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Point of Reference
by Fred Price
Some thought the discovery of a long-lost gospel a few years ago would force Christianity to re-think itself because of its portrayal of the quintessential traitor – Judas – as a trusted friend and confidant of Christ. Rev. Donald Senior, President of the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago however, asserted that the authentication and translation of this document did indeed produce “a short-term sensation, (but) it’s impact on the lives of ordinary believers is going to be somewhat minimal.”
Scholar James Robinson, who organized the team that restored the Nag Hammadi Manuscripts (a collection of Gnostic Gospels similar to the Judas Gospel) agrees, saying “It only tells what, 100 years later, Gnostics were doing with the story they found in the canonical Gospels.” And while many admit that this Gospel is clearly not a part of the main-stream ideology of the established church, they none-the-less hope to find indications of the development of its theology. (The continuing attraction being the elevation of man through gnosis – or self-promoting knowledge – to the detriment of Christ’s deity and right to rule in our lives.)
There is little doubt the document eventually published by National Geographic is ancient, having been written in the turbulent time-period when competing ideologies concerning Christ and the meaning of his life were vying for acceptance. It was ruled heretical by the early church, the present document possibly a copy of one cited by Bishop Irenaeus as a false Gnostic teaching in A.D. 180. Diverse “Christian” writings, such as the Gospels of Peter, Mary, Truth and Thomas were fairly common; stressing an aspect of Christ’s person and his teaching that redefined him in a way other than what was revealed and accepted in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – which had been embraced because of their proven authenticity and reliability as a result of eyewitness testimony.1 (See 1 Corinthians 15:3-8) Paul warning against false “gospels” already circulating at the time of his ministry, which occurred while many eyewitnesses of Christ’s ministry were still alive. (See 2 Corinthians 11:4; Galatians 1:6,7; 1 Timothy 1:3 & 6:3,4)
Most copies of this so-called Gospel were destroyed or lost over time, the copy discovered and published most recently apparently lay hidden in the Egyptian desert for 1700 years before its discovery in the 1970’s. Based on radiocarbon testing and its style of composition, it has been dated to around A.D. 300; written many decades after the publication of the four original Gospels. The problem being the later a document claiming to report an incident or authenticating a person’s words and activities is submitted as proof, the less likely any reliable connection exists between it and what it purportedly supports or attempts to question.
It is important to note that the Gnostics were a supposedly “Christian” sect that emphasized gnosis – or knowledge – as a means of salvation. They considered the material world the creation of lesser gods who had then imprisoned the spirit of men in a fleshly body from which they should continually strive to escape. The Gospel of Judas clearly reflects these beliefs in portraying Judas as the only disciple to fully grasp the “truth.” Jesus telling him, “You will exceed all of them. For you will sacrifice the man that clothes me.”; as he was told secrets none of the other disciples were privy to, and merely carried out Jesus’ wishes in turning him over to the authorities.
Besides believing in a dueling set of principles and gods – between good and evil, Old Covenant and New Testament, flesh and spirit – they disbelieved in Jesus’ full incarnation, the real purpose of his crucifixion being a release from the material world instead of a sacrifice extending grace to all men. They believed only a fraction of mankind was capable of salvation and that it was attained only through the realization of a secret knowledge exclusive to them; “godhood” being achieved through that gnosis. The proper response to this challenge and answer to any questions raised by this document is found in a verse of scripture so well-worn as to sometimes be overlooked. Yet it is at the heart of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” John 3:16-18
1See F.F. Bruce’s excellent book titled, The New Testament Documents – Are They Reliable? , Eerdman’s Publishing
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Fred Price - married (50 years), father of two grown children, grandfather of six.
Fred retired earlier this year after 42 years as a factory worker. He has always had a heart for young people and the challenges they face today. Over the years Fred has taught Discipleship Groups for High School and college students.
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