Gospel of Judas Set for Easter Publication

by G. Jeffrey MacDonald, Religion BookLine -- Publishers Weekly, 3/1/2006

An ancient gnostic text, buried in the Egyptian desert for centuries, is going to see publication for the first time this spring. The National Geographic Society announced yesterday (Feb. 28) that it is working with an international team to translate two documents with content likely dating to the second century C.E.

"These rare, early-Christian texts are believed to be nearly 2,000 years old and include two never-before-seen manuscripts: the Gospel of Judas and an untitled, fragmentary work," said Mary Jeanne Jacobsen, a spokesperson for National Geographic, in a statement.

A 31-page account of Jesus' life and ministry, the Gospel of Judas is stirring intrigue in part because it bears the name of the notorious disciple who, according to the four biblical gospels, betrayed Jesus for a bribe. Scholars who have seen the text's final six pages suspect it might revise certain portrayals long accepted as fact in the Christian community.

"Judas does not appear to be an agent of the devil" in the Gospel of Judas, said Charles Hedrick, professor emeritus of religious studies at Missouri State University and a Coptic specialist. "He appears to be a good guy working for God." Yet even beyond the revisionist rendering of Judas, Hedrick told RBL the text holds promise for new insights into early Christianity. "Today, for the first time in 1,900 years, it surfaces again," he said. "It's a recovery of a muffled voice from the past. I think that's exciting."

Scholars are working with a copy of the original, Hedrick said. This papyrus copy from the fourth or fifth century "is a mess" due to frequent handling and trading on the international antiquities market. Nevertheless, scholars working in top-secret conditions are reportedly trying to piece it together and translate it.

If confirmed to be authentic, the Gospel of Judas will be the 35th gospel recovered in either complete or fragmented form. Only four—those according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John—received canonical status through their inclusion in the Bible. Having seen only photos of six pages from the codex, or assembled pages, scholar John Turner hesitates to guess what its impact will be. "It will lead to rethinking, but we can't say how," said Turner, a professor of religious studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

No matter how dramatic the insights, Hedrick expects Christians aren't likely to add the Gospel of Judas to their sacred scripture. "I think the church is very comfortable with Matthew, Mark, Luke and John."