The Gospel of Judas: Disciple, Betrayer, or Beloved Friend?

"People would say bad things about you, because it is the only way their insignificant self can feel better than you."  -- Dennis E. Adonis, Guyanese author and poet

The Gospel of Judas is believed to be a translation of an earlier Greek document written prior to 180 A.D. by an anonymous author.  The importance of the text evidences the relationship of Judas to Jesus:

“It goes on to describe Judas as Jesus’ closest friend, someone who understands Christ’s true message and is singled out for special status among Jesus’ disciples.”  -- Stefan Lovgren, National Geographic News, 2006

An interpretation is offered that Jesus preferred this betrayal be done by a friend than by an enemy.  If you consider what we know of Jesus from the Bible, this makes perfect sense.  But, let’s consider what Ben Witherington III, of Asbury Theological Seminary says:

“The manuscript tells us nothing about the historical Jesus of the historical Judas.  It tells us a lot about a group that were labeled heretics in their own day… There is no evidence that any of these documents (Gnostic texts) ever represented mainstream Christianity…The Cainites were always on the fringes of their own movement.”

He goes on to question what a text written 150 years after a death would tell us of the inside truth of the individual.

 

There are no certainties about this document.  It is written sometime prior to 180 A.D. which could mean between then and the death of Christ for all they know.  The Cainites are the “probable” authors of the text, again there is no evidence.  There is substantial evidence for the existence of the gospel as is it mentioned several times in other ancient texts.  It is “probably” translated from a Greek copy which means, if I have the process down right, the Greeks were copying the Egyptian and I have no idea what that tells us except that one has to wonder how much truth is lost during translations, which leads me back to my entire mistrust of any Bible text, much less the Gnostic.

 

Witherington’s particular interpretation translates well for the Christian church, and a Vatican that would obviously wish to downplay any text that question’s the validity of the Bible.  That he bases none of his comments on concrete facts is due to the only true fact - there are none.  Everything is based on “educated” conjecture.  You know the “educated” intelligentsia that comes up with this conjecture.  These are the people that say eggs aren't good for you, and then reverse themselves;  they say civilization is only 4,000 years old… no, wait… they mean 6,000, no… now it’s 10,000; and the ever popular doctors in the “practice of medicine” which they call a practice so they have an “out” when they muck it up.  Educated conjecture is just a way of saying, we won’t really know until we know.  It is based on “best guess” which is one hell of a way to cement a faith.  I have faith, don’t get me wrong.  I just don’t base my faith on blatant bullshit being shoveled by religions whose sole purpose is control, not the unerring love of Christ.

So we are left with a story that may very well have been transcribed by someone hearing Judas’ own deathbed confession of the truth.  There was no reason for him to maintain the ruse as the required outcome had already occurred and, even according to his own gospel, future generations were going to damn him regardless of the truth.  I have to ask myself why Christ would sentence a disciple to death.  Even in the Bible the story plays to Judas not even considering betrayal, yet he does it anyway?  Bullshit.  This is the secretly planned act of a cherished friend and follower doing what he was asked.  As in any court, if there was the slightest hint of conspiracy between the two of them the entire outcome may have played out differently.  History has borne the truth and confirmation of our complicity to Christ’s own prophetic words to Judas of eternal damnation for his requested act.  We damn Judas for doing exactly what Christ knew had to be done, and as much as ordered him to do it, even in the Bible.  And what does this say about us?  Was this another test of man’s inherent ability to show our eternal lack of forgiveness, understanding, and the sweet reasonableness that was Christ?  Are we doomed to never be anything more than egotistical rabble wandering through life with a misconception that we could ever reach the gates of heaven?

If the Gnostic texts are the creation of Christian sects trying to splinter away from mainstream Christianity, why do these texts read so differently than Biblical texts?  Why do they seem to make so much more sense and play to what we would all expect to hear issue from the mouth of Christ?  Did the Council leave these texts out for this exact reason, because it would be harder to maintain control and fill the coffers if people remembered the truth?  Is this why so few Gnostic texts, that we are aware of, survived to this day?  Is this a conspiracy 2,000 years in the making?

I believe our misconceptions surrounding biblical stories are slowly coming to light as more parchments like the Gnostic texts are unearthed.  God will not let man’s lies stand forever.  It will be our responsibility to look at the evidence that is presented from both sides and determine where our faith in God stands.  Do we remain barbaric hordes that play at civility, or do we finally accept the philosophy of truth, love, forgiveness and understanding that we would all like to believe was embodied in Christ?

I think, regardless of whether you believe the Bible or the Gnostic text, it is passed time for Judas’ forgiveness.  It is time we let it go.  In this way he may find peace, and we may find salvation.

"Have you heard of the most evil things done by people in their lifetime?  They have coveted men's wives, killed hundreds of Christians and sold their best friend's life away for just a few coins.  Isn't it interesting that they were God's chosen in the bible?  --- Saul, Judas & King David"  -- Shannon L. Alder, author

As always, this is just my humble opinion.  I hope I'm not wrong as I would like to think we will, sooner or later, grow beyond what we are and blossom into something more compassionate and forgiving.  If you have an opinion, please voice it.  If you don't, please consider this post and form one of your own.