The discovery of a previously lost Gospel of Judas Iscariot has electrified the Christian community, portraying this despised man as someone who saw his role in the Passion of Christ as integral to a larger plan, and bringing new clarity to the old story. If Judas had not betrayed Jesus, Jesus would not have been handed over to the authorities, crucified, buried, and raised from the dead. Could it be that without Judas, the Easter miracle would never have happened?
In The Secrets of Judas, James M. Robinson examines the Bible and other ancient texts and reveals what we can and cannot know about the life of the historical Judas, his role in Jesus's crucifixion, and whether the Christian church should reevaluate his intentions and possible innocence. Robinson tells the story of the discovery of a gospel attributed to Judas, and shows how this affects Judas's newfound meaning for history and for the Christian faith.