When The Gospel of Judas was published in 2006, critics trumpeted it as "a biblical discovery [that] rocks the world of scholars and laypeople alike." Now that the ground has settled a bit, one can truly ponder the significance of an early Christian document that presents Judas the betrayers as Jesus' most intimate disciple. In numerous books, Elaine Pagels and Karen L. King have established themselves as credible authorities on early Christian literature. Their Reading Judas places this rediscovered Gospel within the context of competing New Testament period texts.
John Dominic Crossan
In their slim but excellent Reading Judas, Elaine Pagels and Karen L. King rightly focus on the text's ancient and provocative theology rather than on the codex's modern and tortured history, with King also providing a new and very well annotated translation of this early Christian document.
— The Washington Post
Publishers Weekly
The Gospel of Judas represents the most baffling in a series of recently unearthed noncanonical manuscripts that bring to light divergent accounts of Christ's life and ministry. Robertson Dean reads King's translation of the ancient text with frequent pauses to note gaps of missing or untranslatable words and sentences. The main section of Pagels and King's book, narrated by Justine Eyre with occasional support from Dean who gives voice to individual historical figures, offers compelling insights about why the Gospel of Judas threatened the burgeoning religious hierarchy of the second century A.D. and how this often unsettling narrative ultimately manages to provide a surprising vision of heavenly grace amid the ravages of flawed earthly spiritual leadership. Drawing from their extensive expertise regarding contemporary understandings of the Gnostic gospels, the analysis the authors present will no doubt generate valuable theological dialogue. Yet the enigmatic nature of the source material may remain a stumbling block for listeners, and general audiences hoping for Gnosticism 101 may need to search elsewhere. Simultaneous release with the Viking hardcover(Apr.)
Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information
Library Journal
Who but Pagels (joined by Harvard Divinity professor King) to assess the Gospel of Judas? With a five-city tour. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
JUN/JUL 08 - AudioFile
The historical figure of Judas Iscariot is one of deep paradox—he was one of Jesus's handpicked followers, yet he is also the archetype of betrayal. Elaine Pagels and Karen King are both highly regarded yet unorthodox academics, from Princeton and Harvard, respectively. The professors attempt to recast the fallen disciple using the initial translation of the Judas document recently unveiled by the National Geographic Society. Justine Eyre reads the commentary, and Robertson Dean delivers the Judas material. Both try to create an air of reverence, but it ultimately falls flat under the weight of the dense Gnostic theology. Although audibly agreeable, the content overwhelms all but the most enthusiastic listeners. S.M.M. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine
