'Gospel of Judas' Surfaces After 1,700 Years

[im10ashus]

By JOHN NOBLE WILFORD and LAURIE GOODSTEIN
Published: April 6, 2006

An early Christian manuscript, including the only known text of what is known as the Gospel of Judas, has surfaced after 1,700 years. The text gives new insights into the relationship of Jesus and the disciple who betrayed him, scholars reported today. In this version, Jesus asked Judas, as a close friend, to sell him out to the authorities, telling Judas he will "exceed" the other disciples by doing so.

Though some theologians have hypothesized this, scholars who have studied the new-found text said, this is the first time an ancient document defends the idea.

The discovery in the desert of Egypt of the leather-bound papyrus manuscript, and now its translation, was announced by the National Geographic Society at a news conference in Washington. The 26-page Judas text is said to be a copy in Coptic, made around A. D. 300, of the original Gospel of Judas, written in Greek the century before.

Terry Garcia, an executive vice president of the geographic society, said the manuscript, or codex, is considered by scholars and scientists to be the most significant ancient, nonbiblical text to be found in the past 60 years.

cont'd...
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/06/science/06cnd-judas.html?hp&ex=1144382400&en=d58e9f87384d906d&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. there was no jesus, not in the biblical sense. IMHO.

Still, I hope Judas got paid well.

[papau]

2. 'Gospel of Judas' was first mentioned by a Bishop in 186 AD n/t

n/t

[Neil Lisst]

3. Jesus seemed to know ahead of time, with certainty.

And as I recall, the interpretation of the word we learned as "betray" should have been "deliver."

I've always been dubious of Judas as villain.

[Orrex]

4. Borges writes of this!

In the very brief story (I'll need to find the title), Judas is recognized to have made the greater sacrifice for mankind than Jesus made.

Very cool.

[Neil Lisst]

8. the fact that he hung himself may mean he couldn't live with it

in spite of Jesus' knowledge.

Even as presented, the story seems to say Jesus and Judas both knew that he was headed to alert the Synagogue police, since Jesus wanted this to happen THEN. The timing was essential. It had to happen then if it was to be tied to the Passover feast.

[im10ashus]

6. Judas must have been swift-boated by the Christians.

:-)

[Neil Lisst]

7. Absolutely!! The story needed a villain!!

Something less obtuse.

Hey, use Judas!!

And who are we gonna use for the FEMALE lead?!

How about ... THAT GIRL?!!

"Oh, Donald!" --- The Virgin Mary

[rniel]

5. I'll bet the band Judas Priest is pissed

Now they just sound too saintly.

[Neil Lisst]

9. maybe it will inspire them to write a new one - THE GOSPEL OF JUDAS

[Gabi Hayes]

10. if you wanted to find the bible in the library, under what Dewey Decimal

designation would one find it?

thank you