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.

"[R]eveals a radical new understanding of Christ's mission and Judas's role in it. Judas, in fact, is the lone member of Christ's inner circle who understood Jesus's message. Furthermore, Judas did not really betray Christ." Library Journal

"Readers of Ehrman's popular scholarly works such as Misquoting Jesus should be pleased with his latest offering...a compelling study of an important archaeological find..."--Dallas Morning News

"A must for those interested in the subject of early Christianity,this volume will also attract readers intrigued by all the hoopla arising from the discovery of the lost Gospel."--Booklist

"In typically brilliant fashion, Ehrman tells the lively tale of the modern discovery of the Gospel of Judas and its significance for us today." --Publishers Weekly

"The Lost Gospel of Judas Iscariot is a gem of a book. Smart, lively, and eminently readable, this book provides a brilliant glimpse into the world of research and scholarship on one of the most provocative gospels from the world of the early church. It is required reading for anyone who wishes to learn more about Judas and the Gospel of Judas." --Marvin Meyer, Griset Professor of Bible and Christian Studies, Chapman University, and co-author of The Gospel of Judas

"An insightful, penetrating and provocative study of Christian origins. Bart Ehrman brings a scholarly, encyclopedic mind and a talented pen to this study. The Judas who has inspired centuries of anti-Semitism, feeding the dark side of Christian history, will never be the same. Neither will be the reader who engages this book." --John Shelby Spong, author of The Sins of Scripture: Exposing the Bible's Texts of Hate to Reveal the God of Love, and Bishop, The Episcopal Church

Bart D. Ehrman chairs the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is an authority on the history of the New Testament, the early church, and the life of Jesus. He has taped several highly popular lecture series for the Teaching Company and is the author of Lost Christianities: The Battles for Scripture and the Faiths We Never Knew and Lost Scriptures: Books that Did Not Make It into the New Testament. He lives in Durham, North Carolina.