THE GOSPEL OF JUDAS

A leather-bound Coptic language papyrus document that surfaced during the 1970s, near Beni Masar, EGYPT was named the CODEX TCHACOS after an antiquities dealer, Frieda Nussberger-Tchacos, who became concerned about the deteriorating condition of the manuscript. First translated in the early 2000s, the codex contains text that appears to be from the late 2nd century, and includes the self-titled "Gospel of Judas" (Euangelion Ioudas) which relates the story of JESUS death from the viewpoint of Judas.

In contrast to the canonical gospels, which paint Judas as the betrayer who delivered Jesus up to the authorities for crucifixion in exchange for money, the Gospel of Judas portrays Judas's actions as done in obedience to instructions given by Christ. It does not claim that the other disciples knew about Jesus's true teachings. On the contrary, it asserts that they had not learned the true Gospel, which Jesus taught only to Judas Iscariot, the sole follower belonging to the "holy generation" among the disciples.