The Gospel of Barnabas presents an alternative narrative to the traditional Christian account of Jesus' crucifixion. This text diverges considerably from those found in the canonical Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. In this text, Jesus is depicted as avoiding death on the cross through divine intervention, where he is lifted to heaven by angels. Following this miraculous event, Judas Iscariot is said to undergo a supernatural transformation, taking on the physical appearance of Jesus, and is crucified in his stead.
Scholars like Lonsdale Ragg and Laura Maria Roberts Ragg have traced the text back to the 13th or 14th century ([[Ragg1907-um]]). The gospel was written in a medieval context, centuries after the events it describes, leading scholars to reject its historical accuracy and reliability. [[Joosten2010-bf|Jan Joosten]], among others, has critically examined the text and deemed it a medieval forgery, indicating that it was likely composed with the intention of aligning with particular theological or ideological perspectives prevalent at the time of its writing. Scholars have criticized and rejected the theory, they dismiss it as a "fringe" theory with no basis in historical evidence (([[Morledge2007-wa]], [[Allison2009-yo]], [[Wright2003-bg]], [[Ehrman2012-eq]])). Richard Bauckham reports it as an ""fantasy"" that reflects a lack of understanding of the historical context of the early Christian movement ([[Bauckham2008-gw]]).
While the Gospel of Barnabas offers a perspective on the events surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus, it is not considered a reliable source by mainstream historical and theological standards. Its late composition and significant deviations from the established New Testament narratives contribute to its classification as a work of medieval fiction rather than a factual historical document. As such, while it may hold value as a piece of religious or historical literature, it does not hold the same historical credibility as the canonical Gospels in understanding the life and times of Jesus Christ.