Porter, Stanley E. and Gordon L. Heath. The Lost Gospel of Judas. Separating Fact from Fiction (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2007),pages 127. ISBN: 0802824560

This book offers much in a small compass; a survey of Judas’ role in the New Testament, a basic introduction to Gnosticism, an overview of patristic references to the Gospel of Judas, a comparison with other recent discoveries, a summary of the content of the Gospel and an evaluation of the Gospel’s character, authenticity and significance. This book offers much in a small compass; a survey of Judas’ role in the New Testament, a basic introduction to Gnosticism, an overview of patristic references to the Gospel of Judas, a comparison with other recent discoveries, a summary of the content of the Gospel and an evaluation of the Gospel’s character, authenticity and significance. This book offers much in a small compass; a survey of Judas’ role in the New Testament, a basic introduction to Gnosticism, an overview of patristic references to the Gospel of Judas, a comparison with other recent discoveries, a summary of the content of the Gospel and an evaluation of the Gospel’s character, authenticity and significance. The authors´ primary aim is to counterbalance the hyped media commentary that surrounded the release of the document and the book is therefore principally addressed to interested lay persons. Porter and Heath write from an overtly conservative standpoint and spend relatively much space arguing against revisionist theories of early Christianity. The discussion of the actual content of the Gospel is somewhat brief and the authors rely heavily, in this section as well as elsewhere, on the work of a limited number of other scholars. Even though this book leaves those of a more scholarly bent with much to be desired it helpfully puts the discovery of the Gospel of Judas into perspective for a broader audience. Porter and Heath have succeeded in producing a lucid and accessible book that effectively counters at least the most staggering claims about the Gospel of Judas.