The Apostle Judas Iscariot is the world’s most famous traitor, whose very name “Judas” has become a synonym for “traitor.” But in thinking about the story of his betrayal, many have asked, “didn’t Jesus need to be betrayed in order to be crucified and bring about salvation for humankind?” If so, were Judas’ actions foreordained and, in some sense, justified as fulfilling part of God’s plan? This was the perspective of the Gnostic Christian community that produced the Gospel of Judas — an ancient text that attempts to rehabilitate the apostle as a crucial hero of the story. Although lost for many centuries, a single damaged manuscript of the text was found in Egypt in 20th century. John Hamer of Toronto Centre Place will review the history and contents of the gospel and consider its treatment of Judas within the context of Gnosticism and wider Christian thought about Jesus’ betrayer.