Three Versions of Judas

Judas Iscariot, known for his betrayal of Jesus, is a key figure in the Gospel narratives. As an insider become outsider, Judas demarcates Christian boundaries of good and evil. ''Three Versions of Judas'' examines the role of Judas in Christian myth-making. The book draws on Jorge Luis Borges'' "Three Versions of Judas" to present three Judases in the Gospels: a Judas necessary to the divine plan; a Judas who is a determined outsider, denying himself for God''s glory; and a Judas who is demonic. Exploring the findings of biblical criticism and artistic responses to Judas, ''Three Versions of Judas'' offers an analysis of the evil necessarily inherent in Christian narratives about Judas.