The Gospel According to Judas Iscariot

Just reading the title of “The Gospel According to Judas Iscariot” makes you think. Peter Leighton has taken probably the most despised man in Biblical history and has turned his life into a treatise on forgiveness. The reflection in the mirror of our own lives is jaw-dropping.

Before reading this book, my own perception of Iscariot was of a shady character who either betrayed the trust he was given or was suckered into it. In my consciousness his story ended with his suicide and it is only now that I realize that I know little about his life except for the fatal kiss and the 30 pieces of gold.

Intriguingly, Leighton began writing the book in 1990 before the discovery of a papyrus that has been suggested is the real Gospel according to Judas Iscariot. Leighton’s research and imagination seem to have been pretty accurate. The book tells two stories; the original and a 21st century parallel about corporate relationships. This device makes the messages so much more accessible to a modern audience.

In the same way that “The DaVinci Code” raised hackles and questions in equal numbers, you can be sure that “The Gospel According to Judas Iscariot” will have the same effect. The mere hint that Judas was following a well oiled plan that would free Jesus from his earthly body and kick-start Christianity is something the Vatican might find difficult to explain.

Peter Leighton’s credentials as a biblical scholar are well established and “The Gospel According to Judas Iscariot” is a thought-provoking novel that will cause you to reflect deeply about your purpose here.