Canon Status
Not canonical in any tradition. Gnostic (Cainite) in orientation.
Date & Provenance
Composed in Greek before 180 CE, when Irenaeus condemned it.
Language & Manuscripts
Coptic text in Codex Tchacos (c. 280 CE, radiocarbon dated 220–340 CE). Found in Egypt in the 1970s, published in 2006.
Why It Matters for Study
Presents Judas as Jesus' closest confident and the one who facilitated his death for the salvation of humanity. Important for understanding Gnostic Christology and the diversity of early Christian tradition.
" The secret account of the revelation that Jesus spoke in conversation with Judas Iscariot." — Gospel of Judas 1:1
Read the Text & External Resources
Public-domain translations and scholarly databases where the text can be read online or downloaded.
- Gospel of Judas — National Geographic Official translation and scholarly resources.
- Early Christian Writings — Gospel of Judas Indexed text and scholarly discussion.
External links open in a new tab. Sources are chosen for public-domain or open-access availability; always verify edition and translation when citing in academic work.
Further Reading
Kasser, R., Meyer, M., & Wurst, G. The Gospel of Judas. National Geographic, 2006.
Pagels, E., & King, K. L. Reading Judas. Viking, 2007.
DeConick, A. D. The Thirteenth Apostle: What the Gospel of Judas Really Says. Continuum, 2007.