The Gospel According to Judas: Is There a Limit to God's Forgiveness?

by Ray S. Anderson

Book by Anderson, Ray S.

160 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1991

About the author

aka Ray Sherman Anderson

Ray S. Anderson (Ph.D., University of Edinburgh) was senior professor of theology and ministry at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, where he had taught since 1976. He was also a contributing editor to Journal of Psychology and Theology.

He wrote many books, including Judas and Jesus: Amazing Grace for the Wounded Soul (2004), The Soul of God: A Theological Memoir (2004), Spiritual Caregiving as Secular Sacrament: A Practical Theology for Professional Caregivers (2003), Dancing with Wolves While Feeding the Sheep (2002), The New Age of Soul: Spiritual Wisdom for a New Millennium (2001), The Shape of Practical Theology: Empowering Ministry with Theological Praxis (2001), Living the Spiritually Balanced Life (1998) and The Soul of Ministry: Forming Leaders for God's People (1997). Anderson's articles and book reviews have been published in a wide array of scholarly and popular periodicals.

Reviews

[Anthony Yvonnica · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was good and it was uplifting.

I do believe that Jesus is able to forgive anyone of anything. And yes, Jesus can indeed choose to forgive Judas should that be his will. It's something we certainly won't know.

The fault with the book was that it assumed Judas has been forgiven and using that forgiveness suggests that we too can be forgiven as well.

There was too little theological study and too much assumption in this book. It was a "feel good" book but it didn't offer any substance.

[Mamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this before book many years before and I was struck by the radical contention that the risen Christ would offer forgiveness to Judas because his love was greater than Judas’ guilt, if only Judas could lift up his heart and accept redemption. I was no less struck now, thirty years later, by Judas’ hope that while he had not understood Jesus enough to remain an apostle, his gospel, or good news, was that forgiveness and change could help him come back as a friend.

[G Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Words escape me. This book is pretty scandalous, yet amazingly orthodox... had me looking at it with squinty and suspect eyes at some points, but at other times had me grinning with a s#!t eating grin at many times. Anyway, overall, a book worth reading. It *will* stretch your mind and your heart in so many (ultimately) good ways. Regardless of what others have said about Anderson, his work and his ministry matter - a lot - as they are firmly rooted in the Triune God of infinite mercy.

[Pamela Strickland · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book really made me think in a new way. Kind of a paradigm shift.

[Chris Theule · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a life changing book about God's grace.