scot mcknight on the gospel of judas - part 2

“The secret account of the revelation that Jesus spoke in conversation with Judas Iscariot…” — this is how The Gospel of Judas [GJ] begins. Jesus, GJ tells us, did great wonders and spoke about mysteries and was sometimes “appeared” to them “as a child”. This is the language of docetism, for Jesus only looked like a human but the fleshy body was not like others’ bodies. Then comes Scene I:

The disciples were together at a meal and Jesus laughed at them; Jesus challenges them to have the courage to “stand before my face.” “But their spirits did not dare to stand before him except for Judas Iscariot.” Jesus laughed because they were thanking God for their food, but the real (ultimate) God didn’t make anything material like food. They need enlightenment.

Judas confesses to Jesus that he [Jesus] is “from the immortal realm of Barbelo”. Barbelo is the Divine Mother of all and is the forethought of the Infinite One. Judas’ confession is significant enough that Jesus and Judas have to step away from the others so Jesus can divulge the mysteries of the kingdom, which pertain to upper and outer realities that are at variance with the earthy-minded God and religion of the other disciples.

GJ is gnostic.

- complete post

- Part 1