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Please sign in or create an account. Description The first book to challenge The National Geographic version of the Gospel of Judas, The Thirteenth Apostle is sure to inspire to fresh debate around this most infamous of biblical figures. Close Preview. The Silenced Voice 2. A Mistaken Gospel 4. Judas the Confessor 6. Judas the Demon 7.
Judas the Sacrificer 8. An Ancient Gnostic Parody Epilogue. About the contributors. Author April D. DeConick April D. Mention- Chronicle of Higher Education, January 18, Related Titles. Jul 12, EPI rated it it was ok Shelves: crime-mystery-horror. Nothing like a good mystery page turner on a slow day, but this is not quite close.
The writer is an ex-Benedictine monk who has spent more than two decades of his life researching the life of Jesus. Much of his research has been somehow weaved into or worked in the plot of this mystery about the so-called mysterious thirteenth apostle who was also present at the Last Supper with Jesus and the Twelve.
Central to this mystery is the Dan-Brown like premise that Jesus did not rise from the dead thr Nothing like a good mystery page turner on a slow day, but this is not quite close. Central to this mystery is the Dan-Brown like premise that Jesus did not rise from the dead three days later, as was recorded in the gospels, but in fact was buried in the Negev desert by the Essenes, who formed a separate sect called the Nazorenes and who did not worship the divinity of Christ, but only Jesus the man.
Their beliefs were recorded in documents forming part of the Dead Sea Scrolls found in Qumran. All very heretical stuff, highly controversial, and out to spin the Vatican on its proverbial top. In this case, a monk who has "discovered" this secret of Jesus' fake divinity is killed, and his friend seeks to rediscover his truth, and much is made of the search for the secret missive of the thirteenth apostle who provided incontrovertible truth of Jesus' burial and also, perhaps the physical location of Jesus' tomb out in the desert.
Unfortunately, the story loses a great deal of its momentum by the constant segue back into snippets of the past, making it less than page-turning, the very wooden conversation between the characters, and finally the way the entire mystery simply fizzles out once the mysterious epistle is found.
The Vatican continues much as it does before, albeit even solidifying its power. After so much is made of the consequences this letter would have for Christianity, as a reader I got a bit bloodthirsty, and wanted to see some firework consequences, if just a tad.
Feb 16, Matthew Christmas rated it really liked it. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Very thoughtful and enjoyable; a great advance on books like the De Vinci Code etc. One character - the Rector - was overdone in terms of perverse behaviour! May 22, Marc rated it it was amazing.
A really good story. A mixture of a religious study and a detective thriller, involving the secret forces of three religions and their politics. The murder of a monk recently called to Rome to justify his research which is passed off as a suicide sets the ball rolling. His friend and fellow monk, Father Nil, carries on his work and investigates both his death and his ongoing studies.
When Nel in his turn is called to Rome he is spied on by agents of the Jewish and Palestinian secret services in A really good story. When Nel in his turn is called to Rome he is spied on by agents of the Jewish and Palestinian secret services in the pay of a Vatican power broker with a secret sexual fantasy world. Father Nil meets up with an old friend from his days as a seminarian and together they strive to discover the truth about the Thirteenth Apostle from their examination of ancient documents and the search for a missing epistle he is said to have written.
The story recounts events from the first century AD as the man they call Jesus's beloved disciple falls out with Peter in the aftermath of the crucifixion and he is driven into exile. The historical back story also includes a link to the birth of Islam and the role of the Knights Templar. All these woven into the main narrative, along with the power struggle between various cardinals jealous self advancement. All in all, a very good story that keeps you guessing and drags you along with its twists and turns.
Aug 21, Kathy rated it really liked it Shelves: books-i-recommend , reviewed-books , suspense-thriller , religion , books-read-in Evidently his friend, Father Andrei had stumbled upon an ancient text that could change the Catholic Church as the followers know it. The Vatican officials do not want this text to resurface to the public.
They will at all costs try to quiet those that get to close to this scroll. Father Nil travels to Rome not only to find out how his friend had died but also to follow the clues that The Thirteenth Apostle - Michel Benoit Father Nil seeks on a path of truth and also to redeemed his friends life. Father Nil travels to Rome not only to find out how his friend had died but also to follow the clues that his friend had left behind. Will Father Nil find the text before the Vatican assassins find him?
Will he let the truth be known to the world? Find out for yourself by picking up a copy of this intriguing book.
I loved how the author weaved in the historical events of Jesus's time and what he thought had happened. It's interesting that Jesus's brother James wanted to keep his brothers teachings sacred and didn't like how Peter used his brother's death to pursue his own power to make Christ more than he was.
Oct 17, Yassemin rated it it was ok Shelves: couldnt-finish , average-nothing-special , historical-fiction , italian , reviewed , library-not-owned.
Made it all the way to and something pages but couldn't bring myself to read any further when I have other hopefully better library books waiting to be read.
It started off good with a good opening chapter but then it went downhill. None of this was to do with the plot, the plot seemed to be a good idea. The present interested me more with the Monk carrying out his investigations whilst the past revolving around Jesus I couldn't really get my head around and this was because of the writing.
The writing is the problem with this book, it's very detached and uninteresting and ultimately the reason I stopped reading this. Had the author not written in such a way, I'm pretty sure I would have OK'd the book if not liked it. I'll stick to the likes of Steve Berry and James Rollins in future, much more exciting to read than this lark! May 29, Dang Thien rated it liked it. Made it three stars as my readable benchmark.
A good start for those still holding conspiracy theories on the betrayal of Judas and three denials of Peter the Fisherman. Though it stands out of the similar conspiracy novels of Dan Brown that to be honest I fancy the acting of Tom Hanks rather than the own scenes , some of French, Italian and Vatican culture are depicted, leading readers through bare woods of suburbs of Paris to the Holiness in Vatican.
More to be added, some conflicting interes Made it three stars as my readable benchmark. More to be added, some conflicting interests in Arabic world aew mentioned then solved quite soundly. The author confronts the hardship of homosexuality in Christianity, a heading matter nowadays, particularly in centre of Paris, the Notre-Dome Basilica. Good read for those stuck in these things. Recommend handing a New Testament for first-hand readers. Should be able to read in Christianity before conspiring Christian.
Not just another Da Vinci Code wannabe. The author is a former monk, and you know there is insight when he talks about the Vatican. Besides, there is historical truth at the basis of this thriller, as the postface explains.
The story is interesting. It has some suspense, although it's not really surprising. The characters are basic, the writing decent But its interest is in something else: it's in its vision of the Church and of Jesus and also its controversial description of the Vatican and Not just another Da Vinci Code wannabe.
But its interest is in something else: it's in its vision of the Church and of Jesus and also its controversial description of the Vatican and some real persons with thinly veiled names like "Catzinger". Love this. This book managed to differentiate itself from other titles from the same theme and have it's own identity. The way Benoit using the different types of gospels as premises to relate, develop and redevelop the plot is admirable to me that non christian could enjoy it.
Like a lecturer teaching and giving comparison; so the student could think critically. I believed when Benoit doing his research; which probably in taken place during his 22 years spent as a priest in catholic monastery, Love this.
I believed when Benoit doing his research; which probably in taken place during his 22 years spent as a priest in catholic monastery, he stumbled upon something that should be left hidden. Therefore doing a fiction is a good way indirectly tell the world without compromising anybody or anything. It's up to the reader's to catch up the hidden meaning interwoven between fact and fiction.
May 13, Donna torrance rated it liked it. Jul 26, Daniel rated it it was ok. To be true i had a little bit of a hard time reading must of the chapters of this book.
I dont know if it was because of the kind of writting of the author , the translation or because i had the edition of four hundred pages but this novel had a very good theme but it didnt get my attention.
The only ideas i liked where the ones that gave arguments of how the Vatican and the church worked to handle information and mantain the status quo. I think this book could be much better and thats what i wa To be true i had a little bit of a hard time reading must of the chapters of this book.
I think this book could be much better and thats what i was hopping to read. Better than The Da Vinci Code. Read it if you've nothing better. BTW, a search for this book showed many books with the same titles. Speculation in these books about who the 13th Apostle was range from Mary Magdalene to an unknown favorite- your choice. We pay our respects to their Ancestors, past present and emerging.
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