The discovery and publication of the Gospel of Judas created a real sensation. Many expected that the found apocrypha would change all ideas about Christianity and would become a serious test of strength for the church, which for many centuries had been offering its own version of the teachings of Jesus and the meaning of the Gospel events. Now that the wave of hastily put together bookish consumer goods has subsided and the journalistic hysteria has subsided, the time has come to soberly understand the topic that has captivated the minds of millions. How to treat the Gospel of Judas? What does this ancient apocrypha actually indicate? Why should you listen to representatives of traditional Christianity? Recognized expert on the Bible and the history of early Christianity, Tom Wright, shows that the truth is much more interesting than the inventions of the creators of a new myth. Beware fakes!

“Beware of fakes!” - the author of this book urges. Today, many scientists and journalists are in a hurry to inflate a new myth about the origin of Christianity. They contrast church tradition and teaching recorded in ancient manuscripts that were once lost and miraculously recovered, and, fascinated by Gnostic ideas, they write about “alternative Christianity” and “alternative Jesus.” However, classical Christianity contains much more life and hope than is imagined by the populists of the new myth or those who offer newly discovered Gnostic texts as a panacea for all ills. This is why the ancient Christians accepted the gospel message and rejected all varieties of “secret knowledge” as a surrogate " Today some rejected and forgotten artifacts of this They are trying to pass off Gnostic culture as real Christianity.

In the Gospel of Judas, the Apostle Judas is called the greatest of Jesus' disciples. He is the only one capable of understanding the most profound teachings and revelations of his teacher. The discovery of the Gospel of Judas created a genuine sensation. Many expected that the found text would revolutionize all ideas about Christianity and become a serious test of strength for the church, which for many centuries had been offering its own version of the teachings of Jesus and the meaning of the Gospel events. Now that the wave of hastily compiled bookish consumer goods has subsided and the journalistic hysteria has subsided, it is time to soberly understand on a topic that has captivated the minds of millions. How to relate to the Gospel of Judas? What does this ancient apocrypha actually indicate? Why you should listen to representatives of traditional Christianity? “Tom Wright once again most convincingly rejects all kinds of attempts to “reconsider” Christianity. He relies on those qualities that distinguish him from other orthodox authors: his inquisitive mind and his willingness to impartially consider the most unusual ideas.”

© V. E. Vitkovsky, translation of the Gospel of Judas and commentaries on it. , 2008 © Craig Evans, Appendix III to the Russian edition. Originally published as a section in the book Fabricating Jesus in 2006. Used here with permission from Inter Varsity Press, P. O. Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA.www.ivpress.comISBN 978–5–699–34837–4 © Eksmo Publishing House OOO, 2009

Tom Wright (b. 1948) is a specialist in The New Testament and the history of early Christianity, Bishop of Durham, member of the House of Lords of Great Britain, one of the most interesting and original authors in the conservative direction of modern Western biblical studies. Tom Wright has written more than 40 books on the New Testament and early Christianity. Tom Wright's website: http: / /www.ntwrightpage.com/