The Gospel of Judas: Polemic, Pop Culture, Fictious History

Abstract

The following essay is about the polemical nature of The Gospel of Judas. So much was initially said about the impact the publication of The Gospel of Judas would have upon our understanding of the history of Christianity, that the actual meaning of this text was ignored. In an effort to rush the translation to market for maximum commercial value, the important work of accurately translating the text was compromised. This caused a controversy around the meaning and impact of The Gospel of Judas that persists to this day, despite more recent accurate translations. This essay discusses the contradictory translations of the text, as well as the polemical nature of the gospel. We also have herein, a possible explanation as to why the initial translators made the decisions they made. The history of the gospel is also discussed as well as its authorship. Further research about the impact this text has on the overall study of Gnosticism, and its relationship to Christianity, can be achieved with a clearer understanding of the origin, and meaning of The Gospel of Judas.