"To Exhibit Their Sentiments, Is To Obtain A Victory Over Them"

Irenaeus made some comments about Gnosticism in general that are applicable to the Gospel of Judas. Anybody who reads the portions of the Gospel of Judas that have been made available to the public should find himself reaching a conclusion similar to Irenaeus':

"They have now been fully exposed; and simply to exhibit their sentiments, is to obtain a victory over them. Wherefore I have laboured to bring forward, and make clearly manifest, the utterly ill-conditioned carcase of this miserable little fox. For there will not now be need of many words to overturn their system of doctrine, when it has been made manifest to all. It is as when, on a beast hiding itself in a wood, and by rushing forth from it is in the habit of destroying multitudes, one who beats round the wood and thoroughly explores it, so as to compel the animal to break cover, does not strive to capture it, seeing that it is truly a ferocious beast; but those present can then watch and avoid its assaults, and can cast darts at it from all sides, and wound it, and finally slay that destructive brute. So, in our case, since we have brought their hidden mysteries, which they keep in silence among themselves, to the light, it will not now be necessary to use many words in destroying their system of opinions. For it is now in thy power, and in the power of all thy associates, to familiarize yourselves with what has been said, to overthrow their wicked and undigested doctrines, and to set forth doctrines agreeable to the truth." (Against Heresies, 1:31:3-4)