After all the hype people talked about the National geographies "The Judas Gospel", I guess ChristianTimes HK gives a very good overview of the whole episode.


一卷據稱有一千七百年歷史、名為《猶大福音》（The Gospel of Judas）的埃及古籍，可能為蒙上「賣主」污名二千年的猶大「平反」。

國家地理學會製作了名為「猶大福音」的紀錄片，講述該文獻出土後的鑑定和翻譯過程，以及當中的「重要」內容：耶穌最喜愛的門徒其實是加略人猶大，因他是門徒中最認識耶穌的人，故此耶穌在最後關頭甚至要求猶大把祂出賣，好讓祂早日履行使命。《猶大福音》的觀點，基本上是將兩千年來被基督宗教視為「叛徒」的猶大，褒為成就耶穌的英雄。

有關學者研究指，《猶大福音》記載了初期教會面對羅馬帝國嚴厲迫害，以及迅速傳到周邊地區的歷史。學者相信基督宗教思想在埃及與諾思底主義（gnosticism）交匯後，當地人便以諾思底教派的角度去理解耶穌，以及耶穌與門徒之間的關係，從而寫成該書卷。

(Lost for nearly 1,700 years, a crumbling papyrus manuscript presents the most hated man in history in a new light. NG specially made a documentary for "The Gospel of Judas", describe the process of restoration and translation of the manuscript, and also the main content of the manuscript: Jesus' most loved disciple was actually Judas Iscariot, as he is the disciple who knows Jesus well most, and hence Jesus even asked Judas to betray him, so that he can fulfil his mission on earth. The viewpoint of "The Gospel of Judas" is basically turning the traitor by Christianity for nearly 2000 years into Jesus' hero.

The scholar pointed, "The Gospel of Judas" records the oppression against the early churches by the Roman government, and also records the history of the wide spread of the gospel. The scholar believes that this manuscript was written when the teachings of Christianity meets Gnoticism, and the local Egyptians try to understands the relationship between Jesus and his disciples from the aspect of Gnoticism.)


So you wonder what's on my mind? My conclusion was simple,

History opens up a person's eyes to understand something of the past.

History can also blinds a person if a person just read bit and pieces of the history, selectively.


May God bless and gives wisdom to those who reads and face difficult times in explaining the relation between "The Gospel of Judas" with our belief.

Labels: 2006, thoughts