For Believers Only:  Have you read the Book of Judas text yet and what did you think?
365679
I watched the special on National Geographic. Have they made the text available to read anywhere?\n\nBased on the information that was given on the National Geographic premiere...I firmly believe that Jesus chose Judas to sacrifice him. Someone had to do it and he wanted Judas to be the one. The thing that gets me is that when Jesus tells Judas that he will be known as deceitful person for many, many years but in the END, the truth will be known. Wow, that means we know now....does that mean that we are really close to the end?\n\nI would love to look at it more in depth when they release it; if you know anywhere it has been published, please let me know.
442443
Go here, it explains it and how it was authenticated...\nhttp://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/04/0406_060406_judas.html
440978
If the Gospel of Judas was a proper Gospel then it would still not corrabote - as Jesus WAS crucified - but the difference was that Judas is made out to be the hero - as it frees Jesus' spirit from his body - which apparently was the mission.\n\nHowever, this just is not consistent with the fact that Jesus healed people - if the purpose is to free spirits from the flesh then while heal the flesh (and He still does today - see my question on miracles).\n\nBut given that it was written by the Gnostics 200 years later then no.  But it does provide an interesting insight into the Gnostics beliefs.
383534
I would have to go with, Judas was'nt only a devoted apprentice but Jesus's friend! And he only followed Jesus's instruccions to hand him over!As for the Gospel According to judas it has remained hidden for more than 1800 yrs for a reason, and as for the bible oh!Remember those times when the catholics persued the christians and took away their bibles?they burned them; now ask yourself why do we still have them?(they made their own similar to the original)They changed lots of stuff in there, and that is what we read now to guide us!As for Jusdas's gospel it has remained untouched and unchanged.Its authentic!!
481875
Jesuit scholar says Gospel of Judas does not merit name 'Gospel'\n\nBy Cindy Wooden\nCatholic News Service\n\nROME (CNS) -- The Gospel of Judas was unimportant to most Christians when it was written hundreds of years ago and it is unimportant today, said a Jesuit professor who has convoked a series of ecumenical studies of the historical Jesus. \n\nJesuit Father Gerald O'Collins, a longtime professor of Christology at Rome's Pontifical Gregorian University, said the text, like the gospels of Mary Magdalene and Philip, "does not merit the name 'Gospel.'" \n\nThe National Geographic Society unveiled the document April 6, posting a copy of it on the society's Web site, www.nationalgeographic.com, and releasing English translations of portions of the text.\n\n"A 'Gospel' is a literary genre -- established by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John -- focusing on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus," Father O'Collins said. \n\nWhile including events supposedly related to the life of Jesus, the Gospel of Judas and the others really are texts "attempting to bolster the importance" of the personalities they are named after, not of Jesus, the priest said. \n\n"They are not summaries of the good news," he said.\n\nThe texts come from the gnostic tradition, a religious-philosophical current popular in the second, third and fourth centuries. The gnostics claimed to have secret knowledge unavailable to the vast majority of people and focused so strongly on the spiritual and intellectual that they despised material creation, including the human body. \n\nIn the year 180, St. Irenaeus condemned the gnostics, mentioning particularly a Gospel of Judas.\n\nFather O'Collins said the most important thing about the text released in early April is that "it shows just how right Irenaeus was in saying the gnostics were against mainstream Christianity and Judaism, they were against our God." \n\n"To give Judas greater credit," the Jesuit said, the gnostics "portray Jesus giving him secret knowledge. It was a nice try," but there is no evidence to support the claim.\n\n"It was junk then and it is junk now," he said .\n\nFather O'Collins, who between 1996 and 2003 convoked a series of ecumenical, interdisciplinary summits for scholars on the historical Jesus, said it was "ridiculous" for anyone to claim publication of the Gospel of Judas will challenge mainstream Christianity. \n\nEND
390424
I don't know yet. I have read it over, but not really studied it, and I am going to be watching a special about it tonight at 8pm EST on the National Geographic Channel. I do not make decisions about my faith until I know all the facts and have had ample time to think, pray, and do some soul searching. I suggest that any who are interested in gathering all the info necessary to make an informed decision watch the show and read the text.\n\n To the person above me still waiting for it's publication - you can read the text at the link below. Just click on the link, and to the right where it has the two download buttons, click the "download the entire English text as PDF."
151341
One thing to keep in mind, when reading the O.T. is that even though you read it literally, you must keep in mind the literary context of the passage, and the culture and time it was written in. \nFirst, this was written to a young nation, just coming out of slavery, and facing some formidable enemies.\nSecond, They had seen miracles unike anything any nation before or since, has seen, so they had a higher level of accountability for their actions - For an Israelite of this time to entice another to turn from God would be a great offence, because they were responsible for a huge amount of revelation from God.\n\nI think the modern-day equivalent would be executing a Traitor or a spy - not at all unheard of even in the last century. Because Israel at this time was a Theocracy, idolotry would be the same as becoming an "enemy of the state".\n\nwrathpuppet, I know you don't believe the Bible is God's Word, but you still might consider taking an introductory course on Biblical exegesis - I think you would find it quite interesting (and maybe even profitable).\n\nBackground studies may be divided into two areas — semantics and pragmatics. Semantics is the study of the language of a text, while pragmatics is the study of the circumstances surrounding the individual linguistic expressions. Exegesis must give equal weight to both areas.\n\n(The particular passage in question was a national law for the fledgling nation of Israel, which was a Theocracy remember.)\n\nFinally (and I think this is your main concern in posting this question), there is application - i.e. what does this text tell me to do today? When you have a problem with the application of a verse, passage, etc, remember this: no Scripture is of any private interpretation - Scripture always interprets Scripture, so just keep reading and the application will present itself. In Romans 12:21-13:10 it says \n12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. \n13:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.\n2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.\n3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.\n4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.\n5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.\n6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing.\n7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.\n8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. \n9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”\n10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.\n\nSo, there you have the answer, in modern application of the Deuteronomy 13:6-10 \n1. Evil is to be overcome with good, 2. we know that we must obey the governing authority, and the laws they impose, and 3. that we must love our neighbor, it is not good to kill my neighbor, it is unloving to kill my neighbor, and it is unlawful to kill my neighbor.\n\nConclusion: As a Biblical Christian, I must not kill my friend when he invites me to participate in a pagan ritual or attend a yoga session.\n\nP.S. Schneb's study on the Law  bel
686693
I have read some in translation.\n\n"If so, what is your opinion on the similarities between them and the Bible?"\n\nClearly the authors of the Bible drew upon a stock of pre-existing stories and oral traditions in order to express their theological views.
526064
I am shocked and amazed.\n\nI truly had no idea that so many Christians do not know God.  To view this piece of fiction as an opportunity to 'save' or 'win' souls is hypocrosy.\n\nTo not understand what is so blasphemous about the movie, regardless if you are a Catholic or not, just shows laziness.  And, that your relationship with Christ needs to grow deeper.\n\nThe book says that Jesus is not God.  That Jesus was a person not the Son of God.  This is blasphemy to ANYONE who believes that Jesus was their Savior. For, a man cannot save us --- only God.  And, if Jesus was a mere man we, as Christians are idolotors.  Now do you understand why the Catholic church condemning it?  All Christians should be saying the same thing.\n\nYes, I think by condemning it the church is just making it more attractive.  But, they are also standing for what they believe in --- regardless of what the media says.  So, I'm glad someone understands why Jesus has to be divine. And, why this is so important to my faith.  And, is standing up for it on an international level.\n\nBTW, HOW on this Earth could anything be more important to you or your church as Christians than saying your Savior, Jesus Christ, was a man.  He was not divine.  He cannot save your sins.  That Christianity is a farse and stamps it down to idolotry...\n\nFind a new pastor!
1144282
Look, I've never read the bible before.\nAll I know is it's all on how you want to interpret it.
586031
The 3rd Century Judas gospel presents a different interpretation of the live of Jesus and how Judas follow his destiny. It is a work created to support other ideas. But who wrote it?\n\nNot Judas, he committed suicide after Jesus was risen from the death. Yes, Judas was there just before Jesus ascended. But Judas did not belief and he commitment suicide. (You can find that in the Gospels from the first century.) A very different picture that Judas Gospel presents.\n\nSo we have partial information the Judas Gospel that does not fit in the new testament. Why? It is a hundred years after the new testament was codified.\n\nWe have another document from the third century near where other documents (Gnostic) were found. Gnostic may be a different interpretation of the new testament, but do not follow main Christian thought. Gnostic means "by knowing".
539491
Its interesting in that it claims Judas was the one crucified, and that Jesus ascended into heaven.\n\nit also claims that jesus foretold of a final prophet for all men, "the blessed one" - the blessed one, when translated into arabic becomes "Muhammad".
510105
Matthew 15:22 - 28. A Canaanite woman begs Jesus for help with her daughter, who is possessed. He tells her that he was sent only to help the lost sheep of Israel, because:\n"It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." -Mat 15:26 (NIV)\n\nDo any of you "Christians" actually read the Bible, or do you just go around insisting that other people read it?
120383
Mainstream Bible scholars don't believe the book of John was written by the apostle John, or that Jesus actually said the things "John" claims Jesus said. Given all that, I wouldn't waste time trying to interpret it. It is just the opinion of some anonymous guy 2000 years ago. I prefer to trust my own Life experience.
524810
The bible is a book written by men who have an agenda.  The weak minded will choose to listen to propoganda.  Saved from what...a fable.  Think of it...after all this time suddenly Judas goes from being the traitor to the most loyal?  Wow, what a turnaround.  We were wrong for the last 2000 years.  What will we learn tomorrow...it's all just a fairytale?  Get a grip on your own life and stop allowing organized religion to influence your mind for money, control and power.
616414
True to the first sentence.  I disagree with the second.  There no "one book" that will make everyone think.  It's different for each of us.  \n\nIn addition, from what I've experienced, many who read the bible faithfully tend to say they don't question their faith.  If you read a book and you're not supposed to question it, doesn't this mean you're not thinking too much??
225528
Just so you know where I stand. I asked a question of whether or not all the Bible should be taken literally or not. The best answer chosen was a good one.\n\nhttp://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ales.wK5IftnZfqP3dD5hbHsy6IX?qid=1006012504879\n\nWhen Jesus said regarding the bread and the wine, "this is my body and this is my blood of the New Covenant", He was not speaking literally. When the Bible says that the blood of Jesus washes away sin, we do not go off to mount Calvary and look for spots of blood to wash our sins away. Jesus said, "I am the door, whoever enters by any other way is a theif." The disciples did not turn to Jesus and see a large board with hinges and a knob. Jesus was saying there is a single way to heaven, and He is the Way.\nQuite a bit of the Bible is spoken in allegorical and metaphoic language. Jesus said that He was the Light of the world, the Good Shepherd, Living Water, the Bread of Life, and more. He came as the Lamb of God. He will return as the Lion of the tribe of Judah. All of which is true, but all spoken in a metaphoric language.\n\nWrath, I have not run in to any Christians who believe the Bible is 100% literal. However, there are many areas of the Bible that ARE literal and many are trying to change the statement because it is not politically correct, or they have an agenda or they find it personally offensive.\n\nCase in point:\nRobert Anderson worked for Scotland Yard during the Victorian era. He was the main investigator for finding Jack the Ripper. He took the prophecy in Daniel and was able to calculate the coming of the Messiah to the DAY. This is in the his book "The Coming Prince". He started this project based on taking the prophecy as being literal. He was rewarded for this effort with knighthood from Queen Victoria and became Sir Robert Anderson. However, in this same book, he notes the prophecies about Israel being gathered together and becoming a nation once more. Seeing how this has never happened in history, he dismissed the literal meaning as pure fantasy. In May 14th 1948, this brilliant man was proven wrong. The idea that the Jews would return to the land and make it Israel was so preposterous that this brilliant man equated it to being metaphorical--the literal interpretation was too hard to believe. So we could easily make a mistake by either way.\n__________________________\n\nBTW-This topic reminds me of a very good movie called "Lady Jane". One of the main focuses was the rise of the Protestant movement against the Roman Catholic church--especially in regard to transubstantiation. The Roman Catholics took the sacraments as being literally the body and blood of Christ, while the Protestants kept arguing that it was metaphorical. Check it out sometime!