http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/story/0,,1748970,00.html\n\n... will it mean that Matthew and the rest didn't know much? If Judas turned out to be a good guy after all, then what will be the credibility of the other 4 if Jesus didn't tell them everything and he prefered Judas? \nThe Rt Rev John Pritchard, the Church of England Bishop of Jarrow, said: "I don't think it changes anything about the truth of the Christian faith."\nBut if Judas was demonized as being the bad guy for ages, and it turns out suddenly that he's not...?! So it means that the others shouldn't have the cerdibility they had for all these years?
207422
Obviously someone got their story crossed somewhere. Just watch the special tomorrow night on the National Geographic channel and see for yourself. (comes on at 8/7c)
325675
BlackFedora wrote:\n"all of the new testament was written after Jesus' death"\n\n...and none of it by anybody who lived when jesus was alive.  It's all second-hand.  You can't prove it's credibility.
171690
Nice contradiction . . . .\n\nJesus supposedly died without sin . . . yet some of the things he has done . . . would make a man unclean . . . don't know if it is sinful . . . .\n\nDoesn't make a different . . . because I don't believe Jesus was perfect or he was god's son . . . I do believe that he was a man . . . and a martyr
27692
If you claim that Jesus was only one of these three choices:::\n\n1) A lunatic (for claiming to be God in the flesh)\n2) A liar (for claiming to be God in the flesh)\n3) Exactly who He said He was (God in the flesh)\n\nthen you give me no choice but to say he was a liar.\n\nHowever, there are a lot more possibilities than the few three you give.\n\nJesus could have been one of the many people thought to have been the messiah, but that were proven wrong by time. Even the book of Acts in the Christian's New Testament lists two such false messiahs, Judah the Galilean and Theudas. \n\n          Act 5:36-37  For before these days rose \n          up Theudas, boasting himself to be \n          somebody; to whom a number of men, about \n          four hundred, joined themselves: who was \n          slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, \n          were scattered, and brought to nought. \n          37  After this man rose up Judas of \n          Galilee in the days of the taxing, and \n          drew away much people after him: he also \n          perished; and all, even as many as obeyed \n          him, were dispersed. \n\nWhat if the followers of Theudas or Judah the Galilean said the same thing, that either they were who they said they were, or they were lunatics or liars, or the messiah, with no other choice?\n\nAnd the reason they say that Jesus was only a good man and not Gd, is because we have Gd's promise in Hosea 11:9, where He said, "..for I am Gd and not a man." We have the same thing in Numbers 23:19 \n\n          Numbers 23:19 "Gd is not a man, that he \n          should lie; neither the son of man, that \n          he should repent: hath he said, and shall \n          he not do it? or hath he spoken, and \n          shall he not make it good?" \n\nwhich means IF Gd were a man, He would be a liar, since all men lie. IF Gd were a man he would need to repent, since all men sin.\n\nGd becoming a human, or a human becoming Gd, is the hallmark of the pagan faiths, where the stories of children of a god and a human mother, or the incarnation of a god, were told. Pharaoh thought he was a god, and the emporers of ancient empires were thought to have been gods, or the children of gods.
232730
OK Ms. Heron-O-Rific! (hey!  YOU are the one who wanted a funny name just like Trasky-poo and Schnebby-kins so you you got one <winks and giggles>)\n\nI think Matthew misinterpretted what Jesus actually said.  No one will ever know for certain either if Jesus said it because there is really no evidence to support that he even existed.\n\nBTW... that woman is stupid for going back to him.
162520
I watched it.  I doubt it will stir up any thoughts among the people who most need the thoughts.  The Pope left it off the list of the New Testament so no one uses it.  Since I accept papal authority and the authority of the episcopate, it isn't an issue for me.  It is an interesting view into early Christianity but none of the thoughts are new.  I think there are profound implications for Protestants, but I don't think they will notice them.  By brushing it off as outside the canon, they are ignoring the issue of how the canon was determined.  They do not have a formal mechanism of rejecting it, but why do they stick with the Catholic NT.  I don't understand that.  I could see not accepting Judas, by why not Hermas or Barnabas or I Clement?\n\nThat is something I don't get, there is no reason for Protestants to not use them except an appeal to apostolic tradition which they reject.\n\nI would like to see the entire translation when it is done, to the extent it is recovered.  Should make for an interesting view into that early period of ideas.  From my viewpoint reading Judas is like reading Calvin, they hold the same weight and correctness and so are interesting because they are, from an ideas point of view, valid ideas just not valid teaching.
485014
Consider this. If he hadn’t killed himself and had met the resurrected Christ and sincerely asked for forgiveness, Christ would have forgiven him.\n\nKnowing the greed in his heart, Jesus allowed him to play his role in the betrayal, knowing that the Crucifixion must happen. \n\nBut Judas could’ve been forgiven if he had lived and genuinely repented.\n\nInstead he chose suicide.
126984
The Gospel of Judas was written many many years after the apostles lived and their associates (Timothy and Luke). Where did you get your historical research? \nGive me a break. \n\nThe gnostic gospels are from beliefs that began in the 2nd and 3rd century, which meens that the writings come from a time period more than 100 years after Jesus ministry, far later than any New Testament book. Why in the world should we believe that these later documents tell us more about events than the earlier documents? They are simply not useful for trying to understand Jesus ministry and the shape of very early Christianity. (1)\n\nThe gnostic gospels were late arrivals, which is ONE reason why church leaders rejected them ... they lacked authority since their authors were neither (a) apostles of Jesus nor (b) persons associated with apostles of Jesus... and no one knows who wrote those gnostic gospels. (2)
257266
Proof that our "friend" is a hypocrite and a mental case, see above.\n\nI ask myself every time I read the Bible, what does this mean FOR me.
58784
Jesus was not the messiah, and will not come back, as he is dead. Nor will he rise from the dead, or return from elsewhere. THis will be impossible for xtians to accept, I realize this, but someone has got to get them to see truth somehow. I might as well be speaking to a brick wall. I dont know why I bother, actually. Oh well. And if you think youre going to be 'raptured', then youre in for a rude awakening. Good luck with that...
63333
Well, I see it like this: God's will was already established both the good and the bad. But we are floating around with a choice to become either Judas Iscariot or Peter. Both were choosen to be Apostles, both sinned against God, however, only one of them chose to repent with godly sorrow and not just because he got caught like Judas did. People always say, was Judas predestined to go to hell? No, I don't think so, I believe God's will is predestined not the people that will choose themselves what part they want to play. So, predestination for those who don't want to receive Jesus because they think it will just fall on them are wrong. Proof of what I just said can be found in Deut 28, where he set before us both blessings and cursings, see the plan is set, but what part of the plan you'll be in is entirely up to you,thus, your freedom to choose! God bless you girl!
175836
Um, there IS a gospel of Judas, and it says NOTHING about Judas being the Messiah. You can read it for yourself at the link. What's with the disdainful way you phrase your questions? I know it has little to do with beliefs, because I've met many a respectful and tolerant atheist and agnostic on this site.
544413
To the first poster and anyone after me,  I say "whatever" there is a purgatory.  If there's a hell and a heaven then there's a limbo then.  Just because it isn't mentioned in the bible don't you think that it may have been written out of the bible.  Remember folks the bible was created by men perhaps thru God.  The Roman Catholics belief that it truly exist and perhaps the Christian and the other similar don't believe in it.  To answer your question, Judas may have been sent to Purgatory and may have been forgiven but it is the author's personal theory on Purgatory.  I hope this helps you out in my answer.
675474
Not Sure\n\nFirst 12 Appointed Apostle will rule of Israel in Rev.  Jesus Christ Appointed = Judas was one of them\n\n2nd  In the bible suicide does not mean you will go to Hell, it only says you MAY  = May can mean May Not\n\n******\nJudas did repent, He did take the money back, but had guilt, how many people doyou know today that  are eat up with guilt?\n\n3rd  Someone had to betray Jesus, Do you think this was a example Jesus set on us, we are all sinner and weak, even if we do live for God and do our best ( we still sin), we are human also?
265128
According to the newly discovered gosple of Judas, that's exactly what happened.  According to that book, Judas did not betray Jesus as all, but merely did what Jesus told him to do.\n\nOf course, it's important to keep in mind that Judas and Jesus are both fictional characters.
212042
Some historians and scriptural experts suggest that Judas knew Jesus had to be betrayed and then put his own neck in the noose for the rest of the world.   He is such a hated person, and yet it is because of him that one of the largest religions in the world has taken power.  In my opinion, Christians should revere his name, not scorn it.  If you want more info, go to a library and check out a copy of the Gnostic Gospels (also called the Nag Hammadi), or more specifically the Gospel of Judas.
145244
When I read in my bible in John 6:70 "Jesus answered them, have I not chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him being one of the twelve." Judas was hand picked just like the other twelve. There will always be a devil or somebody similar who will go the opposite of what thus saith the Lord all the time. Judas tried to stop Jesus in doing what was right. John 12:3-8 "Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. Then saith Judas Iscariot Simon's son which should betray him, why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief and had the bag and bare what was put therein. Then said Jesus Let her alone: against the day of my burring hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always."\n\nWhenever you want to do the will of God the devil will always be there to stop you. Moses in crossing the Red Sea the devil was right there not only Pharaoh was right there with his men and army to stop him but the people who didn't have any faith after what God had showed them in Egypt. Jesus said in Matthew 13 about the tares and the whet. There will always be tares in whet all the time because the devil doesn’t want anybody to believe the word the bible. Luke 10:38-42. Again another example how one (Mary) was at the feet of Jesus and listening to his word, (Just like I am today in the bible the feet of Jesus listening to his word doing what the bible says) and Mary tried to stop her sister Martha and was upset about the worldly things of setting the table etc. Jesus told Martha Luke 10:41 "And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." I read all over the bible that when Holy man of God from Adam and Eve and until today where doing the will of God the devil is always there to stop them. Jesus was tempted and was always facing rebuke from the serpent the devil. Jesus never listened to the devil he knew his bible as he was God's word in the flesh and he knew the writings of the Old Testament he didn't at all listened to the devil he just went on no matter what rebuking the devil. \n\nI face the same thing today with soph called Christians who claim they can't stop sinning, and they claim they can't be holy, (but they believe in holiness but they claim they can't be holy) and they claim they can't be perfect, (blameless doing what the bible says) and they claim they can't be righteous, they claim they can't be sanctified. The reason why they claim such stuff is because they have been seduced (bewitched) by the serpent that was talking to Eve and that came into Judas Iscariot and try to entice me in their false teachings. Paul said in 2nd Timothy 3:12 "yea, and all those who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." John said this in 1st John 2:26 "These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." (The word) The bible was also written for those people who seduce me to their funny gospel. Christians today don't read their bible and they have been seduced and bewitched for centuries and are going to the lake of fire and brimstone because they deny what the bible says and go against the bible. We are told to come out from among those liars called church. Revelation 18:4-5 "And I heard another voice from hea