Gospel of Judas Betrays Truth
Although some are hailing the Gospel of Judas as: “The greatest archeological find in the last 60 years,” it is no Gospel, it could not have been written by Judas, and is far too removed, both in timing and geography, to tell us anything concerning Jesus Christ and the birth of Christianity in Israel in the First Century.
As Judas committed suicide even before the Resurrection of Christ, he not only had no time to write any gospel, but wouldn’t have been around to testify as to anything concerning the Day of Pentecost and the development of the Christian church.
Christian scholars have known about “The Gospel of Judas” since it first surfaced, late in the 2 nd Century and the early church rejected it as both a forgery and as heresy.
National Geographic recently unveiled this Gnostic Gospel of Judas as though it were something significant and of academic value. Yet, in this so called “Gospel of Judas”, Judas is the hero. Judas is depicted as Christ’s best friend – the only one who really understands Jesus, and who turned Jesus over to the authorities for crucifixion on His request – to enable Jesus to break free of His earthly body and return to the spirit world!
The Gnostics were a sect that believed only a select group of people were privy to secret knowledge. The key to this knowledge was that the material world is a trap – something from which we need to escape in order to enter the spirit world. The Cainite Gnostics, who were responsible for the so-called “Gospel of Judas”, tried to rehabilitate disgraced Biblical figures such as Cain, Korah the Sodomites and Judas.
Although it has been common for Hollywood productions to deal very sympathetically with Judas, the Bible is quite clear that Judas was greedy (Matthew 26:14 – 15); treacherous (Luke 22: 47 – 48); dishonest and hypocritical (John 12:5 – 6). The Bible is very clear that Judas Iscariot betrayed Christ (Matthew 10:4). Judas asked the Chief Priests: “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” Matthew 26:14. The Bible records that the chief priests were “delighted” at Judas’s treachery (Mark 14:10).
Although Judas was the treasurer of the Twelve, and fained concerned for the poor, the Bible reveals that, in fact, Judas was a thief, stealing from the funds of the Lord Himself (John 12:4 – 6).
Far from Judas being a well-meaning victim of circumstances, the Bible is quite clear that he was a malicious traitor. John’s Gospel plainly says: “then Satan entered into Judas” John 13:27.
After the Resurrection and Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, the book of Acts records the Apostle Peter applying the prophecy of Psalm 109 to the treachery of Judas: “May another take his place of leadership”(Acts 1:20). This is a prophecy from Psalm 109:8. The same prophecy includes these insights as to the motivations of traitors like Judas: “For wicked and deceitful men have open their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying thoughts. With words of hatred they surround me; they attack me without cause. In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer. They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my friendship.” Psalm 109:2 –5
When Jesus described Judas in these words: “‘Have I not chosen, you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!’ (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray Him.)” John 6:70 – 71
Just as Judas himself betrayed Christ, this so called “Gospel of Judas” betrays the truth.
Dr. Peter Hammond