Gospel of Judas, The: Coptic Text, Translation, and Historical Interpretation of 'The Betrayer's Gospel' (Electronic book text, annotated edition)

Lance Jenott presents a new critical edition, annotated translation, and interpretation of the "Gospel of Judas" which, for the first time, includes all extant fragments of the manuscript. Departing from the scholarly debate over how this second-century Gospel portrays the character of Judas Iscariot, he investigates the texts preoccupation with Jesus Twelve Disciples, and why its author slanders them as immoral priests who unwittingly offer sacrifice to a false god. Jenott challenges previous interpretations of "Judas" as a Gnostic text that criticizes the sacrificial theology, Christology, and ritual practices of the orthodox church, including Eucharist and baptism. Instead, he emphasizes how its Christian author voices a political critique of the emerging clergy who established their ecclesiological authority through doctrines of apostolic succession and the exclusive right to administer the Eucharist. In the final chapter, Jenott leaves questions about the authors second-century "Sitz im Leben" behind to consider how "Judas" may have appealed to the fourth-century Coptic Christians who produced our only known copy.