The Gospel of Judas
Saturday, April 8th, 2006An alternate reading to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
The document describes itself as “the secret account of the revelation that Jesus spoke in conversation with Judas Iscariot”. It later quotes Jesus telling Judas: “You will exceed all of [the other disciples] for you will sacrifice the man who clothes me.”
Various scholars have already commented on the manuscript. Donald Senior, president of Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, said the document revealed the diversity and vitality in early Christianity.
“The question [is] does this tradition, this alternative story… have a claim that in some sense is equal to the rival claim of the gospel tradition?” Senior said. [source]
No big change really.
“Correctly understood, there’s nothing undermining about the Gospel of Judas,” Robinson said.
He noted that the Gospels of John and Mark both contain passages that suggest that Jesus not only picked Judas to betray him but actually encouraged Judas to hand him over to those he knew would crucify him.
In a key passage in the newfound Gospel, Jesus had talks with Judas “three days before he celebrated Passover.” That is when Jesus is supposed to have referred to the other disciples and said to Judas: “But you will exceed all of them. For you will sacrifice the man that clothes me.”
By that, scholars said, Jesus seems to have meant that in helping him get rid of his physical flesh, Judas will act to liberate the true spiritual self or divine being within Jesus. [source]
