The Gospel of Judas

[poliphilo]

Without the crucifixion there'd be no salvation and without the betrayal in the garden there'd be no crucifixion: so why is Judas seen as the villain of the piece? I thought this was a modern idea, but the newly discovered Gospel of Judas (a gnostic text from c. A.D. 300) has Jesus telling Judas to betray him.

The gnostics treated theology as an art form. They were happily irresponsible. They invented, speculated, played games.

Then the Church clamped down and it has taken us something like 1500 years to get those freedoms back.

Read more here

Comments

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

If I'm not mistaken, the 1970s TV mini-series, Jesus of Nazareth, portrayed Judas as a sympathetic character who was (on his on, without Jesus's instruction) determined to give Jesus a place in history.

That aside, I wonder what Jesus's motivation might have been, to have Judas betray him on purpose? Was he wanting to fulfill the prophecy? Interesting--people are so shocked at the revelation that I haven't yet heard any sensible discussion about motives.

And I also understand that there is no mention of Jesus's resurrection in the G of Judas.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Films about the Life of Christ always have problems animating the central character. What is it that drives him? What does it feel like to be the Son of God? As soon as you start attributing recognisable human motives to him people stand up and shout "blasphemy!"

My favourite passion play is Son Of Man, a 1960s TV dramatization by Dennis Potter- which characterizes Jesus as a working class rebel.

No resurrection in the G of J? From what little I've read I suspect the writers of the book may have seen the Incarnation as a charade. Jesus was a Divine Personage pretending to be human. There's no resurrection because the mortal body of Jesus was a disguise he was only too happy to cast aside.

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

No resurrection in the G of J? From what little I've read I suspect the writers of the book may have seen the Incarnation as a charade.

Where were you able to read about the G of Judas? I would like to read it, too. I can't get the National Geographic Channel on my cable--it's for the highest-paying customers.