Exciting “New” Gospels?
What Catholics need to know
about the Gospel of Judas
and other apocryphal writings
Religious Education Congress
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Felix Just, S.J.
http://catholic-resources.org
Introduction: Apocryphal Books
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There are MANY ancient Jewish or Christian
writings not found in the OT or NT!
Have you read the entire text of…
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…the Gospel of James? …of Peter?
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…the Gospel of Thomas? (both?)
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…the Gospel of Mary
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…the Letter of Barnabas? …the Didache?
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…the 1st Book of Enoch? …the Book of Jubilees?
(Magdalene)?
…of Judas? – really?
Have you read ALL of the four NT Gospels?
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The whole NT? The whole OT?
Introduction: Apocryphal Books
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Should Catholic-Christians read these books?
Yes! (If you wish!) But for what purpose?
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Historical knowledge: Jesus & apostles? – NO!
Historical knowledge: How early Christian beliefs
developed in the first few centuries? – Yes!
Theological understanding: Our faith today? –
– Only indirectly! (learning about anything helps us)
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It's OK to read non-canonical books!
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Some suppressed/neglected in past (dangerous?)
Widely available today; popular in some circles
Yet OT & NT are still much more important!
I) Important Definitions
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"gospel" = "good news" = oral preaching
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from Gk. Ευ̉αγγέλιον = Evangelion
(cf. Eng. "Evangelist")
eu = "good"; angelos = "messenger"
"Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee,
proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, 'The time is
fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and
believe in the good news.' " (Mark 1:14-15; NRSV)
"Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set
apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand
through his prophets in the holy scriptures, the gospel
concerning his Son…" (Romans 1:1-3; NRSV)
"But the birthday of the god (Caesar Augustus) was… the
beginning of the good news for the world…" (Prien inscription)
I) Important Definitions
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"Gospel" = "written account about Jesus"
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NT Gospel Titles (added in 2nd Cent.):
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Mark was first to use "gospel" in this sense:
"The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the
Son of God." (Mark 1:1)
"Gospel according to Mark; Gospel according to…"
"Canon"
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"Official List" of writings ("scriptures") considered
foundational by some group: HB canon, NT canon…
Usually religious, but not only:
e.g. Shakespearean canon
I) Important Definitions
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Four "Canonical Gospels"
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Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
Dates: 1st century (60's – 90's)
Order? Mark probably first,
then Matthew, Luke; John last
"Non-canonical Gospels"
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Many other short books
mostly from 2nd to 4th cent.
about Jesus' life and/or his teachings.
I) Important Definitions
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"Apocryphal" = "hidden, secret"
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Caution: Protestants refer to OT "Apocrypha":
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Cf. English "crypt," "cryptic"
MANY ancient Jewish or Christian books
outside of HB or NT, overall called "Apocrypha"
Apocryphal Gospels, Acts, Epistles, Apocalypses
Not "canonical"; i.e., not in anyone's Bible
Tobit, Judith, 1 & 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Eccl., Baruch
Called "Deutero-canonical" by Catholics & Orthodox
Don't confuse with "Apocalyptic"
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"Revelation"; lit. "uncovering, revealing, opening"
I) Important Definitions
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"Pseudepigraphic"
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Writings "falsely attributed" to famous figures
of the past (esp. biblical, but not only)
Actual authors anonymous; written (much) later
"Gnostic"
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Religious systems related to Judaism & Christianity
Dualistic: good vs. evil; spirit vs. matter; M vs. F !
Human life = "divine spark" trapped in mortal body
Salvation = freeing soul/spirit from its bodily prison,
by attaining proper (secret/esoteric) "knowledge"
of our divine origins & eternal destiny
II) Canonization of the NT
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Long Process of Development:
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writing, sharing, collecting, editing, translating,
debating, interpreting the books/letters now in NT
1st Cent. – individual writings composed
2nd Cent. – writings collected (4 Gospels; Paul’s Letters)
4th Cent. – early canon lists
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some with fewer than books: 2 Peter? Revelation?
some with more: Didache, Shepherd of Hermas, etc.
367 – Easter Letter of St. Athanasius – first list of all 27
16th Cent. – Council of Trent
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First "official" listing of all 46 OT & 27 NT books
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In reaction to Protestants (esp. regarding OT Apocrypha)
End of Luke & Beginning of John
II) Canonization of the NT
Main Criteria for Inclusion:
1) Apostolic Origin –
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attributed to and/or based on preaching/teaching of firstgeneration apostles (or their closest companions)
2) Universal Acceptance –
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acknowledged by all major Christian communities in the
Mediterranean world (by end of 4th century)
3) Liturgical Use –
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read publicly along with OT when early Christians
gathered for Lord's Supper (weekly worship services)
4) Consistent Message –
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containing theological ideas compatible with other
accepted Christian writings (incl. divinity & humanity Jesus)
II) Canonization of the NT
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Reasons for Non-Inclusion in NT Canon
(opposites of the four criteria):
1) Apostolic Origin?
– written by later generations
2) Universal Acceptance?
3) Liturgical Use?
– too esoteric, obscure, private
4) Consistent Theology?
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– rejected by some communities
– present God/Jesus differently
Christology (Who is Jesus?):
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Catholic: Both/And: Both HUMAN and DIVINE
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Jewish or Adoptionist: Human, not really divine
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Gnostic or Docetist: Divine, not really human
III) Non-canonical Gospels
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We know of at least 30 "Gospels" not in NT
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many different origins, styles, theologies
some positively influenced Church tradition
others rejected as "Gnostic" and/or "heretical"
some texts complete, others badly damaged/
fragmentary, others known only by title!
Arabic Infancy Gospel
Gospel of Matthias
Gospel of the Lord
Gospel of the Nazareans
Gospel of Gamaliel
Gospel of James
Gospel of the Egyptians
Gospel of the Birth of Mary
Gospel of Nicodemus
Gospels of the 12 Apostles
Gospel of the Ebionites
Gospel of Basilides
Infancy Gospel of Thomas
Coptic Gospel of Thomas
Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew
Gospel of Bartholomew
Gospel of Mary (Magdalene)
Gospel of the Hebrews
Gospel of Mani
Gospel of Peter
Gospel of Truth, etc.
III) Non-canonical Gospels
(See the bibliography, on back of the handout.)
III) Non-canonical Gospels
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Some of the most famous or influential:
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Gospel of James: mid-2nd Cent.
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Gospel of Peter: late 2nd Cent. (discovered 1886)
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earliest non-canonical narrative account of Jesus'
passion & resurrection
Infancy Gospel of Thomas: late 2nd Cent.
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mainly about Mary (of Nazareth) as the mother of
Israel's salvation
strange & miraculous events from Jesus' childhood,
from ages 5 to 12
Sayings Gospel of Thomas: 2nd – 3rd Cent.
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(more below)
III) Non-canonical Gospels
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Nag Hammadi Library:
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Over 50 texts in 13 codices, Coptic, mostly gnostic,
discovered in 1945 near Nag Hammadi, Egypt
Gospel of Thomas:
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Orig. 2nd – 3rd Cent.; some old fragments in Greek;
Collection of 114 short sayings & teachings of Jesus
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Gospel of the Egyptians
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Gospel of Philip
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Gospel of Truth
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Many other books, including various Acts, Dialogues,
Treatises, Apocalypses, etc.
Nag Hammadi Codices
Nag Hammadi – Codex IV
III) Non-canonical Gospels
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More recent texts:
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Secret Gospel of Mark
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Gospel acc. to Peanuts
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Gospel acc. to the Simpsons
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Gospel acc. to Harry Potter
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Gospel acc. to Doctor Seuss
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Gospel acc. to Martha
(1958, Morton Smith) – forgery?
(1965, Robert L. Short)
(2001/2007, Mark I. Pinsky)
"Bigger and Possibly Even Better! Edition: With a New Afterword
Exploring South Park, Family Guy, and Other Animated TV Shows"
(2002, Connie Neal)
"Spirituality in the Stories of the World's Most Famous Seeker"
(2004, James Kemp)
(2000, Barbara Murphy)
III) Non-canonical Gospels
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"Are you serious?"
(I hear you cry!)
How are these modern texts related to
the ancient Apocryphal Gospels?
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Similarities: they are mostly authors’ attempts
to understand the teachings or meaning of Jesus,
or of other spiritual themes more broadly
Differences: most modern texts are not forgeries;
modern authors' names known
Excerpts: Gospel of James
(mid-2nd Cent.; Engl. trans. Andrew Bernhard)
Chap. 1: In the histories of the twelve tribes of Israel,
Joachim was an extremely rich man . . . As the great day
of the Lord was drawing near and the children of Israel
were bringing their offerings, however, Reubel stood in his
way, saying, "You cannot offer your gifts first because you
have not conceived a child in Israel." . . .
Then, Joachim was extremely frustrated and did not appear to
his wife, but gave himself to the desert and pitched his tent
there. He fasted forty days and forty nights. All the while,
Joachim was saying to himself, "I will not go down for food
or drink until the Lord my God visits me; prayer will be my
food and drink."
Excerpts: Gospel of James
Ch. 2: Then, his wife Anna mourned and lamented greatly
for two reasons, saying, "I lament that I am a widow and I
lament that I am childless."
…she petitioned the Lord, saying, "God of my ancestors,
bless me and hear my prayer, just as you blessed our
mother Sarah and gave her son Isaac to her."
Ch. 4: Suddenly, an angel of the Lord stood in front of her,
saying, "Anna, Anna, the Lord God has heard your prayer.
You will conceive and give birth and your child will be
spoken of everywhere people live." And Anna said, "As the
Lord God lives, whether I give birth to either a male or a
female child, I will bring it as an offering to the Lord my God
and it will be a servant to him all the days of its life."
Annunciation to
Joachim & Anna
Gaudenzio Ferrari
(1544–45)
Next, two angels came,
saying to her, "Look your
husband Joachim is coming
with his flocks." For an
angel of the Lord had gone
down to Joachim, saying,
"Joachim, Joachim, the Lord
God has heard your prayer.
Go down from here. Look,
your wife Anna has
conceived in her womb."
Excerpts: Gospel of James
Ch. 5: …After nine months, Anna gave birth and she said to
the midwife, "What is it?" The midwife said, "A girl." Anna
said, "My soul exalts this day." And she put her baby to bed.
After her days were completed, Anna cleansed herself and
gave her breast to the child and gave her the name Mary.
Ch. 6 – At 6 months, Mary walks. At one year, she is blessed
by the high priests.
Ch. 7 – At age 3, Mary is taken to live in the temple.
Ch. 8-9 – At age 12, Mary is given to Joseph, a widower.
Ch. 11-12 – At age 16, Mary is visited by the Angel Gabriel;
then she visits her cousin Elizabeth.
Ch. 13-14 – Joseph discovers her pregnant; Joseph's dream
Ch. 15-16 – Mary & Joseph are questioned before the court.
Excerpts: Gospel of James
Ch. 17-18 – They go to Bethlehem, and Jesus is born.
Ch. 19-20 – A midwife attests that Mary is still a virgin.
Ch. 21-22 – Magi come visit; Herod kills all the infant boys
near Bethlehem; Mary hides Jesus; Elizabeth hides John
Ch. 23-24 – Still seeking John, Herod murders Zechariah
(see Matt 23:35 & Luke 11:51 – "…the blood of Zechariah son of
Zarachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.
Ch. 25 – "I, James, wrote this history when there was unrest
in Jerusalem, at the time Herod died. I took myself into the
desert until the unrest in Jerusalem ceased. All the while, I
was glorifying God who gave me the wisdom to write this
history. And grace will be with all who fear the Lord. Amen.“
Birth of Mary / Revelation of James
Peace to the writer and the reader
Gospel of James
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Evaluation of this text:
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Not accepted as "canonical" – but why not?
Yet also not "gnostic" nor "heretical"
Popular / traditional / influential in Christian history
Parallels parts of Matthew 1–2 and Luke 1–2
But also adds material (both earlier & filling in gaps):
Birth of Mary to Joachim & Anna
 Some episodes in Mary's childhood
 Her marriage to Joseph
 More details surrounding her pregnancy
 More episodes re. Herod killing children & Zechariah
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Infancy Gospel of Thomas
(Mid-2nd Cent.; Engl. trans. Andrew Bernhard)
(1) I, Thomas the Israelite, am reporting to you, all my
brothers from the nations, to reveal the childhood and
the greatness of our Lord Jesus Christ, what he did in
my country after he was born. This is the beginning of it.
(2) When the boy Jesus was five years old, he was
playing in a narrow part of a rushing stream. He was
gathering the flowing waters into ponds, and immediately
they were made clean, and he ordered these things with
a single word.
Infancy Gospel of Thomas (2)
(2 cont.) And after he made clay, he molded twelve sparrows
from it. And it was the Sabbath when he did these things. . .
Then, a certain Jew saw what Jesus was doing while
playing on the Sabbath. Immediately, he departed and
reported to Jesus' father, Joseph, "Look, your child is in the
stream and he took clay and formed twelve birds and
profaned the Sabbath?"
And Joseph went to the area and when he saw him, he
shouted, "Why are you doing these things that are not
permitted on the Sabbath?" Jesus, however, clapped his
hands and shouted to the sparrows, "Depart, fly, and
remember me now that you are alive."
And the sparrows departed shrieking.
When the Jews saw this, they were amazed. . .
Infancy Gospel of Thomas (3)
(3) The son of Annas the scribe was standing there with
Jesus. Taking a branch from a willow tree, he dispersed the
waters which Jesus had gathered.
When Jesus saw what had happened, he became angry
and said to him, "You godless, brainless moron, what did the
ponds and waters do to you? Watch this now: you are going
to dry up like a tree and you will never produce leaves or
roots or fruit."
And immediately, this child withered up completely.
Then, Jesus departed and returned to Joseph's house.
The parents of the one who had been withered up, however,
wailed for their young child as they took his remains away.
Then, they went to Joseph and accused him, "You are
responsible for the child who did this."
Infancy Gospel of Thomas (4-8)
(4) Next, he was going through the village again and a
running child bumped his shoulder. Becoming bitter, Jesus
said to him, "You will not complete your journey."
Immediately, he fell down and died.
Then, some of the people who had seen what had
happened said, "Where has this child come from so that his
every word is a completed deed?"
And going to Joseph, the parents of the one who had
died found fault with him. They said, "Because you have
such a child, you are not allowed to live with us in the
village, or at least teach him to bless and not curse.
For our children are dead!"
(5-8) Jesus, at age 5, is already wiser than teachers.
Infancy Gospel of Thomas (9)
(9) And after a few days passed, Jesus was up on a roof of a
house. And one of the children playing with him died after falling
off the roof. . . When the parents of the one who had died came,
they accused Jesus, "Troublemaker, you threw him down."
But Jesus replied, "I did not throw him down, rather he threw
himself down. When he was not acting carefully, he leaped off the
roof and died." Jesus leaped off the roof and stood by the corpse
of the boy and cried out with a loud voice and said, "Zeno," - for
that was his name - "rise up, talk to me: did I throw you down?"
And rising up immediately, he said, "No, Lord, you did not
throw me down, but you did raise me up."
And when they saw this, they were overwhelmed. The parents
of the child glorified God on account of the sign which had
happened and they worshipped Jesus.
Infancy Gospel of Thomas (10-11)
(10) – another miracle, after which the witnesses worship him
(11) When Jesus was six years old, his mother sent him to
draw water to carry into the house. But he accidentally let the
water go in the crowd, and crashing, the water jar broke. But
unfolding the cloak which was thrown around him, he filled it
with water and carried it to his mother.
When his mother saw the sign he had done, she kissed
him and treasured in her heart the mysterious things she had
seen him do.
Infancy Gospel of Thomas (12-15)
(12) Then again, in the season of sowing, the child went with
his father to sow grain in their field. And as his father was
sowing, the child Jesus also sowed one measure of grain.
And after he harvested and threshed it, it produced one
hundred measures. And calling all the poor of the village to
the threshing floor, he gave them grain freely.
And Joseph carried the remaining grain away.
Jesus was eight years old when he did this sign.
(13) – another miracle, after which Joseph is grateful
(14-15) – more stories of Jesus being wiser than teachers
Infancy Gospel of Thomas (16-19)
(16) Then, Joseph sent his son James to tie up wood and
bring it into his house, but the child Jesus also followed him.
And while James was collecting the bushes, a viper bit his
hand. And as he lay on the ground dying, Jesus approached
and blew on the bite. And immediately, his anguish ceased and
the animal broke apart and at once James was healthy.
(17-18) – more miracles, after which everyone is amazed
(19) – Jesus, at age 12, goes to Jerusalem with his parents
(see Luke 2:41-52)
Conclusion: "And Jesus continued to grow in wisdom and age
and grace. To him be the glory forever and ever, amen."
Jesus
in the Temple
at age 12
Gustave Doré
Infancy Gospel of Thomas
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Evaluation of this text:
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Fills in biblical gaps: Jesus' childhood (esp. ages 5-9)
Not accepted as "canonical" – Why not?
How does it portray the young Jesus?
Cruel? Curses people, and they immediately die?
 Powerful? Miraculous healings & raising the dead!
 Wise? Better than anyone who tries to teach him!
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What can we learn from this text?
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Anything about (the historical) Jesus? – No!
Some early Christians' beliefs about him? – Yes!
Gospel of Peter
(late 2nd Cent. text; discovered 1886; fragmentary begin & end)
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The text begins near at the end of Jesus' trial,
narrates the crucifixion fairly briefly, with some elements
similar to the canonical Gospels, but some different.
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Jesus is condemned to death (Herod gives the orders!)
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Joseph (of Arimathea) asks for Jesus' body (before he dies!)
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Jesus is mocked & scourged, is crucified, and dies.
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His body is taken down from the cross and buried.
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Jewish leaders & people lament and repent.
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The elders ask Pilate for soldiers to guard Jesus' tomb.
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On the sabbath, a crowd comes to see the sealed tomb.
New details about the morning of the resurrection:
The Empty
Tomb
Gustave Doré
Excerpts: Gospel of Peter
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Par. 9-10 (trans. Sam Gibson):
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During the night before the Lord's day dawned, as the
soldiers were keeping guard two by two in every watch,
there came a great sound in the sky, and they saw the
heavens opened and two men descend shining with a
great light, and they drew near to the tomb.
The stone which had been set on the door rolled away
by itself and moved to one side, and the tomb was
opened and both of the young men went in.
Now when these soldiers saw that, they woke up the
centurion and the elders (for they also were there
keeping watch).
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Excerpts: Gospel of Peter
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While they were yet telling them the things which they
had seen, they saw three men come out of the tomb,
two of them sustaining the other one, and a cross
following after them.
The heads of the two they saw had heads that reached
up to heaven, but the head of him that was led by
them went beyond heaven.
And they heard a voice out of the heavens saying,
"Have you preached unto them that sleep?" The
answer that was heard from the cross was, "Yes!"
Excerpts: Gospel of Peter
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The story continues:
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Soldiers report back to Pilate; he tells them to say nothing.
Mary of Magdala & other women go to the tomb to weep:
They're afraid of being seen by the Jews;
and wonder who will roll away the stone for them.
They find the tomb open, and see a young man inside.
Final paragraph:
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Now it was the last day of Unleavened Bread, and many were
returning to their homes since the feast was ending. But we,
the twelve disciples of the Lord, continued weeping and
mourning, and each one still grieving for what had happened,
left for his own home. But I, Simon Peter, and Andrew my
brother, took our fishing nets and went to the sea. With us
was Levi, the son of Alphaeus, whom the Lord...
(text breaks off here)
Gospel of Peter
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Evaluation of this text:
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Again, fills in a few biblical gaps (esp. Easter morning)
Not accepted as "canonical" – Why not?
What can we learn from this text?
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What really happened on Easter morning,
how Jesus was raised from the dead? – No!
Some early Christians' beliefs about Jesus? – Yes!
Ex: Coptic Gospel of Thomas
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Greek fragments from 2nd – 3rd Cent.;
4th Cent. Coptic text discovered 1945 near Nag Hammadi
Collection of 114 Sayings of Jesus; excerpts here from
"The Scholar's Translation," by S. Patterson & M. Meyer.
0) These are the secret sayings that the living Jesus
spoke and Didymos Judas Thomas recorded.
1) And he said, "Whoever discovers the interpretation
of these sayings will not taste death."
Ex: Coptic Gospel of Thomas
2) Jesus said, "Those who seek should not stop seeking
until they find. When they find, they will be disturbed.
When they are disturbed, they will marvel, and will
reign over all. [And after they have reigned they will rest.]"
3) Jesus said, "If your leaders say to you, 'Look, the
(Father's) kingdom is in the sky,' then the birds of the
sky will precede you. If they say to you, 'It is in the
sea,' then the fish will precede you. Rather, the
kingdom is within you and it is outside you. When you
know yourselves, then you will be known, and you will
understand that you are children of the living Father.
But if you do not know yourselves, then you live in
poverty, and you are the poverty."
Ex: Coptic Gospel of Thomas
4) Jesus said, "The person old in days won't hesitate to
ask a little child seven days old about the place of
life, and that person will live. For many of the first
will be last, and will become a single one."
6) His disciples asked him and said to him, "Do you
want us to fast? How should we pray? Should we give
to charity? What diet should we observe?" Jesus said,
"Don't lie, and don't do what you hate, because all
things are disclosed before heaven. After all, there is
nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and there is
nothing covered up that will remain undisclosed."
Ex: Coptic Gospel of Thomas
7) Jesus said, "Lucky is the lion that the human will
eat, so that the lion becomes human. And foul is
the human that the lion will eat, and the lion still
will become human."
8) And he said, The person is like a wise fisherman
who cast his net into the sea and drew it up from
the sea full of little fish. Among them the wise
fisherman discovered a fine large fish. He threw all
the little fish back into the sea, and easily chose
the large fish. Anyone here with two good ears had
better listen!
Ex: Coptic Gospel of Thomas
9) Jesus said, Look, the sower went out, took a
handful (of seeds), and scattered (them). Some fell
on the road, and the birds came and gathered
them. Others fell on rock, and they didn't take root
in the soil and didn't produce heads of grain.
Others fell on thorns, and they choked the seeds
and worms ate them. And others fell on good soil,
and it produced a good crop: it yielded sixty per
measure and one hundred twenty per measure.
Ex: Coptic Gospel of Thomas
48) Jesus said, "If two make peace with each other
in a single house, they will say to the mountain,
'Move from here!' and it will move."
56) Jesus said, "Whoever has come to know the
world has discovered a carcass, and whoever has
discovered a carcass, of that person the world is
not worthy."
77) Jesus said, "I am the light that is over all things.
I am all: from me all came forth, and to me all
attained. Split a piece of wood; I am there. Lift up
the stone, and you will find me there."
Ex: Coptic Gospel of Thomas
Last saying (possibly added late):
114) Simon Peter said to them, "Make Mary leave us,
for females don't deserve life."
Jesus said, "Look, I will guide her to make her male,
so that she too may become a living spirit
resembling you males.
For every female who makes herself male will enter
the kingdom of Heaven."
Coptic Gospel of Thomas
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Evaluation of this text:
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Not accepted as "canonical" – Why not?
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How does it portray the teachings of Jesus?
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Heretical? Gnostic? Not universally accepted.
Familiar? Strange?
What can we learn from this text?
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Anything about (the historical) Jesus? – Yes, a bit!
Some of the 114 sayings may date to the 1st Cent.;
similar in wording and style to the Synoptics
Others are later, more gnostic in theology.
IV) Gospel of Judas
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Ancient Origins:
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Originally written in Greek, mid-2nd Cent.
Known & rejected by Irenaeus of Lyons (ca. 180)
“Others again declare that Cain derived his being from the Power
above, and acknowledge that Esau, Korah, the Sodomites, and all
such persons, are related to themselves. On this account, they add,
they have been assailed by the Creator, yet no one of them has
suffered injury. For Sophia was in the habit of carrying off that
which belonged to her from them to herself. They declare that
Judas the traitor was thoroughly acquainted with these things, and
that he alone, knowing the truth as no others did, accomplished the
mystery of the betrayal; by him all things, both earthly and heavenly,
were thus thrown into confusion. They produce a fictitious history of
this kind, which they style the Gospel of Judas.”
(Against Heresies, I.30: “Doctrines of the Cainites”)
IV) Gospel of Judas

Modern Re-discovery:


Codex Tchacos, late 3rd Cent., Coptic, found 1970's
66 pages, with four texts, badly fragmented in part:
1) Letter of Peter to Philip; 2) James (First Apocalypse of)
3) Gospel of Judas; 4) Book of Allogenes (frag.)


Languished on antiquities market for decades.
Published by National Geographic Society
in 2006, with huge marketing blitz!
Press Conference: April 6, 2006
 National Geographic Magazine, May 2006
 Three books published by NG


Plus other books, other scholars, other publishers.
Gospel of Judas
IV) Gospel of Judas

Sensational Claims by NGS:


Judas was Jesus' favorite disciple!
Jesus asked Judas to betray him!


“The Gospel of Judas gives a different view of the relationship
between Jesus and Judas, offering new insights into the disciple
who betrayed Jesus. Unlike the accounts in the canonical Gospels
of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, in which Judas is portrayed as
a reviled traitor, this newly discovered Gospel portrays Judas as
acting at Jesus’ request when he hands Jesus over to the
authorities.” (http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lostgospel/)
Really?

Can mid-2nd-cent. texts give us reliable new info
about what really happened in the days of Jesus?
IV) Gospel of Judas

More Careful Statements by Scholars:



Scholars say the text not only offers an alternative
view of the relationship between Jesus and Judas but
also illustrates the diversity of opinion in the early
Christian church.
"I expect this gospel to be important mainly for the
deeper insight it will give scholars into the thoughts
and beliefs of certain Christians in the second century
of the Christian era, namely the Gnostics," said
Stephen Emmel, a Coptic studies professor at the
University of Münster in Germany.
(National Geographic Press Release, April 6, 2006)
IV) Gospel of Judas

Other Cautions:




The text is very fragmentary; codex badly damaged
Translations of some passages are still disputed
Theology is obviously Gnostic; but to understand
such texts at all, we need to know what ancient
Gnosticism believed and taught!
Literary Form :

Mostly dialogues between Jesus and Judas,
as explicitly stated at the very beginning.
Gospel of Judas
IV) Gospel of Judas (Intro)
Excerpts from The Gospel of Judas, edited by R. Kasser,
M. Meyer, and G. Wurst. National Geographic Society, 2006.


The secret account of the revelation that Jesus
spoke in conversation with Judas Iscariot during a
week three days before he celebrated Passover.
When Jesus appeared on earth, he performed
miracles and great wonders for the salvation of
humanity… He began to speak to them about the
mysteries beyond the world and what would take
place at the end. Often he did not appear as
himself, but he was found among them as a child.
IV) Gospel of Judas (Scene 1)


… Judas [said] to him, “I know who you are and where
you have come from. You are from the immortal realm
of Barbelo. And I am not worthy to utter the name of
the one who has sent you.”
Knowing that Judas was reflecting on something that
was exalted, Jesus said to him, “Step away from the
others and I shall tell you the mysteries of the
kingdom. It is possible for you to reach it, but you will
grieve a great deal. For someone else will replace you,
in order that the twelve [disciples] may again come to
completion with their god.”
IV) Gospel of Judas (Scene 3)


Judas said, “Master, as you have listened to all of them,
now also listen to me. For I have seen a great vision.”
When Jesus heard this, he laughed and said to him,
“You thirteenth spirit, why do you try so hard? But
speak up, and I shall bear with you.”
Jesus said, "[Come], that I may teach you about
[secrets] no person [has] ever seen. For there exists a
great and boundless realm, whose extent no generation
of angels has seen, [in which] there is [a] great invisible
[Spirit],…"
IV) Gospel of Judas (crucial part)





Judas said to Jesus, "Look, what will those who have
been baptized in your name do?" Jesus said, "Truly
[I] say to you, this baptism […] my name
[ca. 9 lines missing]
to me. Truly [I] say to you, Judas, [those who] offer
sacrifices to Saklas […] God
[3 lines missing]
everything that is evil. But you will exceed all of them.
For you will sacrifice the man that clothes me."
IV) Gospel of Judas

Conclusion of the Text:



[ . . . ] Their high priests murmured because [he]
had gone into the guest room for his prayer. But
some scribes were there watching carefully in order
to arrest him during the prayer, for they were afraid
of the people, since he was regarded by all as a
prophet.
They approached Judas and said to him, “What are
you doing here? You are Jesus’ disciple.”
Judas answered them as they wished. And he
received some money and handed him over to them.
The Gospel of Judas
V) What Can These Texts Teach Us?

About early Gnosticism:



About Jesus and his apostles:


We learn a little more, recovering texts of previously
lost ancient writings (albeit often very fragmentary);
but nothing really new or different.
They mostly confirm Irenaeus' reports about their
contents, and why the early Church rejected them.
We learn nothing historically about the 1st Century.
About Early Christianity:

We learn more about the beliefs that some groups,
in the centuries after Jesus, began developing.
V) What Can These Texts Teach Us?


So why all the fuss? Good question!

Modern anti-Christian bias?

Selling more books and magazines?
Learn about these texts


Learn to ask intelligent questions


But beware the "hype"!
So you'll be better informed about such issues,
and not as susceptible to wild or false claims!
P.S. Don’t forget to read the BIBLE
even more than the non-canonical books!
V) What Can These Texts Teach Us?

What should we teach others about all this?

What should we , as Catholic Religious Educators,
teach our children, RCIA Candidates, and others?
1) Criteria for Canonicity:

WHY the Four Gospels were included, but others not?
2) Existence of MANY OTHER ancient religious books,
not included in either the OT or NT:

WHEN / WHERE they come from, in time & theology?
3) Differences between Christianity & Gnosticism:

Xnty: Jesus as fully human and fully divine!

Xnty: world/body/matter as both GOOD and sinful

Vs. Gnost: DUALISTIC; the WORLD mostly EVIL
Bibliography




W. Schneemelcher, ed. New Testament Apocrypha.
2 vols. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1991-92.
J.K. Elliott, ed. The Apocryphal New Testament.
New York: Oxford University Press, 1993.
H. Koester. Ancient Christian Gospels. Harrisburg,
PA: Trinity Press International, 1990.
R.J. Miller, ed. The Complete Gospels: Annotated
Scholars Version. Sonoma, CA: Polebridge Press, 1992.

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com

http://wesley.nnu.edu/biblical_studies/noncanon/

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lostgospel/
X) Gospel of Philip
 From

Nag Hammadi (Codex II,3) – Valentinian
loosely compiled sayings of Jesus; mostly on life & death
 Two
texts referring to Mary Magdalene:
(mentioned in the daVinci Code)
1) "There were three who always walked with the Lord:
Mary, his mother, and her sister, and Magdalene, the
one who was called his companion. His sister and his
mother and his companion were each a Mary."
(59.6b-11a; J. Robinson, NHL, p. 145)
Gospel of Philip: Ref. to M.Mag.
2) As for the Wisdom who is called "the barren," she is the
mother [of the] angels.
And the companion of the [. . .] Mary Magdalene.
[. . . loved] her more than [all] the disciples [and used to] kiss
her [often] on her [. . .]. The rest of [the disciples . . . // . . .].
They said to him, "Why do you love her more than all of
us?" The Savior answered and said to them, "Why do I not
love you like her?
When a blind man and one who sees
are both together in darkness, they are no different from
one another. When the light comes, then he who sees will
see the light, and he who is blind will remain in darkness."
(63.30b-64.9; J. Robinson, NHL, p. 145)

Note: The online copy does not indicate all the lacunae!
X) Gospel of Mary (Magdalene)

PB 8502; discovered 1896; not publ. until 1955!
Pages 1-6 (ch. 1-3) and 11-14 (ch. 6-7) are lost!
Ch. 5: But they were grieved. They wept greatly, saying,
“How shall we go to the Gentiles and preach the gospel of
the Kingdom of the Son of Man? If they did not spare Him,
how will they spare us?”
 Then Mary stood up, greeted them all, and said to her
brethren, “Do not weep and do not grieve nor be irresolute,
for His grace will be entirely with you and will protect you.
But rather, let us praise His greatness, for He has prepared
us and made us into Men.”
 When Mary said this, she turned their hearts to the Good,
and they began to discuss the words of the Savior.
X) Gospel of Mary (Magdalene)


Peter said to Mary, “Sister we know that the Savior loved
you more than the rest of woman. Tell us the words of the
Savior which you remember which you know, but we do
not, nor have we heard them.”
Mary answered and said, “What is hidden from you I will
proclaim to you.” And she began to speak to them these
words: “I,” she said, “I saw the Lord in a vision and I said to
Him, ‘Lord I saw you today in a vision.’ He answered and
said to me, ‘Blessed are you that you did not waver at the
sight of Me. For where the mind is there is the treasure.’ I
said to Him, ‘Lord, how does he who sees the vision see it,
through the soul or through the spirit?’ The Savior answered
and said, ‘He does not see through the soul nor through the
spirit, but the mind that is between the two that is what
sees the vision and it is . . . [pages 11-14 missing]
X) Gospel of Mary (Magdalene)
Ch. 9: When Mary had said this, she fell silent, since it was to
this point that the Savior had spoken with her.
 But Andrew answered and said to the brethren, “Say what
you wish to say about what she has said. I at least do not
believe that the Savior said this. For certainly these
teachings are strange ideas.”
 Peter answered and spoke concerning these same things.
He questioned them about the Savior: “Did He really speak
privately with a woman and not openly to us? Are we to
turn about and all listen to her? Did He prefer her to us?”
 Then Mary wept and said to Peter, “My brother Peter, what
do you think? Do you think that I have thought this up
myself in my heart, or that I am lying about the Savior?”
X) Gospel of Mary (Magdalene)


Levi answered and said to Peter,
“Peter you have always been hot tempered. Now I see you
contending against the woman like the adversaries. But if
the Savior made her worthy, who are you indeed to reject
her? Surely the Savior knows her very well. That is why He
loved her more than us. Rather let us be ashamed and put
on the perfect Man, and separate as He commanded us and
preach the gospel, not laying down any other rule or other
law beyond what the Savior said.”
And when they heard this they began to go forth to
proclaim and to preach.
The Gospel according to Mary