Problems with the So-Called Gospel of Judas

I have been traveling around extensively teaching on The Da Vinci Code for the past two months, and one question, more than any other, continues to arise in Q & A's after the study. This is the question: "What do you think about the Gospel of Judas? Is there any chance that it is true?"

The answer is no.

1. It contradicts authentic, divinely inspired revelation.
2. It was written in the second century, by a Gnostic,* long after the time of Judas. Even National Geographic acknowledges this on their website, even clearly stating that the only surviving manuscript copy we have dates to the third or fourth century.

Is there even a small chance this was written by Judas, one of the twelve disciples? No.

*Gnosticism was a philosophy that developed over several centuries before Christ. Some of its core teachings are:

1. All matter is evil, and the non-material, spirit-realm is good.
2. There is an unknowable God, who gave rise to many lesser spirit beings called Aeons.
3. One evil, lower spirit being is the creator who made the universe.
4. Gnosticism does not deal with 'sin', only ignorance.
5. To achieve salvation, one needs to get in touch with secret knowledge.