LOST GOSPEL OF JUDAS ISCARIOT, THE

*Starred Review* There's been a flurry of attention about a biblical discovery recently brought to light--a Gospel that paints the apostle Judas in a very different light than the four Gospels of the New Testament. The National Geographic Society, which was instrumental in bringing the lost Gospel of Judas to light, has already put out two books and one TV show on the subject. Ehrman, who was one of the few people called upon to authenticate the manuscript, goes beyond those two volumes, examining the lost Gospel for new insights about early Christianity and putting the codex into a historical context. Always an engaging writer, Ehrman has his work cut out for him here. The Gospel of Judas, which falls into the Gnostic tradition, can be puzzling, even bizarre. But, in step-by-step fashion, Ehrman leads his readers through the maze, covering the background of Gnosticism in general, exploring how this Gospel fits into that tradition, and examining precisely what the book says: that Judas was the recipient of secret revelations because he alone of all the disciples understood Jesus' message of salvation, and that he is to be honored for executing his part of the divine plan. 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.