I don't really understand the story of Judas

  • Thread starter Thread starter brandon_ross
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Crusader13 said:
Fair enough. I think the question then becomes; without an official Church teaching, can we claim Judas is in hell?
Click to expand...
Can you believe that/argue for it? Sure.

Can you claim it’s definitively settled and therefore anyone claiming otherwise is definitely wrong? No.
 
Last edited:
Tis_Bearself said:
The Church’s official position is that we don’t know where any soul ends up, with the exception of canonized saints, only.
I can’t see where they’d make an exception just for Judas.

You can argue your own interpretation of Scripture all day, but at the end of the day, if it’s not an official Church teaching, it’s just your own opinion.
Click to expand...
Yet, the flip side of that coin is that the Church has no official position whatsoever. Meaning, they never officially said “we don’t know where Judas is”.

There’s just an absence of official teaching on the subject. The Church never dogmatically interpreted the scriptures in reference to Judas being in hell. Is that because the belief was at one time so widely accepted that it served no purpose to do so?

It would seem that in the absence of any official pronouncements on Judas being in hell, that we should adhere to the previously held positions by those Church fathers and popes who taught that he is.

I think the Church would officially declare one position or the other and if not, then it’s not incorrect to hold either position.

What do you think?
 
Crusader13 said:
It would seem that in the absence of any official pronouncements on Judas being in hell, that we should adhere to the previously held positions by those Church fathers and popes who taught that he is.
Click to expand...
I tend to agree with your opinion. Because there are people out there who take this to the next step, and say: if Judas is not in Hell then Hell is empty. I would never go along with that. In fact, I tend to favor St Augustine’s massa damnata theory, that is, most people are actually going to Hell at any given time.
 
Crusader13 said:
we should
Click to expand...
In the absence of official Church teaching, YOU may believe what you like about Judas’ fate.

But it is not for you to tell others what they SHOULD do. So it’s not a “we should”, it’s a “Crusader13 and whoever else agrees with him thinks…”

I firmly reject any “Should” statement that tells me to give up hope, when the Church has not officially taught that we should do so.
 
Tis_Bearself said:
In the absence of official Church teaching, YOU may believe what you like about Judas’ fate.

But it is not for you to tell others what they SHOULD do. So it’s not a “we should”, it’s a “Crusader13 and whoever else agrees with him thinks…”

I firmly reject any “Should” statement that tells me to give up hope, when the Church has not officially taught that we should do so.
Click to expand...
Understandable. I admit I worded that poorly and it was not my intent to suggest that we must believe something based upon my opinion.

I don’t agree with your implication that to acknowledge Judas as having been sent to hell, is to give up hope. You’re insinuating a false premise and the two are in no way related.

I’m also not arguing against those who say “I don’t know where Judas is”. If you don’t know, then you don’t know. I’m disagreeing with those who say “you can’t say Judas is in hell because the Church hasn’t said so”.

That’s a different argument altogether. At the end of day, it comes down to how one chooses to interpret those Scripture passages which address the fate of Judas. I think discussions on the matter can be fruitful, but it’s not a hill I’m willing to die on just to prove Judas is in hell.
 
I agree with you.

I remember a priest telling us that we don’t know if while Judas was hanging and still had some breath left he could have repented.

But, of course, we should not imitate and do what we want thinking we will have a chance to repent before we die.

We need to allow the Lord to sanctify us every day. A struggle, but well worth it!
 
Jesus gave all His disciples parables, teachings and warnings about his betrayal in the hearing of Judas. In fact Jesus came to His own and His own did not receive Him Jn.1:11.

We should pray for all the souls in Purgatory, that helps my concern for Judas and other’s like him throughout history to the present.
Presently I believe Judas is an important lesson and example to learn from. We can be so close to God in the present and easily can fall into temptations that lead us away from our Shepherd. We or I must fight to resist the evil one so that I do not fall into a fate like Judas. The betrayal of Jesus by His close friends is a fulfilled prophecy uttered by God through the prophets. Our Christian story has been revealed and we win in the end. Yet, I have to steady the course and live my faith through test and trials. My yoke is lightened, when I am reminded by the Word of God, that we win in the end.
Peace be with you
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top