| THE GOSPEL OF JUDAS? |
Bible prophecy is HISTORY already written in advance. God, knowing
what man would do--of his own free will, recorded it in the Scriptures.
Only God knows the future and revealed to us in Psalm 41:9 what refutes
all supposed "new findings" in the "Gospel of Judas".
In the Psalm below, we have the account prophesied that Judas would betray
the Lord Jesus. The Message of the Bible-- from Genesis to Revelation--
records man's need of a Savior and God's provision of the Savior-- The Lord
Jesus Christ! Old Testament prophecies pointed to Jesus and all New
Testament prophecies testify of Christ Jesus.
The Early Church had the writings of the Apostles and the Hebrew
Scriptures-- which were in agreement with one another. It was the Gnostics
that taught contrary to the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament
writings. The Gnostics were like the "New Age" people of today...searching in
every direction but in the way of biblical truth. Such is the age of antichrist
that we live in.
Let's look at what the Old Testament has to say regarding Judas' betrayal:
Psalm 41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did
eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
"Lifted up his heel against me." This article is written primarily for those of
you who may have questions regarding the National Geographic TV special
featuring the "Gospel of Judas". Consider the dramatics for an ancient text
that was condemned by Early Church fathers as "heresy"...
This is straight off the NG website, promoting their "Gospel of Judas" book:
"This volume is the first publication of the remarkable gospel since it was
condemned as heresy by early church leaders. The Gospel of Judas has been
translated from its original Coptic into clear prose and is accompanied by
commentary that explains its fascinating history in the context of the early
church, offering a whole new way of understanding the message of Jesus
Christ."
Another place on their website:
"The Gospel of Judas gives a different view of the relationship between Jesus and Judas, offering
new insights into the disciple who betrayed Jesus. Unlike the accounts in the canonical Gospels of
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, in which Judas is portrayed as a reviled traitor, this newly
discovered Gospel portrays Judas as acting at Jesus' request when he hands Jesus over to the
authorities."
New insight? Into what? An old manuscript that denies the New Testament
Gospels? A scrippy-scrap codex containing scraps of the supposed "Gospel of
Judas" is going to undermine the New Testament? I think not! It's like finding
a piece of papyrus, which states the Jews were not God's Chosen People.
Such a notion is preposterous for the evidence is overwhelming that the Jews
were chosen by God. The same is true in this regard. One lone manuscript
does NOT prove anything as truth. In fact, it denies the Old Testament
Scripture that clearly states that Judas, a close friend, lifted up his own heel
against Jesus.
To accept the Gospel of Judas, one would have to reject the Apostle Peter's
words in Acts, chapter 1. One would have to reject all four gospel accounts.
One would have to reject the Old Testament prophecy concerning the traitor,
which was prophesied by King David.
The Apostle Peter said, " Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to
his own place."
And to "his own place" he did go...into hell. Part of the reason why there has
only been but one copy found of this fictitious "Gospel of Judas" is because
the Early Christians, who knew the historical account and the Scriptures
recognized the "Gospel of Judas" as fiction and rejected it. It's like someone
who writes a book CONTRARY to all historical record. Will such a person
be taken seriously? No, because eyewitnesses to the historical event wrote
otherwise.
Let's suppose just for an instant that this fictitious account was written by
Judas Iscariot. Do you believe the words of a traitor or the
words of the Savior?
Christ Jesus said that it would have been better if Judas had never even
been born than to betray the Son of Man. So Judas betrayed Jesus of his
own free will. He said to the High Priest, "What will you give me?" He did not
say, "I demand 30 pieces of silver". Hebrew Scripture foretold that Judas
would betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver in Zechariah 11:12.
After he betrayed the Lord, Judas went to the Jewish leaders and said, "I have
betrayed innocent blood..." and threw the money down and ran away and
hung himself. It is OBVIOUS he did not sit in the dark penning his supposed
"gospel".
The National Geographic TV special used dramatic phrasing when promoting
this fictitious account.
YET THEY ONLY CAN PROVIDE 3 FACTS regarding this "Gospel of
Judas".
1) Scholars confirm the papyrus is ancient. (Which DOES NOT promote the
papyrus is a true account)
2) Written in Coptic
3) Matches the text Bishop Irenaeus condemned.
All this hype on three facts which DON'T PROVE this "gospel" to be a
TRUE account. Their program suggests that this "new gospel" based solely
on its antiquity could turn the Christian world "upside down" Even CNN
reported:
National Geographic said the author believed that Judas Iscariot alone
understood the true significance of Jesus' teachings. The author of the text is
not named in the writings.
Yet, to believe some of the NGC "experts" (who believe there should be more
gospels included in Canon) is to reject all the Old and New Testament
Scriptures pertaining to Messiah.
"I expect this gospel to be important mainly for the deeper insight it will
give scholars into the thoughts and beliefs of certain Christians in the
second century of the Christian era, namely the Gnostics," said Stephen
Emmel, a Coptic studies professor at the University of Münster in
Germany.
That's about all it is good for...to see how the devil infiltrated Christianity with
fables. 2Cor 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers,
transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for
Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no
great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of
righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
The REASON why Early Christians rejected Gnosticism is because it
promoted a fictitious gospel message based upon superstitions, fairy tales and
mysticism. Their writings did NOT follow in concordance with the Old
Testament Scriptures. We KNOW the Hebrew Scriptures are God's Holy
Word and therefore anything written CONTRARY to them would be
considered HERESY. This was not included in National Geographic's
supposed "expert" interviews. Bishop Irenaeus did NOT base his beliefs upon
what he thought was right but rather through the help of the Holy Spirit, who
shows True Believers His Truth, rejected the Gnostic heresy based upon how
it correlated with the rest of the biblical accounts in relation to the Hebrew
Scriptures.
Consider the words of Irenaeus:
Chapter XXXI.-Doctrines of the Cainites.
1. Others again declare that Cain derived his being from the Power above,
and acknowledge that Esau, Korah, the Sodomites, and all such persons, are
related to themselves. On this account, they add, they have been assailed by
the Creator, yet no one of them has suffered injury. For Sophia was in the
habit of carrying off that which belonged to her from them to herself.
They declare that Judas the traitor was thoroughly acquainted with
these things, and that he alone, knowing the truth as no others did,
accomplished the mystery of the betrayal; by him all things, both earthly
and heavenly, were thus thrown into confusion. They produce a
fictitious history of this kind, which they style the Gospel of Judas.
Source
One "expert" featured on the NGC program said that she thinks she was
"chosen" by Judas to "rehabilitate him". This is her mindset. And if people
have not noticed, there is much of that going around. So many in our world
today are trying to rewrite history to fit their viewpoint...so they can "relate"
to historical characters. One can try to rewrite history but true historical
record still stands as true. It is obvious that people are willing to believe
ANYTHING but the TRUTH!
The Lord Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. "
The Gospel means "Good News". Yet the Gospel of Judas ends with the
betrayal...no death, no burial, no resurrection and no ascension of Jesus.
AND ARE WE SURPRISED? The devil was defeated at the cross and in
the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not surprising that the devil's
ministers would exclude such biblical truths out of Judas' "good news." The
devil is the FATHER OF LIES!
Let's talk about the odds:
The Gospel of Judas is outnumbered 5 to 1. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and
the Book of Acts all speak of Judas having an evil heart of greed who
betrayed Jesus. If you include the Old Testament Scriptures, the "Gospel of
Judas" is outnumbered 7 to 1.
We are warned in the bible that deceivers would try to destroy the Faith. That
there is "another jesus" and "another gospel" that we are to BEWARE of.
The devil was not asleep during the Gnostic gospel era so it should not be
surprising that the devil would seek to destroy the true gospel account by
promoting his "ye shall be as gods" philosophy, which is as old as the Garden
of Eden.
We do not find it surprising that in these Last Days, men are searching for
another "jesus" and "another gospel" -- anything that contradicts Scripture.
If one could prove ANOTHER "jesus" existed, then they could disprove the
actual teachings of Jesus in the New Testament. They could disprove His
Deity, His Death, His Resurrection, His Ascension, His Lordship, heaven,
hell, sin, Lake of Fire, the antichrist, Armageddon, etc. So they seek a "jesus"
acceptable to themselves-- one that "fits in" with their denial of bible truths.
And the take a lone codex-- a lone copy of the "Gospel of Judas" and attempt
to disprove the historical and TRUTHFUL record found in the New
Testament. Such proves that they are "reaching" for air and cannot be taken
seriously.
One copy doesn't prove anything except that the "Judas Gospel" was
recognized as heresy back in 180 AD and was not worthy of copying or
circulating for others to read. Just because something is of antiquity does
NOT mean that it is the truth!
1Tim 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some
shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines
of devils;
1John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether
they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the
world.
2Cor 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not
ignorant of his devices.
2Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as
there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in
damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring
upon themselves swift destruction.
©2006 Cobblestone Road Ministries
All Rights Reserved
FURTHER READING:
The Biblical Account of Judas
Why Did Jesus Die For Us?
The Antichrist and the Da Vinci Code?
what man would do--of his own free will, recorded it in the Scriptures.
Only God knows the future and revealed to us in Psalm 41:9 what refutes
all supposed "new findings" in the "Gospel of Judas".
In the Psalm below, we have the account prophesied that Judas would betray
the Lord Jesus. The Message of the Bible-- from Genesis to Revelation--
records man's need of a Savior and God's provision of the Savior-- The Lord
Jesus Christ! Old Testament prophecies pointed to Jesus and all New
Testament prophecies testify of Christ Jesus.
The Early Church had the writings of the Apostles and the Hebrew
Scriptures-- which were in agreement with one another. It was the Gnostics
that taught contrary to the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament
writings. The Gnostics were like the "New Age" people of today...searching in
every direction but in the way of biblical truth. Such is the age of antichrist
that we live in.
Let's look at what the Old Testament has to say regarding Judas' betrayal:
Psalm 41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did
eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
"Lifted up his heel against me." This article is written primarily for those of
you who may have questions regarding the National Geographic TV special
featuring the "Gospel of Judas". Consider the dramatics for an ancient text
that was condemned by Early Church fathers as "heresy"...
This is straight off the NG website, promoting their "Gospel of Judas" book:
"This volume is the first publication of the remarkable gospel since it was
condemned as heresy by early church leaders. The Gospel of Judas has been
translated from its original Coptic into clear prose and is accompanied by
commentary that explains its fascinating history in the context of the early
church, offering a whole new way of understanding the message of Jesus
Christ."
Another place on their website:
"The Gospel of Judas gives a different view of the relationship between Jesus and Judas, offering
new insights into the disciple who betrayed Jesus. Unlike the accounts in the canonical Gospels of
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, in which Judas is portrayed as a reviled traitor, this newly
discovered Gospel portrays Judas as acting at Jesus' request when he hands Jesus over to the
authorities."
New insight? Into what? An old manuscript that denies the New Testament
Gospels? A scrippy-scrap codex containing scraps of the supposed "Gospel of
Judas" is going to undermine the New Testament? I think not! It's like finding
a piece of papyrus, which states the Jews were not God's Chosen People.
Such a notion is preposterous for the evidence is overwhelming that the Jews
were chosen by God. The same is true in this regard. One lone manuscript
does NOT prove anything as truth. In fact, it denies the Old Testament
Scripture that clearly states that Judas, a close friend, lifted up his own heel
against Jesus.
To accept the Gospel of Judas, one would have to reject the Apostle Peter's
words in Acts, chapter 1. One would have to reject all four gospel accounts.
One would have to reject the Old Testament prophecy concerning the traitor,
which was prophesied by King David.
The Apostle Peter said, " Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to
his own place."
And to "his own place" he did go...into hell. Part of the reason why there has
only been but one copy found of this fictitious "Gospel of Judas" is because
the Early Christians, who knew the historical account and the Scriptures
recognized the "Gospel of Judas" as fiction and rejected it. It's like someone
who writes a book CONTRARY to all historical record. Will such a person
be taken seriously? No, because eyewitnesses to the historical event wrote
otherwise.
Let's suppose just for an instant that this fictitious account was written by
Judas Iscariot. Do you believe the words of a traitor or the
words of the Savior?
Christ Jesus said that it would have been better if Judas had never even
been born than to betray the Son of Man. So Judas betrayed Jesus of his
own free will. He said to the High Priest, "What will you give me?" He did not
say, "I demand 30 pieces of silver". Hebrew Scripture foretold that Judas
would betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver in Zechariah 11:12.
After he betrayed the Lord, Judas went to the Jewish leaders and said, "I have
betrayed innocent blood..." and threw the money down and ran away and
hung himself. It is OBVIOUS he did not sit in the dark penning his supposed
"gospel".
The National Geographic TV special used dramatic phrasing when promoting
this fictitious account.
YET THEY ONLY CAN PROVIDE 3 FACTS regarding this "Gospel of
Judas".
1) Scholars confirm the papyrus is ancient. (Which DOES NOT promote the
papyrus is a true account)
2) Written in Coptic
3) Matches the text Bishop Irenaeus condemned.
All this hype on three facts which DON'T PROVE this "gospel" to be a
TRUE account. Their program suggests that this "new gospel" based solely
on its antiquity could turn the Christian world "upside down" Even CNN
reported:
National Geographic said the author believed that Judas Iscariot alone
understood the true significance of Jesus' teachings. The author of the text is
not named in the writings.
Yet, to believe some of the NGC "experts" (who believe there should be more
gospels included in Canon) is to reject all the Old and New Testament
Scriptures pertaining to Messiah.
"I expect this gospel to be important mainly for the deeper insight it will
give scholars into the thoughts and beliefs of certain Christians in the
second century of the Christian era, namely the Gnostics," said Stephen
Emmel, a Coptic studies professor at the University of Münster in
Germany.
That's about all it is good for...to see how the devil infiltrated Christianity with
fables. 2Cor 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers,
transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for
Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no
great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of
righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
The REASON why Early Christians rejected Gnosticism is because it
promoted a fictitious gospel message based upon superstitions, fairy tales and
mysticism. Their writings did NOT follow in concordance with the Old
Testament Scriptures. We KNOW the Hebrew Scriptures are God's Holy
Word and therefore anything written CONTRARY to them would be
considered HERESY. This was not included in National Geographic's
supposed "expert" interviews. Bishop Irenaeus did NOT base his beliefs upon
what he thought was right but rather through the help of the Holy Spirit, who
shows True Believers His Truth, rejected the Gnostic heresy based upon how
it correlated with the rest of the biblical accounts in relation to the Hebrew
Scriptures.
Consider the words of Irenaeus:
Chapter XXXI.-Doctrines of the Cainites.
1. Others again declare that Cain derived his being from the Power above,
and acknowledge that Esau, Korah, the Sodomites, and all such persons, are
related to themselves. On this account, they add, they have been assailed by
the Creator, yet no one of them has suffered injury. For Sophia was in the
habit of carrying off that which belonged to her from them to herself.
They declare that Judas the traitor was thoroughly acquainted with
these things, and that he alone, knowing the truth as no others did,
accomplished the mystery of the betrayal; by him all things, both earthly
and heavenly, were thus thrown into confusion. They produce a
fictitious history of this kind, which they style the Gospel of Judas.
Source
One "expert" featured on the NGC program said that she thinks she was
"chosen" by Judas to "rehabilitate him". This is her mindset. And if people
have not noticed, there is much of that going around. So many in our world
today are trying to rewrite history to fit their viewpoint...so they can "relate"
to historical characters. One can try to rewrite history but true historical
record still stands as true. It is obvious that people are willing to believe
ANYTHING but the TRUTH!
The Lord Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. "
The Gospel means "Good News". Yet the Gospel of Judas ends with the
betrayal...no death, no burial, no resurrection and no ascension of Jesus.
AND ARE WE SURPRISED? The devil was defeated at the cross and in
the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not surprising that the devil's
ministers would exclude such biblical truths out of Judas' "good news." The
devil is the FATHER OF LIES!
Let's talk about the odds:
The Gospel of Judas is outnumbered 5 to 1. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and
the Book of Acts all speak of Judas having an evil heart of greed who
betrayed Jesus. If you include the Old Testament Scriptures, the "Gospel of
Judas" is outnumbered 7 to 1.
We are warned in the bible that deceivers would try to destroy the Faith. That
there is "another jesus" and "another gospel" that we are to BEWARE of.
The devil was not asleep during the Gnostic gospel era so it should not be
surprising that the devil would seek to destroy the true gospel account by
promoting his "ye shall be as gods" philosophy, which is as old as the Garden
of Eden.
We do not find it surprising that in these Last Days, men are searching for
another "jesus" and "another gospel" -- anything that contradicts Scripture.
If one could prove ANOTHER "jesus" existed, then they could disprove the
actual teachings of Jesus in the New Testament. They could disprove His
Deity, His Death, His Resurrection, His Ascension, His Lordship, heaven,
hell, sin, Lake of Fire, the antichrist, Armageddon, etc. So they seek a "jesus"
acceptable to themselves-- one that "fits in" with their denial of bible truths.
And the take a lone codex-- a lone copy of the "Gospel of Judas" and attempt
to disprove the historical and TRUTHFUL record found in the New
Testament. Such proves that they are "reaching" for air and cannot be taken
seriously.
One copy doesn't prove anything except that the "Judas Gospel" was
recognized as heresy back in 180 AD and was not worthy of copying or
circulating for others to read. Just because something is of antiquity does
NOT mean that it is the truth!
1Tim 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some
shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines
of devils;
1John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether
they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the
world.
2Cor 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not
ignorant of his devices.
2Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as
there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in
damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring
upon themselves swift destruction.
©2006 Cobblestone Road Ministries
All Rights Reserved
FURTHER READING:
The Biblical Account of Judas
Why Did Jesus Die For Us?
The Antichrist and the Da Vinci Code?
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