The Gospel of Judas

Has anyone else heard about this?

Scientists discovered an ancient manuscript, which is supposed to be a "Lost Gospel" of the Bible. It's the Gospel of Judas.

Being Catholic, I understand that there are only a few gospels which are accepted as part of the faith: Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John. However, there also exist other "Gospels" supposedly written by the other disciples. These are known as the "Gnostic Gospels" and they are considered as not being true by the church.

Basically, In the Bible, Judas is the disciple who betrays Jesus by letting him get arrested, for the price of a few pieces of Silver. He later becomes so wracked with guilt that he commits suicide by hanging himself. Suicide is considered a mortal sin, and according to the text "Dante's Inferno" Judas was punished and sent to the seventh circle of Hell. He is considered to be the ultimate traitor because of his acts.

However, the Gospel of Judas begs to differ, saying that he was actually just doing what Jesus had asked him to do, and that his betrayal had been simply a part of God's plan.

Now, the question is whether or not this "Lost Gospel" could be true?

Now for my opinion. Looking at this, and considered how much it would affect my faith, I'd say very little. Even before I'd heard of this I'd always accepted that it was God's will that Judas betrayed Jesus anyway. All the gospel does is say that Jesus instructed Judas directly to do this as part of God's will.

So, for me, it is an interesting find. But if it is true, it wouldn't be earth-shattering, despite what you might be lead to believe. It feels more like a footnote in history.

I want to see the original Greek/Latin, all possible translations, and an extensive study of the events as portrayed in the GoJ before I make any judgment call based on it. The fact that Jesus is God and that it is God's will that Judas betray Jesus probably means that whatever is written in the GoJ doesn't really apply anyway (Jesus says at the Last Supper that Judas will betray Him anyway, doesn't He?). It's all about interpretation, original language, and diction, none of which has been publicly revealed yet.

Originally Posted by LionHarted

I want to see the original Greek/Latin, all possible translations, and an extensive study of the events as portrayed in the GoJ before I make any judgment call based on it. The fact that Jesus is God and that it is God's will that Judas betray Jesus probably means that whatever is written in the GoJ doesn't really apply anyway (Jesus says at the Last Supper that Judas will betray Him anyway, doesn't He?). It's all about interpretation, original language, and diction, none of which has been publicly revealed yet.

Actually, it was revealed publically at a news conference awhile back.

Originally Posted by Blue Knight

Actually, it was revealed publically at a news conference awhile back.

Where can I access: 1) the original text, in its original language, 2) the various translations of this text? I know that the Gospel was "revealed" to the public, but do we have access to these two things? Not yet.

Originally Posted by LionHarted

Where can I access: 1) the original text, in its original language, 2) the various translations of this text? I know that the Gospel was "revealed" to the public, but do we have access to these two things? Not yet.

The National Geographic Museum. They have it on exhibit there.

Well, carbon dating shows it was written around 300 AD. My question is, how can someone write about something that happened 300 years prior? Surely the story must have changed a bit since then.

Until I see reliable proof, I'm going to consider this a conspiracy like Dan Brown. :/

Originally Posted by Thorn

Well, carbon dating shows it was written around 300 AD. My question is, how can someone write about something that happened 300 years prior? Surely the story must have changed a bit since then.

Well you have to consider that many of the gospels were written after the apostles were dead and buried...the stories were told as an oral tradition, the apostles were unable to write being fisherman and unlearned people. The thing is we dont know how much the story has changed, we would have to hear the original story and the story written and see the variations...chances are the story has been changed because of the time between it occuring and being written down.

The whole deal with this "Gospel of Judas" is not new, it has been in the hands of the Vatican for a long time...it has been hidden in their vaults. I dont know if the whole thing with Judas happened the way it was said in the bible, but I am only speculating...Jesus could have asked Judas to go to the authorities, we don't know though. The 'Gospel' is declared as genuine and if correct it could be quite damaging to the Church, the whole idea of Judas as being a traitor could flip around and say that he was a non-waiverring follower of Jesus.

That is my opinion anyways.

Actually the gospel of Judas is not a new discovery, it was just recently studied in depth. People have known about this manuscript for a while and the Roman Catholic church already declaired it heresy years ago.

Some people think it is written by Judas, but the authour is actually unknown, it couldn't have been written by anyone from Jesus's time since it was from about 300AD. Which is almost 300 years after Jesus's death.

And I'm just going from memory, but I beleive it was written in Egyptian, but don't quote me on that I may be way off.

Even if it is true, it's not part of the Bible. I'm not sure that I am ready to believe that Jesus wanted Judas to betray him, but even if he did, it wouldn't change anyone's theology.

Wiki puts it in the category of Gnosticism. If this is true, then I can automatically discount the text. Doesn't affect me.

well.... I was about to strat a thread about this but blue knight was faster...

well, many catholics(like me but now hearing this,no anymore) see judas as the biggest traitor of history of the earth. BUt now my question is... was the kiss of judas hypocrite, or was it a ¨ I have done what you told to do my Lord, but please forgive me...¨ well we dont really know.. we have to wait until more is revealed.....

Originally Posted by LionHarted

Where can I access: 1) the original text, in its original language, 2) the various translations of this text? I know that the Gospel was "revealed" to the public, but do we have access to these two things? Not yet.

They actually just published the work this week. If anyone wants the NY Times article describing the Gospel and also a brief into to the non-canonical books of the Bible, PM me and I'll send you the link. You must have a subscription to the NY Times online to read it though.

There will be an hour-long special on the National Geographic Channel tonight at 8 pm ET. If you have the channel and are interested in the topic it might be a worthwhile view.

I myself don't recieve that channel and will be playing a sporting game of ultimate frisbee at that time anyway.

Also, National Geographic has an English translation and the orignal Coptic Text here:
http://www9.nationalgeographic.com/l...ptic_text.html

This site also has the Gospel of Judas and a lot more information, I haven't yet sifted through it, so if nothing of value is to be found there... (don't blame me).
http://www.tertullian.org/rpearse/ma...WashingtonPost

Originally Posted by Thorn

Well, carbon dating shows it was written around 300 AD. My question is, how can someone write about something that happened 300 years prior? Surely the story must have changed a bit since then.

Dont rely on carbon dating. ITs not that accurate. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it has like a ginormous curve. Like 1000 years I think.

The Accuracy of Radiometric Dating

That thread might be of use to you, link14 as carbon dating is a form of radiometric dating as explained later in the thread by Mad Hatter.

This Gospel of Judas business is most interesting indeed. Very interesting to get a new perspective on what supposedly happened back then. I note that a lot of religious figures are denouncing it as fiction and in the past have deemed it heretical. I was just wondering, what process does a gospel go through before it's deemed canon or non canonical?

Originally Posted by Thorn

Well, carbon dating shows it was written around 300 AD. My question is, how can someone write about something that happened 300 years prior? Surely the story must have changed a bit since then.

All the gospels where written at this time. A period when christians where persecuted and needed to make their believes stronger.
Strange that we already have a kind of allerogy for this. Its lose of course though because in this text Judas isn't evil.

"If you strike me down I'll become more powerful than you can ever imagine." Obi-wan Kenobi.

So it's like Jesus being unable to prove to every one who he his and accept his message realises there is one option. To die, to release the god from the clothing of man. Much in the same way that obi-wan realises that by becoming one with the force he can do much more in the fight against the emperor. So Jesus asks Judas to betray him (talk about a test of faith). Judas realises that death doesn't hinder the divine (possiblely after a long decision making process). the other guys are like oh no...we'll never forgive you Judas. Even though in the accepted gospels Jesus says he forgives him at the last supper. Jesus ask this of Judas because there is no bad guy forth coming to strike him down.