{"id":216,"date":"2024-09-28T12:18:09","date_gmt":"2024-09-28T16:18:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.purposedriven.ca\/wiki\/eng\/the-gospel-of-judas"},"modified":"2024-09-28T12:18:12","modified_gmt":"2024-09-28T16:18:12","slug":"the-gospel-of-judas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/purposedriven.ca\/wiki\/2024\/09\/28\/the-gospel-of-judas\/","title":{"rendered":"THE GOSPEL OF JUDAS"},"content":{"rendered":"

THE GOSPEL OF JUDAS
\nTranslated by
\nRodolphe Kasser, Marvin Meyer, and Gregor Wurst,
\nin collaboration with Fran?\u00a7ois Gaudard
\nFrom The Gospel of Judas
\nEdited by Rodolphe Kasser, Marvin Meyer, and Gregor Wurst
\nPublished in book form complete with commentary by The National Geographic
\nSociety.
\nCopyright (c) 2006 by The National Geographic Society.
\nAll rights reserved. No part of this translation may be reproduced or
\ntransmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
\nincluding photocopying, without permission in writing from the National
\nGeographic Society.
\nINTRODUCTION: INCIPIT
\nThe secret account of the revelation that Jesus spoke in conversation with Judas Iscariot
\nduring a week three days before he celebrated Passover.
\nTHE EARTHLY MINISTRY OF JESUS
\nWhen Jesus appeared on earth, he performed miracles and great wonders for the salvation
\nof humanity. And since some [walked] in the way of righteousness while others walked
\nin their transgressions, the twelve disciples were called.
\nHe began to speak with them about the mysteries beyond the world and what would
\ntake place at the end. Often he did not appear to his disciples as himself, but he was found
\namong them as a child.
\nSCENE 1: Jesus dialogues with his disciples: The prayer of thanksgiving or the eucharist
\nOne day he was with his disciples in Judea, and he found them gathered together and
\nseated in pious observance. When he [approached] his disciples, [34] gathered together
\nand seated and offering a prayer of thanksgiving over the bread, [he] laughed.
\nThe disciples said to [him], “Master, why are you laughing at [our] prayer of
\nthanksgiving? We have done what is right.”
\nHe answered and said to them, “I am not laughing at you. are not doing this
\nbecause of your own will but because it is through this that your god [will be] praised.”
\nThey said, “Master, you are [“\u00a6] the son of our god.”
\nJesus said to them, “How do you know me? Truly [I] say to you, no generation of the
\npeople that are among you will know me.”
\nTHE DISCIPLES BECOME ANGRY
\nWhen his disciples heard this, they started getting angry and infuriated and began
\nblaspheming against him in their hearts.
\nWhen Jesus observed their lack of [understanding, he said] to them, “Why has this
\nagitation led you to anger? Your god who is within you and [“\u00a6] [35] have provoked you
\nto anger [within] your souls. [Let] any one of you who is [strong enough] among human
\nbeings bring out the perfect human and stand before my face.”
\nThey all said, “We have the strength.”
\nBut their spirits did not dare to stand before [him], except for Judas Iscariot. He was
\nable to stand before him, but he could not look him in the eyes, and he turned his face
\naway.
\nJudas [said] to him, “I know who you are and where you have come from. You are
\nfrom the immortal realm of Barbelo. And I am not worthy to utter the name of the one
\nwho has sent you.”
\nJESUS SPEAKS TO JUDAS PRIVATELY
\nKnowing that Judas was reflecting upon something that was exalted, Jesus said to him,
\n“Step away from the others and I shall tell you the mysteries of the kingdom. It is
\npossible for you to reach it, but you will grieve a great deal. [36] For someone else will
\nreplace you, in order that the twelve [disciples] may again come to completion with their
\ngod.”
\nJudas said to him, “When will you tell me these things, and [when] will the great day
\nof light dawn for the generation?”
\nBut when he said this, Jesus left him.
\nSCENE 2: Jesus appears to the disciples again
\nThe next morning, after this happened, Jesus [appeared] to his disciples again.
\nThey said to him, “Master, where did you go and what did you do when you left us?”
\nJesus said to them, “I went to another great and holy generation.”
\nHis disciples said to him, “Lord, what is the great generation that is superior to us and
\nholier than us, that is not now in these realms?”
\nWhen Jesus heard this, he laughed and said to them, “Why are you thinking in your
\nhearts about the strong and holy generation? [37] Truly [I] say to you, no one born [of]
\nthis aeon will see that [generation], and no host of angels of the stars will rule over that
\ngeneration, and no person of mortal birth can associate with it, because that generation
\ndoes not come from [“\u00a6] which has become [“\u00a6]. The generation of people among [you]
\nis from the generation of humanity [“\u00a6] power, which [“\u00a6 the] other powers [“\u00a6] by
\n[which] you rule.”
\nWhen [his] disciples heard this, they each were troubled in spirit. They could not say a
\nword.
\nAnother day Jesus came up to [them]. They said to [him], “Master, we have seen you
\nin a [vision], for we have had great [dreams “\u00a6] night [“\u00a6].”
\n[He said], “Why have [you “\u00a6 when] <\/you> have gone into hiding?” [38]
\nTHE DISCIPLES SEE THE TEMPLE AND DISCUSS IT
\nThey [said, “We have seen] a great [house with a large] altar [in it, and] twelve
\nmen- they are the priests, we would say- and a name; and a crowd of people is waiting
\nat that altar, [until] the priests [“\u00a6 and receive] the offerings. [But] we kept waiting.”
\n[Jesus said], “What are [the priests] like?”
\nThey [said, “Some “\u00a6] two weeks; [some] sacrifice their own children, others their
\nwives, in praise [and] humility with each other; some sleep with men; some are involved
\nin [slaughter]; some commit a multitude of sins and deeds of lawlessness. And the men
\nwho stand [before] the altar invoke your [name], [39] and in all the deeds of their
\ndeficiency, the sacrifices are brought to completion [“\u00a6].”
\nAfter they said this, they were quiet, for they were troubled.
\nJESUS OFFERS AN ALLEGORICAL INTERPRETATION OF THE VISION OF THE TEMPLE
\nJesus said to them, “Why are you troubled? Truly I say to you, all the priests who stand
\nbefore that altar invoke my name. Again I say to you, my name has been written on this
\n[“\u00a6] of the generations of the stars through the human generations. [And they] have
\nplanted trees without fruit, in my name, in a shameful manner.”
\nJesus said to them, “Those you have seen receiving the offerings at the altar- that is
\nwho you are. That is the god you serve, and you are those twelve men you have seen. The
\ncattle you have seen brought for sacrifice are the many people you lead astray [40] before
\nthat altar. [“\u00a6] will stand and make use of my name in this way, and generations of the
\npious will remain loyal to him. After hi another man will stand there from [the
\nfornicators], and another [will] stand there from the slayers of children, and another from
\nthose who sleep with men, and those who abstain, and the rest of the people of pollution
\nand lawlessness and error, and those who say, -We are like angels’; they are the stars that
\nbring everything to its conclusion. For to the human generations it has been said, -Look,
\nGod has received your sacrifice from the hands of a priest’- that is, a minister of error.
\nBut it is the Lord, the Lord of the universe, who commands, -On the last day they will be
\nput to shame.'” [41]
\nJesus said [to them], “Stop sac[rificing “\u00a6] which you have [“\u00a6] over the altar, since
\nthey are over your stars and your angels and have already come to their conclusion there.
\nSo let them be [ensnared] before you, and let them go [- about 15 lines missing- ]
\ngenerations [“\u00a6]. A baker cannot feed all creation [42] under [heaven]. And [“\u00a6] to them
\n[“\u00a6] and [“\u00a6] to us and [“\u00a6].
\nJesus said to them, “Stop struggling with me. Each of you has his own star, and
\nevery[body- about 17 lines missing- ] [43] in [“\u00a6] who has come [“\u00a6 spring] for the tree
\n[“\u00a6] of this aeon [“\u00a6] for a time [“\u00a6] but he has come to water God’s paradise, and the
\n[generation] that will last, because [he] will not defile the [walk of life of] that
\ngeneration, but [“\u00a6] for all eternity.”
\nJUDAS ASKS JESUS ABOUT THAT GENERATION AND HUMAN GENERATIONS
\nJudas said to [him, “Rabb]i, what kind of fruit does this generation produce?”
\nJesus said, “The souls of every human generation will die. When these people,
\nhowever, have completed the time of the kingdom and the spirit leaves them, their bodies
\nwill die but their souls will be alive, and they will be taken up.”
\nJudas said, “And what will the rest of the human generations do?”
\nJesus said, “It is impossible [44] to sow seed on [rock] and harvest its fruit. [This] is
\nalso the way [“\u00a6] the [defiled] generation [“\u00a6] and corruptible Sophia [“\u00a6] the hand that
\nhas created mortal people, so that their souls go up to the eternal realms above. [Truly] I
\nsay to you, [“\u00a6] angel [“\u00a6] power will be able to see that [“\u00a6] these to whom [“\u00a6] holy
\ngenerations [“\u00a6].”
\nAfter Jesus said this, he departed.
\nSCENE 3: Judas recounts a vision and Jesus responds
\nJudas said, “Master, as you have listened to all of them, now also listen to me. For I have
\nseen a great vision.”
\nWhen Jesus heard this, he laughed and said to him, “You thirteenth spirit, why do you
\ntry so hard? But speak up, and I shall bear with you.”
\nJudas said to him, “In the vision I saw myself as the twelve disciples were stoning me
\nand [45] persecuting [me severely]. And I also came to the place where [“\u00a6] after you. I
\nsaw [a house “\u00a6], and my eyes could not [comprehend] its size. Great people were
\nsurrounding it, and that house a roof of greenery, and in the middle of the house
\nwas [a crowd- two lines missing- ], saying, -Master, take me in along with these
\npeople.'”
\n[Jesus] answered and said, “Judas, your star has led you astray.” He continued, “No
\nperson of mortal birth is worthy to enter the house you have seen, for that place is
\nreserved for the holy. Neither the sun nor the moon will rule there, nor the day, but the
\nholy will abide there always, in the eternal realm with the holy angels. Look, I have
\nexplained to you the mysteries of the kingdom [46] and I have taught you about the error
\nof the stars; and [“\u00a6] send it [“\u00a6] on the twelve aeons.”
\nJUDAS ASKS ABOUT HIS OWN FATE
\nJudas said, “Master, could it be that my seed is under the control of the rulers?”
\nJesus answered and said to him, “Come, that I [- two lines missing- ], but that you
\nwill grieve much when you see the kingdom and all its generation.”
\nWhen he heard this, Judas said to him, “What good is it that I have received it? For
\nyou have set me apart for that generation.”
\nJesus answered and said, “You will become the thirteenth, and you will be cursed by
\nthe other generations- and you will come to rule over them. In the last days they will
\ncurse your ascent [47] to the holy [generation].”
\nJESUS TEACHES JUDAS ABOUT COSMOLOGY: THE SPIRIT AND THE SELF-GENERATED
\nJesus said, “[Come], that I may teach you about [secrets] no person [has] ever seen. For
\nthere exists a great and boundless realm, whose extent no generation of angels has seen,
\n[in which] there is [a] great invisible [Spirit],
\nwhich no eye of an angel has ever seen,
\nno thought of the heart has ever comprehended,
\nand it was never called by any name.
\n“And a luminous cloud appeared there. He said, -Let an angel come into being as my
\nattendant.’
\n“A great angel, the enlightened divine Self-Generated, emerged from the cloud.
\nBecause of him, four other angels came into being from another cloud, and they became
\nattendants for the angelic Self-Generated. The Self-Generated said, [48] -Let [“\u00a6] come
\ninto being [“\u00a6],’ and it came into being [“\u00a6]. And he [created] the first luminary to reign
\nover him. He said, -Let angels come into being to serve [him],’ and myriads without
\nnumber came into being. He said, -[Let] an enlightened aeon come into being,’ and he
\ncame into being. He created the second luminary [to] reign over him, together with
\nmyriads of angels without number, to offer service. That is how he created the rest of the
\nenlightened aeons. He made them reign over them, and he created for them myriads of
\nangels without number, to assist them.
\nADAMAS AND THE LUMINARIES
\n“Adamas was in the first luminous cloud that no angel has ever seen among all those
\ncalled -God.’ He [49] [“\u00a6] that [“\u00a6] the image [“\u00a6] and after the likeness of [this] angel.
\nHe made the incorruptible [generation] of Seth appear [“\u00a6] the twelve [“\u00a6] the twentyfour
\n[“\u00a6]. He made seventy-two luminaries appear in the incorruptible generation, in
\naccordance with the will of the Spirit. The seventy-two luminaries themselves made three
\nhundred sixty luminaries appear in the incorruptible generation, in accordance with the
\nwill of the Spirit, that their number should be five for each.
\n“The twelve aeons of the twelve luminaries constitute their father, with six heavens for
\neach aeon, so that there are seventy-two heavens for the seventy-two luminaries, and for
\neach [50] [of them five] firmaments, [for a total of] three hundred sixty [firmaments “\u00a6].
\nThey were given authority and a [great] host of angels [without number], for glory and
\nadoration, [and after that also] virgin spirits, for glory and [adoration] of all the aeons and
\nthe heavens and their firmaments.
\nTHE COSMOS, CHAOS, AND THE UNDERWORLD
\n“The multitude of those immortals is called the cosmos- that is, perdition- by the
\nFather and the seventy-two luminaries who are with the Self-Generated and his seventytwo
\naeons. In him the first human appeared with his incorruptible powers. And the aeon
\nthat appeared with his generation, the aeon in whom are the cloud of knowledge and the
\nangel, is called [51] El. [“\u00a6] aeon [“\u00a6] after that [“\u00a6] said, -Let twelve angels come into
\nbeing [to] rule over chaos and the [underworld].’ And look, from the cloud there
\nappeared an [angel] whose face flashed with fire and whose appearance was defiled with
\nblood. His name was Nebro, which means -rebel’; others call him Yaldabaoth. Another
\nangel, Saklas, also came from the cloud. So Nebro created six angels- as well as
\nSaklas- to be assistants, and these produced twelve angels in the heavens, with each one
\nreceiving a portion in the heavens.
\nTHE RULERS AND ANGELS
\n“The twelve rulers spoke with the twelve angels: -Let each of you [52] [“\u00a6] and let them
\n[“\u00a6] generation [- one line lost- ] angels’:
\nThe first is [S]eth, who is called Christ.
\nThe [second] is Harmathoth, who is [“\u00a6].
\nThe [third] is Galila.
\nThe fourth is Yobel.
\nThe fifth [is] Adonaios.
\nThese are the five who ruled over the underworld, and first of all over chaos.
\nTHE CREATION OF HUMANITY
\n“Then Saklas said to his angels, -Let us create a human being after the likeness and after
\nthe image.’ They fashioned Adam and his wife Eve, who is called, in the cloud, Zoe. For
\nby this name all the generations seek the man, and each of them calls the woman by these
\nnames. Now, Sakla did not [53] com[mand “\u00a6] except [“\u00a6] the gene[rations “\u00a6] this [“\u00a6].
\nAnd the [ruler] said to Adam, -You shall live long, with your children.'”
\nJUDAS ASKS ABOUT THE DESTINY OF ADAM AND HUMANITY
\nJudas said to Jesus, “[What] is the long duration of time that the human being will live?”
\nJesus said, “Why are you wondering about this, that Adam, with his generation, has
\nlived his span of life in the place where he has received his kingdom, with longevity with
\nhis ruler?”
\nJudas said to Jesus, “Does the human spirit die?”
\nJesus said, “This is why God ordered Michael to give the spirits of people to them as a
\nloan, so that they might offer service, but the Great One ordered Gabriel to grant spirits to
\nthe great generation with no ruler over it- that is, the spirit and the soul. Therefore, the
\n[rest] of the souls [54] [- one line missing- ].
\nJESUS DISCUSSES THE DESTRUCTION OF THE WICKED WITH JUDAS AND OTHERS
\n“[“\u00a6] light [- nearly two lines missing- ] around [“\u00a6] let [“\u00a6] spirit [that is] within you
\ndwell in this [flesh] among the generations of angels. But God caused knowledge to be
\n[given] to Adam and those with him, so that the kings of chaos and the underworld might
\nnot lord it over them.”
\nJudas said to Jesus, “So what will those generations do?”
\nJesus said, “Truly I say to you, for all of them the stars bring matters to completion.
\nWhen Saklas completes the span of time assigned for him, their first star will appear with
\nthe generations, and they will finish what they said they would do. Then they will
\nfornicate in my name and slay their children [55] and they will [“\u00a6] and [- about six and
\na half lines missing- ] my name, and he will [“\u00a6] your star over the [thir]teenth aeon.”
\nAfter that Jesus [laughed].
\n[Judas said], “Master, [why are you laughing at us]?”
\n[Jesus] answered [and said], “I am not laughing [at you] but at the error of the stars,
\nbecause these six stars wander about with these five combatants, and they all will be
\ndestroyed along with their creatures.”
\nJESUS SPEAKS OF THOSE WHO ARE BAPTIZED, AND JUDAS’S BETRAYAL
\nJudas said to Jesus, “Look, what will those who have been baptized in your name do?”
\nJesus said, “Truly I say [to you], this baptism [56] [“\u00a6] my name [- about nine lines
\nmissing- ] to me. Truly [I] say to you, Judas, [those who] offer sacrifices to Saklas [“\u00a6]
\nGod [- three lines missing- ] everything that is evil.
\n“But you will exceed all of them. For you will sacrifice the man that clothes me.
\nAlready your horn has been raised,
\nyour wrath has been kindled,
\nyour star has shown brightly,
\nand your heart has [“\u00a6]. [57]
\n“Truly [“\u00a6] your last [“\u00a6] become [- about two and a half lines missing- ], grieve
\n[- about two lines missing- ] the ruler, since he will be destroyed. And then the image
\nof the great generation of Adam will be exalted, for prior to heaven, earth, and the angels,
\nthat generation, which is from the eternal realms, exists. Look, you have been told
\neverything. Lift up your eyes and look at the cloud and the light within it and the stars
\nsurrounding it. The star that leads the way is your star.”
\nJudas lifted up his eyes and saw the luminous cloud, and he entered it. Those standing
\non the ground heard a voice coming from the cloud, saying, [58] [“\u00a6] great generation
\n[“\u00a6] “\u00a6 image [“\u00a6] [- about five lines missing- ].
\nCONCLUSION: JUDAS BETRAYS JESUS
\n[“\u00a6] Their high priests murmured because [he] had gone into the guest room for his
\nprayer. But some scribes were there watching carefully in order to arrest him during the
\nprayer, for they were afraid of the people, since he was regarded by all as a prophet.
\nThey approached Judas and said to him, “What are you doing here? You are Jesus’
\ndisciple.”
\nJudas answered them as they wished. And he received some money and handed him over
\nto them.
\nTHE GOSPEL OF JUDAS<\/had><\/you><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

THE GOSPEL OF JUDAS Translated by Rodolphe Kasser, Marvin Meyer, and Gregor Wurst, in collaboration with Fran?\u00a7ois Gaudard From The Gospel of Judas Edited by Rodolphe Kasser, Marvin Meyer, and Gregor Wurst Published in book form complete with commentary by The National Geographic Society. Copyright (c) 2006 by The National Geographic Society. All rights reserved….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"twitterCardType":"","cardImageID":0,"cardImage":"","cardTitle":"","cardDesc":"","cardImageAlt":"","cardPlayer":"","cardPlayerWidth":0,"cardPlayerHeight":0,"cardPlayerStream":"","cardPlayerCodec":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-216","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-archives"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/purposedriven.ca\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/216","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/purposedriven.ca\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/purposedriven.ca\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/purposedriven.ca\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/purposedriven.ca\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=216"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/purposedriven.ca\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/216\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23585,"href":"https:\/\/purposedriven.ca\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/216\/revisions\/23585"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/purposedriven.ca\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=216"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/purposedriven.ca\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=216"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/purposedriven.ca\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=216"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}