Judas' Gospel and other Fairytales

Over the past year, attacks on the historical accuracy of the Bible, and the history of both Jesus and His church, have been appearing frequently. The book (soon-to-be movie) “The DaVinci Code”, revived interest in historic revisionism and conspiracy, creating fresh interest in books like “Holy Blood, Holy Grail.” Now, with the National Geographic Society’s publication of the so-called “Gospel of Judas,” another series of attacks have appeared.

One purpose of these attacks is to weaken faith in God by discrediting the accuracy and origins of the Bible. It is therefore critical to effectively counter such attempts.

All these books are based on one or more of a series of spurious “gospels” written in the second and third centuries, a hundred years or more after Jesus’ ascension. “The DaVinci Code” and “Holy Blood, Holy Grail” are based on two forgeries called the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Mary Magdalene. These claim that Jesus married the Magdalene (some claim He married Mary and Martha of Bethany, as well), and had children. Following Jesus’ death (and presumably, His resurrection), mother and child (or children) took refuge, either in Gaul (France) or the West Country (England). Then, supposedly, this family founded a dynasty which at times ruled much of Europe, and today includes the “royal” Bourbon and Hapsburg families, who continue to strive for power and fight against the Roman Catholic Church, which has supposedly “surpressed” all this knowledge.

“The Gospel of Judas” does not claim to be written by the traitor himself, but rather purports to tell the truth about Judas – that he was really the most beloved disciple, therefore hated by the others, and selected by Jesus to “betray” Him, thus triggering the entire Passion of our Lord. Of course, the Bible clearly contradicts this. Judas (like many Jews who listened to, and even followed Jesus) expected Jesus to be a powerful, earthly king, who would make Israel physically and politically free and stronger than the nations around it. When Judas saw that Jesus’ “kingdom is not of this world,” we are told “Satan entered into him.” Whether he expected his action to force Jesus to launch the revolution, or he truly sided with the temple authorities is a moot point – he betrayed our Lord. And Jesus knew it and told Judas in so many words that He did.[1]

All these (and many more writings from AD 100 to perhaps AD 500) are examples of Gnostic texts. They were written to support a faction that claimed that “secret knowledge” existed and was necessary for “true” salvation. This faction mixed magic, ancient philosophies, even demonology, with the pure Gospel of Christ Jesus. They were never considered by any real christian to be Scripture, despite the claims being circulated today. The particular group or tradition which circulated “The Gospel of Judas” are often called Cainite Gnostics, because they had a regular cottage industry of rehabilitating biblical villains such as Cain, Saul, Simon the Sorcerer, and Judas.

Catholics (and most Protestants) today will claim that the Canon (the “official” listing of books of the Bible) was established by a worldwide Catholic council (convention) in the late forth century, AD, and that until that time, such books as the Judas, Thomas, and Mary Magdalene gospels might have been acceptable as “scripture.” This makes the Bible appear to be the creation of humans, of a church. Fortunately, that is not really what happened – it is false history, even outright propaganda.

What history shows is, that just as men inspired by God wrote the books that make up the Bible, so the Spirit inspired the assembling of those various books into a single collection, not later than AD 150 and likely even sooner, perhaps while John the Apostle was still alive. This agrees with Scripture itself. After that time, there were many challenges to specific books (as late as Martin Luther’s challenge of James’ letter), and these challenges were mostly put to rest by a series of these councils – which amounted to man presumptuously “ratifying” what God had done.

The bizarre and pernicious doctrine of Gnosticism first rose in New Testament times, as discussed in Titus 3:18, 2 Peter 2:1, 2 John 10-11, and perhaps 2 Corinthians 11:3-4. It was not a “competitor” to “orthodox” Christianity, as some would charge, but rather, a departure from the faith once and for all delivered to the saints (like so many other ideas). Its key aspects are strongly condemned in Scripture, and are incompatible with God’s revealed religion. Gnosticism is internally inconsistent and its writings, like all false teachings, contain many obvious errors.

Gnosticism is sometimes thought (in tradition) to be traced to Simon (Acts 9). It would create an inner “elite” or “initiate” church like most religions have – a system completely opposed to God’s will for the church. Sadly, Gnosticism is still a threat to the faith of members of the church today, in many different ways: the blending of pagan philosophies (such as “new age Christianity” or the modern Roman Catholic Church), the blending of science and religion, and such. The very idea that only an elite (priests, scientists, school-trained preachers, etc.) can understand God’s will, and other errors, are exactly the kind of Gnostic concepts that plagued the church 1700 years ago. The christian must be ever vigilant to deal with such issues as “The DaVinci Code” and “The Gospel of Judas.”

© Nathan A. Barton, 9 APR 2006, used by permission

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[1] It is interesting, that as recently as this week, I have heard that John 13:26-27 is “proof” that the Gospel of Judas is true, because Jesus clearly commanded Judas to do the deed – rather than simply Jesus knowing what he would do. As with many other claims, this is based on the assumption that Jesus is human, not divine.

How to be saved

It is, despite so many people’s claims, very simple. Let us look at five very basic points, which will help you understand both yourself and the Lord.

God is the Lawmaker, and just as He made universal natural laws that govern the very elements of the Universe, He also created universal spiritual laws that govern our relationship with Him. Man can no more change these spiritual laws than Congress can change the law of gravity.

Point One

God LOVES you very much. He offers a wonderful future for your life.

God's Love: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

“Believe” as generally used in the Bible means much more than “thinking this is so,” as so many people would define it today. Here, it means more than recognizing that Christ Jesus exists; it means taking action to commit to His service. (Remember even Satan believes in God, "Thou believe that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." James 2:19)

True Biblical belief requires that we act on it by commiting our lives to Him.

God's Future: Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (that is, full and complete) (John 10:10)

But few people HAVE that “abundant life.” Why?

Point Two

All people are SINFUL. Sin separates us from God. Separate from God, we cannot understand or experience God's love and future. "For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) "For the [result] of sin is death" –not just physical death, but spiritual separation from God (Romans 6:23)

God created Man to be in fellowship with Him. But our stubbornness has caused us to become willful, go our own way, and therefore, we break that fellowship with God. Whether our stubbornness is an active rebellion against God, or a passive apathy towards Him, it is sin, and separates us from our future and His love.

How do we end that separation?

Point Three

God provided just one solution for Man’s sin: Jesus Christ. Only through the Son of God can you can know and have God's love and future.

He Died in Our Stead: "But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)

He Defeated Death: "... Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures ... he was buried ... he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1st Corinthians 15:3-6)

He is The Way to God ~ "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.'" (John 14:6)

We must do more than “know” what God’s provision for us is; we must understand more...

Point Four

We must each RECEIVE and ACCEPT Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord; otherwise we can neither know nor have a future through God's love.

We Must Accept Jesus as the Christ (the Anointed): "But as many as received Him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:12)

We Can Have Christ Only through Faith ~ "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

We Must Be Born into Christ: "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind blows where it will, and thou hear the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." (John 3:3-8)

We Are Personally Invited to Receive Him: Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come to him" (Revelation 3:20)

Receiving Christ involves turning to God from self and sin (repentance) and trusting Christ to come into our lives to forgive our sins and to make us the kind of people He wants us to be. Just to agree intellectually that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for our sins is not enough. Nor is it enough to have an emotional experience. We receive Jesus Christ by faith, as an act of will... and we must demonstrate that faith. True belief requires action.

Point Five

Once you have believed and rejected sin and self, you must accept Christ; you must become a born-again Christian by confessing His Name before men and being baptized INTO Jesus Christ.

We Must Have A Living Faith: "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works (deeds or service) is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?" (James 2:20-22)

We Must Submit to His Will: “And they said, ‘Men and brethren, what must we do to be saved?’ And Peter answered and said, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” (Acts 2:38)

A New Change ~ "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2nd Corinthians 5:17)

Yes it is true that works, service or good deeds do not save us; God alone can save us. But we must submit to Him and we do this through publicly confessing He is Lord and being buried with Him in the waters of baptism, “that we might rise to walk in newness of life.” (Romans )

Are you ready?

You can receive Christ right now very simply. First, you must by faith through prayer (that is, talking with God); show that you believe in God and His Son, and tell Him you repent of your past life of sin. God knows your heart, so don’t be as concerned with your words as with your attitude. You can then tell others, even if it is only one person (to start with) that you accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God, your Lord and Savior. Then you can submit to Christ, in faith, in the waters of baptism (immersion in water), just as those thousands at Pentecost, the Ethiopian Eunich, the Philippian Jailer, and so many more from that day to this; “Arise, and be baptized, washing away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord,” (Acts 22:16) “This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you-not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.(1 Peter 3:21).

IF you are willing to submit, Jesus Christ will come into your life, through the gift of the Holy Spirit, just as He promised. We are very excited if you want to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord, and if you decide to follow Him. We would love to help you become and grow as a Christian. Please let me know if you need any further assistance, or if you need assistance in study or to be baptized into Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.