The Gospel of JudasThe Gospel of Judas

Discovered in 1978, Egypt.Discovered in 1978, Egypt. Confirmed in 2000, NY.Confirmed in 2000, NY.

SummarySummary

The Gospel of Judas begins by saying The Gospel of Judas begins by saying that the whole thing is a secret that the whole thing is a secret account that Jesus reveals to Judas account that Jesus reveals to Judas just days before Jesusjust days before Jesus’’ death. death.

Jesus has twelve disciples, and he Jesus has twelve disciples, and he often appears to them as a child. often appears to them as a child. Jesus picks Judas from all the Jesus picks Judas from all the disciples to tell him that someone will disciples to tell him that someone will replace him oneday.replace him oneday.

Disciples tell Jesus about their Disciples tell Jesus about their dream, which is twelve priests dream, which is twelve priests commit many sins. Jesus response commit many sins. Jesus response saying something about saying something about ““ generation generation of the starsof the stars”” and the priests are the and the priests are the disciples themselves. He also says disciples themselves. He also says that other men will come after the that other men will come after the disciples and comment them to stop disciples and comment them to stop sacrificing. sacrificing.

Judas has a vision, Judas has a vision, which is the disciples which is the disciples were stoning him. Jesus were stoning him. Jesus tells Judas that he will tells Judas that he will be cursed and will be cursed and will eventually rule over the eventually rule over the generation. And Jesus generation. And Jesus reveals a secret about reveals a secret about ““a great and boundless a great and boundless realmrealm””

Judas asks Jesus many questions, Judas asks Jesus many questions, such as how long will people live and such as how long will people live and what are the generation going to do.what are the generation going to do.

Jesus tells Judas that Judas will Jesus tells Judas that Judas will ““sacrifice the man that clothes me.sacrifice the man that clothes me.””

Jesus goes into a room for prayer and Jesus goes into a room for prayer and the high priests murmur. The Scribes the high priests murmur. The Scribes want to arrest Jesus but afraid to do want to arrest Jesus but afraid to do so because people refer Jesus as a so because people refer Jesus as a prophet. Then without explanation, prophet. Then without explanation, they ask Judas what he is doing there they ask Judas what he is doing there and Judas tells them what they want and Judas tells them what they want to know and hands in Jesus and take to know and hands in Jesus and take the money. the money.

Comparison between NT & GoJComparison between NT & GoJ

Gnostic GospelsGnostic Gospels

Not written by JudasNot written by Judas

Gnostic orientationGnostic orientation

Gnosis → KnowledgeGnosis → Knowledge

The orthodox The GnosticsThe orthodox The Gnostics

The world is evilThe world is evil

Blame the worldBlame the world’’s failing on the s failing on the creatorcreator

Earthly life filled with sufferingEarthly life filled with suffering

A material worldA material world

SalvationSalvation

Through JesusThrough Jesus’’s teaching and s teaching and establishing of mysteriesestablishing of mysteries

IndividualIndividual

Knowledge is withheld by every Knowledge is withheld by every condition of earthly existence condition of earthly existence

JesusJesus NT: never laughsNT: never laughs

GoJ: constantly GoJ: constantly laughing (mocking)laughing (mocking)

- When disciples - When disciples offering a prayer to offering a prayer to GodGod

- At their strange - At their strange idea of pleasing idea of pleasing their Godtheir God

The disciples said to [him], “Master, why are you The disciples said to [him], “Master, why are you laughing at [our] prayer of thanksgiving? We have laughing at [our] prayer of thanksgiving? We have done what is right.” done what is right.” He answered and said to them, “I am not laughing at He answered and said to them, “I am not laughing at you. <You> are not doing this because of your own you. <You> are not doing this because of your own will but because it is through this that your god [will will but because it is through this that your god [will be] praised.” be] praised.” They said, “Master, you are […] the son of our god.”They said, “Master, you are […] the son of our god.” Jesus said to them, “How do you know me? Truly [I] Jesus said to them, “How do you know me? Truly [I] say to you, no generation of the people that are say to you, no generation of the people that are among you will know me.”among you will know me.”

Judas IscariotJudas Iscariot

NT: traitorNT: traitor- Betrayed Jesus for moneyBetrayed Jesus for money- Controlled by SatanControlled by Satan

GoJ: facilitator GoJ: facilitator - HeroHero- Dare to question JesusDare to question Jesus- Understand JesusUnderstand Jesus- Carry bad reputationCarry bad reputation

The disciples are furious at Jesus’ condescension, The disciples are furious at Jesus’ condescension, except for Judas, who thinks he knows what the except for Judas, who thinks he knows what the laughter signifies. laughter signifies. “I know who you are and where you have come “I know who you are and where you have come from,” Judas says, standing before him. “You are from,” Judas says, standing before him. “You are from the immortal realm of Barbelo.”from the immortal realm of Barbelo.” Apparently startled by his insight, Apparently startled by his insight, Jesus tells Judas, “Step away from the others and I Jesus tells Judas, “Step away from the others and I shall tell you the mysteries of the Kingdom.”shall tell you the mysteries of the Kingdom.”

Judas said to him, “In the vision I saw myself as the Judas said to him, “In the vision I saw myself as the twelve disciples were stoning metwelve disciples were stoning meand [45] persecuting [me severely]. And I also came and [45] persecuting [me severely]. And I also came to the place where […] after you. Ito the place where […] after you. Isaw [a house …], and my eyes could not saw [a house …], and my eyes could not [comprehend] its size. Great people were[comprehend] its size. Great people weresurrounding it, and that house <had> a roof of surrounding it, and that house <had> a roof of greenery, and in the middle of the housegreenery, and in the middle of the housewas [a crowd—two lines missing—], saying, ‘Master, was [a crowd—two lines missing—], saying, ‘Master, take me in along with these people.’”take me in along with these people.’”……Look, you have been toldLook, you have been toldeverything. Lift up your eyes and look at the cloud everything. Lift up your eyes and look at the cloud and the light within it and the starsand the light within it and the starssurrounding it. The star that leads the way is your surrounding it. The star that leads the way is your star.”star.”

VideoVideo

Gospel of JudasGospel of Judas From CNN From CNN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcOJU5T_PoY