In *And Judas Iscariot*, J. Wilbur Chapman examines the most enigmatic figure in the Passion narrative, using Judas's betrayal of Christ as a searching study in moral failure, spiritual opportunity, and human responsibility. Written in the homiletic and devotional mode characteristic of late-nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century evangelical literature, the book joins biblical exposition with direct pastoral appeal. Chapman does not treat Judas merely as a villain of sacred history; rather, he considers how proximity to Jesus, religious privilege, divided motives, and unrepented sin can coexist within a person. Its plain, urgent prose and emphasis on self-examination place the work within the revivalist tradition, where interpretation is intended to culminate in conversion and renewed discipleship. Chapman (1859–1918) was a prominent Presbyterian evangelist, preacher, and Christian writer whose ministry was shaped by the American revival movement and its concern for personal salvation. His preaching sought to translate biblical narratives into immediate ethical and spiritual challenges for ordinary hearers. That vocation helps explain the book's concentrated attention to Judas: the apostle becomes not only a historical subject but also a warning against outward association with faith without inward surrender. Chapman's pastoral experience gives the discussion its practical, admonitory force. This concise volume will interest readers of biblical interpretation, evangelical history, and Christian devotional literature. It is especially valuable for those seeking to understand how revivalist preachers transformed a familiar Gospel episode into an examination of conscience. Readers should approach it not simply as a biography of Judas, but as a provocative meditation on temptation, accountability, and the consequences of refusing grace.
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