'Gospel of Judas' Called An Authentic Fabrication

The New York Sun ^ | April 7, 2006 | BRUCE CHILTON

[presidio9]

The National Geographic Society released the manuscript of what is called "The Gospel of Judas" yesterday. By National Geographic's own account, a team first assembled by the Maecenas Foundation has been working on the text since 2001. As a result of press releases tied to publication of the text, widespread coverage has repeated the claim that this is an authentic and unique representation of the historical relationship between Jesus and Judas, and that Jesus encouraged Judas to betray him.

Despite the careful work by scholars that has gone into a document of obvious interest, I have to express disappointment when I see National Geographic stoop so low into hyperbole as to distort the significance of this discovery.

In its release, National Geographic repeatedly states that it has "authenticated" the document. Several press outlets have simply repeated those claims. But "authentic" turns out to be a slippery term as used by the National Geographic Society. No scholar associated with the find argues this is a first century document, or that it derives from Judas. The release says the document was "copied down in Coptic probably around A.D. 300," although later that is changed to "let's say around the year 400." This amounts to saying that "The Gospel of Judas" is an authentic fabrication produced by a group of Gnostics in Egypt. Gnostics believed that their direct knowledge of heaven permitted them to understand what no one else knew, or could know by historical knowledge. For ancient Gnostics to believe in their own powers of divination is charming; for their flights of imagination to be passed off as historical knowledge in our time is dishonest or self-deceived.

During the second century, a theologian of the Catholic Church named Irenaeus referred to a writing named "The Gospel of Judas." Was that

[familyop]

"Do you claim the pastoral epistles date to the first century?"

You might be interested in the following about the origins of the "Gospels" and writings attributed to Paul. The "they" in the quote below refers to the Ascetics (who many say were also essentially the Essenes).

Eusebius wrote, in his Ecclesiastical History (History of the Christian Church), Book II, CHAPTER XVII of Philo's Account of the Ascetics of Egypt
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/2501.htm

"But it is highly probable that the works of the ancients, which he says they had, were the Gospels and the writings of the apostles, and probably some expositions of the ancient prophets, such as are contained in the Epistle to the Hebrews, and in many others of Paul's Epistles."

[Cicero]

This amounts to saying that "The Gospel of Judas" is an authentic fabrication produced by a group of Gnostics in Egypt.

This is about what my reaction was to the first mention of this "authentic" document. That it may be authentically old (though centuries later than the time of the apostles) but that there were heretics back then, even in the time of Jesus, just as there are heretics now.

So, this "gospel" was written by some early best-selling novelist like the guy who wrote The DaVinci Code.

[ears_to_hear]

I just dug up a piece of papyrus in my backyard. It looks really old. I think it says I'm related to Queen Victoria.
Or maybe it says Queen Latifah. It's smudged.

LOL.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

This is worse than that whole Christ-was-walking-on-ice-on-the-Sea-of-Galilee thing!!

[onedoug]

I thought the program interesting.

How could the gospel aspect of Jesus have originated and proliferated without Judas?

And how could the United States have been founded without Christianity?

This from my Jewish perspective.

[Aquinasfan]

The release says the document was "copied down in Coptic probably around A.D. 300,"

I'm so sick of this crap.

[Aquinasfan]

Ms. Rice has undergone a profound conversion experience, returning to the Catholic faith of her youth.

Got link?

[karnage]

www.annerice.com

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

One of the participants had to point out to her that "Katie, the DaVinci Codes are a work of fiction."

She is a worthy successor to Dan Rather.

[Revolting cat!]

Judas Priest Hair Band BUMP!

[SunkenCiv]

Note: this topic was posted 04/07/2006. Thanks presidio9.