The Gospel according to judas!?

[Sir_Knight]

Judas Iscariot hung himself. When did he have time to write a gospel?

 

[Ahimsa]

Sir Knight:

Judas Iscariot hung himself. When did he have time to write a gospel?

Maybe he had a ghost-writer.

 

[thistle]

Ahimsa:

Maybe he had a ghost-writer.

 

[Liberian]

“Church leaders are bracing themselves for the release of the gospel of judas which will cast doubts on christiaitys most deeply held beliefs”

Godsent,

If I understand correctly, the Sun in England is about the equivalent of the National Enquirer in the United States: if something appears in it, it’s a pretty good bet that it’s not the straight truth.

The Gospel of Judas was written some time around the fourth century and is useful for shedding light on how some people (not necessarily Christians) thought about Christianity in the fourth century. It is not useful for figuring out events in the first century.

Furthermore, the Gospel of Judas has been known for centuries–possibly millenia. The only “bracing” that church leaders need to do is for the onslaught of questioning from journalists who don’t know any better. And it is not going to cast doubt on anybody’s beliefs, at least not anybody who knows anything about the Gospel.

• Liberian

 

[Ahimsa]

Liberian:

The Gospel of Judas was written some time around the fourth century

If St. Irenaeus (2nd century) mentioned a “gospel of Judas”, then that gospel was written way before the fourth century. Whether Irenaeus’ gospel is the same as the gospel of Judas that is being published in English (from a 4th-century manuscript), is possible, but not known.

(It’s pretty clear that there were some early Christians who saw Judas as a good guy. Interestingly, Buddhism also underwent a similar process: a few Buddhists venerated Devadatta (who actually tried to kill the Buddha several times), instead of Siddhartha. It seems like whenever a spiritual teacher arises, some of his followers will try to vindicate that teacher’s apparent enemy. Oh well…)

Beliefnet also has a story about the soon-to-be-published gospel of Judas (which comes from a 4th-century manuscript):

Some of the manuscript’s passages echo descriptions in the New Testament of Christ’s arrest, recalling how Roman authorities aimed to “seize (Christ) in the act of prayer” and how Judas “took some money and he delivered (Christ) over to them,” Hedrick said, quoting from his translation.

Although Judas cooperates in the arrest of Christ, Hedrick said, the codex does not depict him as a villain.

“Judas is not a bad guy in this text,” Hedrick said in an interview. “He is the good guy and he is serving God.”

 

[mongladz]

Let me guess…

next time it would be…:whacky:

The gospel according to Martin Luther?

or the gospel according to Harry Potter? :bigyikes:

Peace!

 

[Libero]

Liberian:

If I understand correctly, the Sun in England is about the equivalent of the National Enquirer in the United States: if something appears in it, it’s a pretty good bet that it’s not the straight truth.

It is probably a bit more popular than the National Enquirer, in fact I would wager a guess at it being the most popular tabloid - quite an achievement.

Something that appears in the sun is likely to be true, or at least come from a relitavely reliable source, but the writers add their personal twist to it - thus it is suspect

 

[whowantsumadebo]

Douay-Rheims:

My assumtion is based upon St. Judes Catholic Epistle in the Bible. The Didache referances that Epistle. So I would highly doubt that the same author would also be the author of something that denies deeply held chrisitian beliefs.

Yo DR! Pardon my asking, but where does the Didache make reference to St.Jude’s epistle?

 

[kp1]

I am not sure if this has been said, but yes the book is a part of the Apocraphal writtings. It was disgarded because of either Gnostic views or it did not follow the teachings as set by Jesus to the apostles. You can look up more on this at the online Catholic Encyclopedia, I am currently reading about how the Cannon was decided upon. I hope this helps. There are several other books listed on that article and why they were discarded too!

 

[jim1130]

“Church leaders are bracing themselves for the release of the gospel of judas which will cast doubts on christiaitys most deeply held beliefs”

A quote from the british newspaper the Sun.

Now how reliable is this book that will be released?

Is it a true gospel…??

What is the point of relaseing it?

So many questions…i need answers!!!

Peace.

I believe this was brought up a few months ago and the Gospel of Judas is not of Judas of Iscariot.

Peace.

 

[m134e5]

“Church leaders are bracing themselves for the release of the gospel of judas which will cast doubts on christiaitys most deeply held beliefs”

Believe it or not, the Bible is complete with Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

 

[thistle]

Douay-Rheims:

My assumtion is based upon St. Judes Catholic Epistle in the Bible. The Didache referances that Epistle. So I would highly doubt that the same author would also be the author of something that denies deeply held chrisitian beliefs.

I’ve just read the full text of the Didache and I can find no reference to the Epistle of St Jude. Can you please tell me where in the Didache you have seen this?

 

[Sir_Knight]

“Judas is not a bad guy in this text,” Hedrick said in an interview. “He is the good guy and he is serving God.”

Matthew 26:24 ==> Jesus replied, “The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

 

[Semper_Fi_1]

Ahimsa:

If St. Irenaeus (2nd century) mentioned a “gospel of Judas”, then that gospel was written way before the fourth century. Whether Irenaeus’ gospel is the same as the gospel of Judas that is being published in English (from a 4th-century manuscript), is possible, but not known.

(It’s pretty clear that there were some early Christians who saw Judas as a good guy. Interestingly, Buddhism also underwent a similar process: a few Buddhists venerated Devadatta (who actually tried to kill the Buddha several times), instead of Siddhartha. It seems like whenever a spiritual teacher arises, some of his followers will try to vindicate that teacher’s apparent enemy. Oh well…)

Beliefnet also has a story about the soon-to-be-published gospel of Judas (which comes from a 4th-century manuscript):

Some of the manuscript’s passages echo descriptions in the New Testament of Christ’s arrest, recalling how Roman authorities aimed to “seize (Christ) in the act of prayer” and how Judas “took some money and he delivered (Christ) over to them,” Hedrick said, quoting from his translation.

Although Judas cooperates in the arrest of Christ, Hedrick said, the codex does not depict him as a villain.

“Judas is not a bad guy in this text,” Hedrick said in an interview. “He is the good guy and he is serving God.”

Doesn’t the Ehtiopian Orthodox Church (not sure about the Ethiopian Catholic Church) venerate Judas Iscariot as a Saint?

 

[montanaman]

Semper Fi:

Doesn’t the Ehtiopian Orthodox Church (not sure about the Ethiopian Catholic Church) venerate Judas Iscariot as a Saint?

I thought they venerated Pilate as a saint…