Posted on 04/06/2006 12:41:01 PM PDT by Justice
WASHINGTON (AFP) - Lost for almost 1,700 years, a manuscript entitled "Gospel of Judas" is putting a new spin on the case of the biblical bad guy, maintaining that Jesus actually asked disciple Judas to betray him.
The third- or fourth-century ancient Coptic manuscript -- authenticated, translated and displayed Thursday at National Geographic headquarters here -- paints a different picture of Judas and Jesus.
The papyrus manuscript known as a codex maintains, as the bible does not, that Jesus requested that Judas "betray" him by handing him to authorities, something it says pained Judas greatly.
"The codex has been authenticated as a genuine work of ancient Christian apocryphal literature on five fronts: radiocarbon dating, ink analysis, multispectral imaging, contextual evidence and paleographic evidence," said Terry Garcia, executive vice president for Mission Programs for the National Geographic Society.
"This dramatic discovery of an ancient non-biblical text -- considered by some to be the most significant in the past 60 years -- enhances our knowledge of the history and theological viewpoints of the early Christian period, and is worthy of study by historians, scholars and theologians," Garcia said.
"This process will take time and ongoing dialogue which has just begun."
The leather-bound papyrus text believed to have been copied down around 300 AD was located in the 1970s in the desert near El Minya, Egypt. It then moved among antiquities traders from Egypt to Europe and the United States.
It was purchased by Zurich-based antiquities dealer Frieda Nussberger-Tchacos in 2000, and now was to be returned to Egypt and housed at Cairo's Coptic Museum.
Newly come to light then. Happy now?
I see that's already been done, shoulda known!
In John, Jesus tells Judas "Go and do what plan to do". I thin the writer mistakes this command for permission.
Gnosticism was certainly not Christian but I'm not surprised National Geographic might claim it is. It's certainly not the organization it used to be.
For a better perspective -
The "Gospel of Judas"
Interview With Father Thomas Williams, Theology Dean
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1609947/posts
Would seem Mr. Iscariot really didn't have a whole lot time to talk with reporters [scribes] between kissing and throwing money all over the floor?
Living up to your handle I see.
There is a longer article on this at a link on Lucianne.com
Hardly earthshaking. There are a whole host of 2nd and 3rd century forgeries offered up as authentic texts. (My favorite being the Book of Adam and Eve!) I suspect the Book of Judas is just a late arrival to the group. But that won't prevent liberal theology scholars for propounding one ridiculous theory or another. That's hardly surprising as well.
Wow. I guess Sid Blumenthal used to work for Judas, too.
> authenticated, translated and displayed Thursday at National
> Geographic headquarters here
Authenticated by a bunch of evolutionists. No bias here ...
Didn't Judas commit suicide shortly after Jesus' death? Did he have time to write a Gospel?
Perhaps. See my profile.
I take it you've lurked a while, or are a retread based on your even knowing what IBTZ means.
Your profile doesn't say one way or the other.
Yes .. hey newbie. Tomorrow is my 8 year anniversary in FR.
#34 :-)
Too many "zot happy" Freepers. :-)
This could be interesting it this book has not been altered like all of the rest of the Bibble in the early 300's by the church.
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