The Life of Judas Iscariot from the Gospel of Judas

The Judas Iscariot that is depicted in the recently discovered and highly controversial Gospel of Judas is a much different character from the one portrayed in the more traditional, canonized Gospels included in the Bible. The Gospel that bears his name, represents Judas not as an outcaste and a traitor, but as the closest and most trusted disciple of Jesus Christ.

The Gospel of Judas begins three weeks before the week of Passover, at the end of which Jesus would be tried and crucified. Therefore no background is provided on Judas’s life. Nothing is said of when or where he was born and raised, and no mention is made of the events that lead Judas to become a disciple, or of how Judas became one of Jesus’ inner circle of the twelve apostles. Instead the narrative begins near the end of Jesus’ ministry and recounts several interactions between Jesus and his disciples, and between Jesus and Judas specifically that are not recorded in any of the other Gospels.

In these interactions Judas is revealed as the disciple with the deepest understanding of nature and mission of Jesus. Due to his depth of knowledge, Jesus even makes it a point to take Judas aside and reveal several special messages only to him. Through these private and personal interactions Judas discovers that he has been chosen, because of his closeness to the Messiah, for the special task of handing Jesus over to be executed.

Here is where the account diverges most notably and controversially from the canonized Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. In the Biblical narratives Judas is portrayed as a traitor, who was prompted or even possessed by the devil. However, in the Gospel of Judas, the task of turning Jesus in to the authorities for His trial and execution is given as a special assignment to Judas in private by Jesus himself. Jesus then goes on to predict that due to his actions, Judas will be cursed on this earth and even be replaced in the group of twelve apostles, but that in the next life, all the twelve apostles will follow Judas, as the greatest among them.

In the Gospel of Judas, the act of turning Jesus over to the authorities is one of great importance because it sets in motion the chain of events by which mankind will be redeemed. This is why, the Gospel infers, that Judas, as Jesus closest and most faithful disciple, was chosen for the task.

The book ends with a brief reference to Judas going to the Jewish religious leaders and accepting money in exchange for turning Jesus in. The account is brief, and no mention is made of any of the events that followed. The account is similar to those given in the Biblical gospels, but in this case there is no mention of Jesus’ trial, or execution. Furthermore no reference is made to what Judas did with the money he was given, or how and when he died.

The Judas Iscariot that is described in the Gospel of Judas stands in stark contrast to the Judas described in the more traditional Christian Gospels. Instead of being a lesser known disciple, who is hardly mentioned until he betrays the Messiah, Judas is characterized as the most thoughtful, and faithful disciple, who takes center stage in discussions, and often spends time with Jesus in private. Fittingly, the gospel that is named after Judas does not end with him betraying Christ, but rather with idea that Judas faithfully assisted Jesus by selflessly setting in motion the events that were necessary for mankind to be redeemed.