The Thirteenth Apostle

"I didn't find the sublime Judas, at least not in Coptic. What I found were a series of English transition choices made by the National Geographic team, choices that permitted a different Judas to emerge in the English translation than in the Coptic original. Judas was not only not sublime, he was for more demonic then any Judas I know in any other piece of early Christian literature, Gnostic or otherwise." Introductory article and Q&A session on www.thesheepdip.co.uk Review and Interview for National Geographic News, December 21st 2007 "DeConick's exposition of Sethian Gnosticism is sympathetic and illuminating...her treatment of the Gospel of Judas is very helpful, and brings to a wide readership debates that are also taking place in academic conferences and the publications to which they will lead." Reviewed by Andrew Gregory in Church of England Newspaper, 2008 "[DeConick's] treatment of the Gospel of Jusas is very helpful and brings to a wide readership debates that are also taking place in academic conferences and the publications to which they will lead." - The Church of England Newspaper "This fascinating new book from April DeConick...takes issue with the recent translation and offers a wholly different interpretation, one that focuses on the various distinct sects of second and third century Christians but has much to say about our modern view of this infamous character." The Good Book Guide Mention- Chronicle of Higher Education, January 18, 2008 "NOT another book on the Gospel of Judas! That was my first reaction on seeing April DeConick's The Thirteenth Apostle ... Her book is different from the others that are on the market and offers an alternative translation of the text and a different view of Judas' fate." Methodist Recorder "By the time I'd read it, I felt as if I had been given a privileged glimpse into discussions concerning early church literature, as well as the reasons behind the writing of the original gospel of Judas ... a fascinating book." - Christian Marketplace Review in International Review of Biblical Studies, vol. 54:2007/08 Reviewed in Rivista di Storia del Cristianesimo, 2010 "Fascinating...offers a wholly different interpretation, one that focuses on the various distinct sects of second and third century Christians but has much to say about our modern view of this infamous character" Good Book Guide, 1 February 2008 "DeConick is not nearly so well known to the reading public as other Gospel of Judas scholars, such as Ehrman, King, and Pagels ... but DeConick's volume, offering as it does a substantial revision of the current consensus, deserves as much attention ... her book contains a vast amount of useful information, placing the Gospel in its historical and theological context in a manner that is very accessible to the general public. Additionally, many readers will appreciate her autobiographical sections, her analysis of contemporary Jesus films, and her annotated bibliography. As such, her book deserves a place in libraries along with other essential Judas publications." Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through faculty/ researchers; general readers. - --Sanford Lakoff "CHOICE " "She makes a very convincing case, in my view. Indeed, she is only one of a growing number of scholars who are dissenting from the interpretation of Judas Iscariot put forward by the National Geographic team of scholars, and we will be hearing from them in due course." - Birger A. Pearson, Religious Studies Review, June 2008--Sanford Lakoff "Religious Studies Review " "This monograph will no doubt continue to play a central and positive role in redefining the consensus on the gospel of Judas and on the ethics of scholarship ... DeConick has succeeded in presenting a scholarly argument in a form also accessible to a popular audience. Both audiences will appreciate the appendice

April D. DeConick is the Isla Carroll and Percy E. Turner Professor of Biblical Studies in the Department of Religious Studies at Rice University (Houston, Texas).

Preface; Part 1 An Unfamiliar Story; 1. The Silenced Voice; 2. A Gnostic Catechism; Part 2 Translation Matters; 3. A Mistaken Gospel; 4. The Gospel of Judas in English Translation; Part 3 Good Old Judas?; 5. Judas the Confessor; 6. Judas the Demon; 7. Judas the Sacrificer; 8. An Ancient Gnostic Parody; Epilogue.