Judas
The Most Hated Name In History
Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Bible & Bible Studies, New Testament, Criticism & Interpretation, Christianity
| Author: | Peter Stanford | ISBN: | 9781619027503 |
| Publisher: | Counterpoint Press | Publication: | January 1, 2016 |
| Imprint: | Counterpoint | Language: | English |
| Author: | Peter Stanford |
| ISBN: | 9781619027503 |
| Publisher: | Counterpoint Press |
| Publication: | January 1, 2016 |
| Imprint: | Counterpoint |
| Language: | English |
“A straightforward biography that thankfully avoids preaching. Readers curious about Judas’ broad effect on world history will welcome this book.” (Kirkus Reviews)
In this fascinating historical and cultural biography, Peter Stanford deconstructs that most vilified of Bible characters: Judas Iscariot, who famously betrayed Jesus with a kiss. Beginning with the gospel accounts, Stanford explores two thousand years of cultural and theological history to investigate how the very name Judas came to be synonymous with betrayal and, ultimately, human evil. But as the author points out, there has long been a counter-current of thought that suggests that Judas might in fact have been victim of a terrible injustice: central to Jesus’ mission was his death and resurrection, and for there to have been a death, there had to be a betrayal. This thankless role fell to Judas; should we in fact be grateful to him for his role in the divine drama of salvation? You’ll have to decide,” as Bob Dylan sang in the sixties, “Whether Judas Iscariot had God on his side.” An essential but doomed character in the Passion narrative, and thus the entire story of Christianity, Judas and the betrayal he symbolizes continue to play out in much larger cultural histories, speaking as he does to our deepest fears about friendship, betrayal, and the problem of evil.
“Light-hearted in tone, anecdotal in style, Peter Stanford’s narrative introduces the reader to profound themes.” —Karen Armstrong, New York Times–bestselling author of A History of God
“Fascinating from start to finish . . . a compelling examination of how someone could become so notorious that their name would be synonymous with evil.” —The Guardian
“A straightforward biography that thankfully avoids preaching. Readers curious about Judas’ broad effect on world history will welcome this book.” (Kirkus Reviews)
In this fascinating historical and cultural biography, Peter Stanford deconstructs that most vilified of Bible characters: Judas Iscariot, who famously betrayed Jesus with a kiss. Beginning with the gospel accounts, Stanford explores two thousand years of cultural and theological history to investigate how the very name Judas came to be synonymous with betrayal and, ultimately, human evil. But as the author points out, there has long been a counter-current of thought that suggests that Judas might in fact have been victim of a terrible injustice: central to Jesus’ mission was his death and resurrection, and for there to have been a death, there had to be a betrayal. This thankless role fell to Judas; should we in fact be grateful to him for his role in the divine drama of salvation? You’ll have to decide,” as Bob Dylan sang in the sixties, “Whether Judas Iscariot had God on his side.” An essential but doomed character in the Passion narrative, and thus the entire story of Christianity, Judas and the betrayal he symbolizes continue to play out in much larger cultural histories, speaking as he does to our deepest fears about friendship, betrayal, and the problem of evil.
“Light-hearted in tone, anecdotal in style, Peter Stanford’s narrative introduces the reader to profound themes.” —Karen Armstrong, New York Times–bestselling author of A History of God
“Fascinating from start to finish . . . a compelling examination of how someone could become so notorious that their name would be synonymous with evil.” —The Guardian
