infamous Apostle of Jesus
The Nag Hammadi Library

I am very much interested in the early Gnostics and have been reading Elaine Pagels and others on the subject. I watched the National Geographic special concerning the discovery, rediscovery, etc. of the Gospel of Judas. Entirely sensationalistic with very little real substance.

Professor Robinson's book gave me all of the background on the Gospel of Judas, along with a solid assessment of the historical take on Judas and whether or not that might change. Good reading if you are interested in the subject.

I expected to find out some of what was actually in the gospel of Judas, the bulk of the book went on and on about preservation, aquisition, and roadblocks to the scholarly examination of the manuscript. I was so disgusted I left the book in a laundromat.