The Gospel Of Judas

T H E GOSPEL OF JUDAS from Codex Tchacos EDITED RODOLPHE MARVIN BY KASSER, MEYER, and G R E G O R W U R S T NATIONAL G E O G R A P H I C Washington, D.C. Published by the National Geographic Society 1145 17th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036-4688 Copyright © 2006 National Geographic Society All rights reserved. N o part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without permission in writing from the National Geographic Society. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available on request. D E F I N I N G TIME PERIODS Many scholars and editors working today in the multicultural discipline of world history use terminology that does not impose the standards of one culture on others. As recommended by the scholars who have contributed to the National Geographic Society's publication of the Gospel of Judas, this book uses the terms BCE (before the Common Era) and CE (Common Era). BCE refers to the same time period as B.C. (before Christ), and CE refers to the same time period as A.D. (anno Domini, a Latin phrase meaning "in the year of the Lord"). ISBN-10: 1-4262-0042-0 ISBN-13: 978-1-4262-0042-7 One of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations, the National Geographic Society was founded in 1888 "for the increase and diffusion of geographic knowledge." Fulfilling this mission, the Society educates and inspires millions every day through its magazines, books, television programs, videos, maps and atlases, research grants, the National Geographic Bee, teacher workshops, and innovative classroom materials. The Society is supported through membership dues, charitable gifts, and income from the sale of its educational products. This support is vital to National Geographies mission to increase global understanding and promote conservation of our planet through exploration, research, and education. For more information, please call 1-800-NGS LINE (647-5463), write to the Society at the above address, or visit the Society's Web site at www.nationalgeographic.com. Interior design by Melissa Farris CONTENTS © INTRODUCTION by Marvin Meyer 1 T H E GOSPEL OF JUDAS 17 Translated by Rodolphe Kasser, Marvin Meyer, and Gregor Wurst, in collaboration with Francois Gaudard COMMENTARY The Story of Codex Tchacos and the Gospel of Judas 47 by Rodolphe Kasser Christianity Turned on Its Head: The Alternative Vision of the Gospel of Judas by Bart D. Ehrman Irenaeus of Lyon and the Gospel of Judas by Gregor Wurst Judas and the Gnostic Connection by Marvin Meyer ENDNOTES 171 SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY PUBLISHER'S N O T E 179 175 137 121 77 INTRODUCTION O ver the years the sands of Egypt have surrendered countless treasures and archaeological wonders, and now they have yielded another spectacular find: the Gospel of Judas, recently discovered and published here for the first time. The very title of the text, the Gospel of Judas— Judas Iscariot—is shocking. In the New Testament gospels and most of the Christian tradition, Judas Iscariot is portrayed as the quintessential traitor, the betrayer of Jesus who turns his master in to the Roman authorities, and there is little in his character that could connect him with the gospel, or "good news," of Jesus. In the Gospel of Luke it is said that Satan enters into Judas and drives him to his despicable deed, and in the Gospel of John, Jesus addresses the twelve disciples and says that one of them, Judas, is a devil. The end of Judas, according to the New Testament