What do you think of Judas Iscariot and the Gospel of Judas?

Question

What is your opinion on him?

And does anyone know about the gospel of Judas?

Answer 1

Well, if you believe the Bible, then I think that Judas got the short end of the stick. He gets portrayed as the evil betrayer of Jesus. I think even from the canonical texts it is clear that Judas simply did what was asked of him.

I do have to laugh, though, at how some Christians try to wiggle around the conflicting stories of his death. One version has him giving the 30 pieces of silver to two guards who buy a potter's field. He then hangs himself from a tree. The other version has him keeping the 30 pieces of silver and buying land of his own. He falls down the side of a cliff causing fatal injuries. Some Christians try to claim that he hung himself and the branch broke, then he fell down the side of the cliff. That explanation ignores the fact that these are two separate stories that are disconnected on more than one level.

Answer 2

Judas Iscariot was traditionally regarded as selfish and greedy, a man who betrayed his master for money. However, the New Testament indicates that Jesus knew exactly what Judas was going to do, and even sent Jesus out to do it. The Gospel of Judas was a Gnostic Gospel that was written around the 3rd-4th century AD. Several Gnostic sects believed that the material body was a prison, and that Jesus was never actually crucified. According to the Gospel of Judas, Judas intentionally betrayed Christ in order to liberate Jesus from his physical body. The Gospel of Judas also insinuates that Judas was possessed by a demon, who tricked him into commiting the deed.

In the modern era, movies about Jesus have suggested that Judas was simply misguided, and that he assumed Jesus would initiate the Kingdom of God when faced with certain death. You see this, for example, in Jesus of Nazareth and Jesus Christ Superstar. When the Gospel of Judas was translated in 2006, several people mistakenly assumed that it taught the whole "Judas was a good guy" story.

Answer 3

It is strange how we pick information and dissect any issue or issues to satisfy oneself belief. Is this normal as humans to fall into a complex world of assumptions not having 100% facts to acknowledge personal behavior differences does exist? It is sad 3 years observation and participation with Jesus there were no indication of written negative behavior for the exception of betrayal. Can we say that a good person be possess by evil spirits at any time? If Judas was so bad why did he follow Jesus for 3 years? Why was there a conviction when he was trying to return the money by killing himself? Why didn’t he steal from the other 11 disciples instead of waiting for the last supper? I am sure there are more questions pertaining to Judas Iscariot that we can look upon as judging him guilty without personally knowing him and reading information which could easily be misinterpret and or lack of information to his life. In my opinion, following Jesus for a long time does not make him a criminal in one day. Take care and stay in good health.

Answer 4

The apocrypha is just as looney as the Bible. Why didn't they just exclude all 66 books of the Bible - while they were excluding the apocryphal books?