What Is the "Gospel of Judas"?

THE "GOSPEL OF JUDAS - A GNOSTIC GOSPEL

The first mention of the existence of a work called the "Gospel of Judas"  is found in the writings of Irenaeus, a  professed Christian author of the late second century C.E.  In a work called Against Heresies, Irenaeus writes concerning one of the many groups whose teachings he opposed:  "They declare that Judas the traitor was thoroughly acquainted with these things, and that he alone, knowing the truth as none of the  others did, accomplished the mystery of the betrayal. By him all things, both early and heavenly, were thus thrown into confusion.  They produced a fictitious history of this kind, which they entitled the Gospel of Judas." 

Irenaeus was especially intent  on refuting various teachings of Gnostic Christians, who claimed that they held revealed inner knowledge. Gnosticism is an umbrella term encompassing many groups, all with their own understanding and interpretation of Christian "truth." Gnostics advanced interpretations based on their own writings, which proliferated  during the second century C.E. 

Such Gnostic gospels often claimed that the prominent apostles of Jesus misunderstood his message and that there is a secret teaching that Jesus passed on that was understood only by a select few.  Some of the Gnostics believed that the physical world was a prison. Therefore, the "creator god" of the Hebrew Scriptures was actually a lesser god who was opposed to the various perfect gods. One with true  "knowledge" understood this "secret" and sought release from physical existence. 

That is the approach reflected in the "Gospel of Judas."  It opens with the words:  "The secret world of declaration by which Jesus spoke in conversation with Judas Iscariot, during eight days, three days before he celebrated Passover."

Was this codex the very text that Irenaeus had written about, which for centuries was presumed lost? Marvin Meyer, a member of the initial team that analyzed and translated this codex, says that Ireenaeus' brief description fits quite well the present Coptic text entitled the Gospel of Judas." 

Next time: What Is the "Gospel of Judas"? - THE FIGURE OF JUDAS IN THIS GOSPEL-A DEBATE  AMONG SCHOLARS

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