National Geographic News: Some biblical scholars are calling the Gospel of Judas the most significant archaeological discovery in 60 years.
The only known surviving copy of the gospel was found in a codex, or ancient book, that dates back to the third or fourth century A.D.
The newly revealed gospel document, written in Coptic script, is believed to be a translation of the original, a Greek text written by an early Christian sect sometime before A.D. 180.
The Bible’s New Testament Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—depict Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, as a traitor. In biblical accounts Judas gives up Jesus Christ to his opponents, who later crucify the founder of Christianity.
The Gospel of Judas, however, portrays him as acting at Jesus’ request.
(READ MORE).
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April 6, 2006 at 15:52
This is part of the Gnostic gospels and therefore should be treated as such. The Gnostic gospels were intentionally left out of our canon for many reasons – most theological due to errancy in their beliefs – most of them highly heretical. So why should we give this funding any attention other than it being a historical find.
April 6, 2006 at 15:54
Although I do not believe The Gospel of Judas should be part of the Canon of Scripture, from a strictly academic standpoint, I can fathom the premise. It sounds almost like what Paul states in one of his letters:
Of course most lies contain just enough truth to be fathomable, huh.
April 6, 2006 at 16:08
I did read the article on National Geographic, and it would fit with the some of other non-canonical Gospels (e.g., the Gospel of James [Infancy Gospel of James], the Gospel of Peter, Gospel of Thomas [Infancy Gospel of Thomas]) in terms of dating. Not only so, it appears that this is a Gnostic Gospel: quoting from the National Geographic site:
In the key passage Jesus tells Judas, ”’you will exceed all of them. For you will sacrifice the man that clothes me.’”
Kasser, the translation-project leader, offers an interpretation: “Jesus says it is necessary for someone to free him finally from his human body, and he prefers that this liberation be done by a friend rather than by an enemy.
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The author of the 26-page Gospel of Judas remains anonymous. But the text reflects themes that scholars regard as being consistent with Gnostic traditions.
(The Gospel of Thomas tends to be Gnostic as well.)
While there is some speculation about Greek sources, I wonder if this is so authentic, why it is limited to the same area of Egypt as other non-canonical Gospels and why it isn’t as widespread as the other Gospels? (I don’t buy Ehrman’s explanation.)
April 7, 2006 at 10:32
The Gospel of Judas is a gnostic gospel. Should NOT be part of the true teachings of the Real gospels of the Bible. But, unfortunitly the non- believers are going use this against the true Christianity. I pray that the babes in Christ can see through the non-believers attempt to damage thier faith.
April 7, 2006 at 11:22
Just to clarify none of the scholars advocate for it being considered cannonical, or even within the possibility of it being listed as such. They all acknowledge that its written late and is has theology that is traditionally labeled “gnostic.” But its still an important find as so incredibly few texts have survived from that era, its importance is more scholarly than spiritual.
I think Ehrman’s point is that the gnostics as we call them, considered themselves Christian. So its not as though there were the “christians” and the “gnostics” as separate religions back then but rather two sects of Christianity (which is why they wrote against each other so much); they just happened to understand almost everything different from one another.
April 7, 2006 at 14:39
The farther the text is written from the actual event the less credible it is. This Gnostic gospel or account has been carbon dated (a test I don’t think is appropriate for dating everything) to about the third century and therefore subject to a lot of error in the retelling. I also think that many of the Gnostic texts were very heretical and inspired by Satan in an attempt to muddy the “living water” so-to-speak. The best way to kill the truth is to tell everyone that it’s really a lie.
Why did Judas hang himself, if he had a clear conscience and his actions had been approved by his Lord and friend Jesus? One who is approved does not take his life but rather would strive to live and proclaim the truth and ministry of Jesus. Many forget that Judas was a Zealot and he must have believed that if and when Jesus (the Messiah) was arrested and persecuted by the authorities, Jesus would then reveal His divine nature and claim the throne of David (as prophecy foretold). Also Judas was hoping for the destruction of all enemies of Israel.
April 7, 2006 at 14:44
Is a sane person such a Jesus suicidal? I’m saying this from the perspective of an unbeliever which I am not. Only a loving, merciful God could lay down His life as Jesus did.
I’ve read all the wise, reflective and Biblical arguments previously published and they are true as well. Like those who have written to you previously, I believe the Bible to be 100 per cent true and the only book I would hang my life and eternal life upon.
Yours because His,
Char
April 8, 2006 at 14:24
I actually read the Gospel of Judas today. It makes no sense…I have found more Biblical truth (which isn’t much mind you, lol) in the Book of Mormon and in the Kabbalah than in this “gospel”. I understand that it is an important find and what have you…but…like what was mentioned in a previous post, the non-believing scholars are going to try to present it as, “this is what actually happened…not what the Bible says happened.” Like I had said in other forums of similar topic…why don’t they do that with Sufiism? That’s basically “Gnostic” Islam…why don’t these scholars get some of their (Sufi) writings and use it to discredit the Q’uran? Why do only Christians have to suffer from these false, anti-Christian propaganda campaigns by having to debate and argue and disprove these lies?
April 9, 2006 at 08:07
I do find it interesting that a book originally written 100 years after the four gospels of the NT, with this copy 100 years after the copies of the other gospels we have, with this being the only copy in existence, and with few outside references to it. And yet the ‘scholars’ claim it is somehow of importance; “the most significant archaeological discovery in 60 years”.
I am, quite honestly, dumbfounded by such claims, by such illogical behavior. If the same book were found but it confirmed everything in the NT gospels, would it have any media attention? Is the mere fact that it contradicts Biblical accounts the only reason for it to be so lauded in the secular press? Men are truly sheep.
April 9, 2006 at 23:11
The fact is that this quote ” lost text”, werent lost at all..remember they were sitting in Dan Brown’s safe deposit box in Switzerland. Isnt it funny that National Geographic comes out with this ” shocking revelation” that is supposed to change the belief of christians, yet at the same time they are touting “lucy the ape” as the credible missing link debunked over 50 yrs ago, and now they are dragging old fish heads out they just found as the quote ” link between all sea life and land animals…..well i read part of these documents of the Gospel of Judas, and the very first chapter sounds just like the da vinci code book…It states that The Holy Ghost Molested Mary to Concieve Jesus, and also states that the when Jesus found the diciples that they were a bunch of drunken fishermen, and stunk and women would stay away from them….This is no different that the early 70’s when they were telling us that they found the shroud of turin, and it was a hoax by an unknown artist. what will they think of next to discredit Christianity….
April 10, 2006 at 00:49
There is a constant need to be able to discern and divide the truth from falsehood. And this is possible.
And it is not just reliance and trust in some authority, dead or current in some pulpit.
Rather we have a Teacher and we have a Father who loves us.
For the situation today cannot be any different from the days of the Gnostic. Even as there were heresies then, so are there heresies today. Have you heard any lately? I did, and it was claimed that we can choose God.
Also many false prophets are in the world today. Again have you met one yet? If not, we have to question the authenticity or reinterpret the plain reading of what Jesus said.
Many will indeed be led astray, then as it is now, except for the elect.
April 10, 2006 at 09:33
Someone help me here. Weren’t the Gospels actually written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John? If this is the Gospel of Judas written hundreds of years later, how did Judas, who hung himself, write it?
April 10, 2006 at 12:47
The Gospel of Judas is NOT an important spiritual find. It is merely an important ARCHAEOLOGICAL find, an insight into what some Christians were drawn to and offered the world around 300 A.D. But the swirl of attention does remind us that of the MANY “gospels” in circulation for the first 200-300 years, some church councils CHOSE the ones they DEFINED as orthodox. Who knows whether the ones that have come down to us as “accepted” are the closest to what Jesus actually taught? It is a good possibility that the Gospel According to John was written around 200 AD, by a Greek Christian (not by Jesus’s disciple John). It is written in upper class Greek syntax, and draws on Greek philosophical concepts (logos to begin with) that are missing from the other three. The disciple John would have written in Aramaic, then perhaps have been translated into crude Greek…
Who knows? It is unwise to go hitting each other over the head with the bare words on the page. We don’t really know how well it has all come down to us. We do know that there is something in there somewhere that did save us, as nothing else did.
April 10, 2006 at 20:00
I have to admit that several years ago I pondered this question; “What if Judas was just playing his part of God’s plan?” And the only conclusion I could really come to is that it makes no difference to Christianity, only to Judas, himself. Maybe Judas isn’t roasting in hell, but does it change Jesus’ message? No. Not a bit.
I thought of Judas in relation to Pharoah. God hardened Pharoah’s heart many times, then brought the plagues upon Egypt. So is Pharoah burning in hell? Maybe. But if not, does it change Jesus’ message? Again, no.
So the bottom line is that to a true Christian, this “Gospel of Judas” will in no way, shape or form change their faith. Jesus told us that He is the way, truth and life. To believe otherwise, that some secret knowledge would be your way into heaven (as the author(s) of the Judas gospel would have us believe) would mean Jesus was a liar.
Jesus wasn’t a liar. End of story. The “Gospel of Judas” isn’t scripture and has no merit. But it will sell magazines, and I’m sure God will use it to stir the imaginations of some who will come into the fold for it. Again, what it won’t do is turn a true Christian away from Christ.
April 13, 2006 at 00:14
Praise The Lord!
When I heard about the Gospel of Judas I thought how those who are not much stronger in their Christian faith will withstand something like this which is completey against the idea of Christ sacrificing HIS life for sinners like us.
The image of Christ as is presented in the Gospel of Judas was not of a sacrificial lamb. Further the language and presentation was indeed in direct conflict with the other Gospels. All this is enough to shake someone who has just come into faith and is vulnerable to the attacks of enemy.
In these end times Satan has only one weapon to invalidate the truth and that is trying to prove that its a lie. I was happy indeed to find few fellow brothers in Christ who are not ready to compromise on their faith that they have on their true savior, Jesus the Christ.
April 14, 2006 at 14:46
Something extraordinary defintely happened at the beginning of our era. There must have been a man called Jesus, who preached what he did. However We will never have sufficient information to corroborate his devine nature. It is difficult to make distincion between historical Jesus and the one that was deified. Gospels are not accurate record of his life. There is so much contradiction in various epsiodes in his life. So much is missing as if somebody wanted to make obscure or unknown certain parts of his life. In those times it was easier according to Ernest Bloch to save someones
soul than to feed the person.Christ life will always reamin an enigma without real answer that we all are looking for it.