The gospel according to Judas : by Benjamin Iscariot

Of course, this title attracted me. A gospel written by the man who handed Jesus over to be killed seems a contradiction. This is an interesting book. This story is narrated by Judas’s son, Benjamin Iscariot. In it he reveals all that his father told him about his life as a disciple. He explained how many events didn’t happen exactly as most people, today, believe they did.

This book reads like a narrative. In fact, it is a work of collaboration between a storyteller, Jeffrey Archer, and a scholar, Francis J. Moloney, both interpreting the Gospel of Judas, thought to be a gnostic gospel written in the second century.

I enjoyed the book. I just wonder how much is true. I wish I knew.

Maybe 2.5 stars. "Fictionalized" retelling of the Gospel story supposedly based on some research. It presents Judas as less diabolical and contends that he did not kill himself after being duped into the betrayal of Jesus.

A mock-biography written in the "as told to" format, Jeffrey Archer creates a Judas who is vastly different from the cowardly traitor most of us met in Sunday School. This Judas is beloved of Jesus, and follows Jesus' instructions. It was an enjoyable read, and a quick one.

The Pope recently referred to the continuing 'mystery of Judas'. This intriguing book - the result of an intense collaboration between one of the world's most popular storytellers and one of the world's leading biblical scholars - throws a new light on the events leading up to the great betrayal. This audio edition of the fifth gospel ostensibly written by the son of Judas, has been described by the Archbishop Desmond Tutu as "riveting and plausible" and is an account of the stories of Jesus and Judas which will open a whole new debate among secular and religious readers. The unlikely partnership of Jeffrey Archer and Francis J.Moloney was formed after Archer had sought advice from Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini on who should guide him show more through this demanding project. Among his many past students of the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Cardinal Martini singled out Professor Moloney, a graduate of that institute in 1972, who had completed his doctoral studies at Oxford University in 1975. The project was as bold as it was simple: Archer would write a story for twenty-first-century readers, while Moloney would ensure that the result would be credible to a first-century Christian or Jew. Story-telling and scholarship have come together to create what will be one of the year's most intriguing and controversial books. show less

Not terribly impressed with this one. The writing is relatively flat & the majority of Judas' "story" is just a recount of the events told in the other gospels. As a refresher of Jesus' life, this may fit the bill, but there's nothing spectacular about the writing. The ending offers another possible interpretation of Judas post-crucifixion, which may or may not be plausible, but that in itself wasn't enough to make this book memorable for me.

Good novelistic attempt to re-tell the story of Jesus of Nazareth through the eyes of Judas. Not an orthodox view of Jesus, but raises questions about the narratives of the four gospels. Frank Maloney (co-author) said his aim was to get people to look again at Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Imaginative presentation with gilt-edged pages and traditional use of red ink makes the book a delight to hold.

Interesting blend of storytelling & facts, plus great packaging. Looks like a leather journal, pages are gilded on edge, ribbon to mark your place like in bibles.