'English Translation of the Gospel of Judas'

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

 

Appended, is the 'English Translation of the Gospel of Judas' which is

translated by Karen L. King. But firstly, the authors Elaine Pagels and Karen L.

King give this explanation:

 

(P.107) " In the more than fifteen hundred years since the 'Gospel of Judas' was

inscribed in the Tchacos Codex, the text has suffered considerable damage. The

worst came after its rediscovery in the 1970s, when improper handling and

storage reduced much of it to tiny fragments. Despite the diligent work of an

expert restoration team, it still contains many holes (called lacunae).

Sometimes only a few letters are obscured, but some lacunae are quite extensive,

leaving more than half a page empty. In the translation below, these are all

marked with brackets: [...]; the number of ellipsis points within the brackets

indicates approximately how many letters are missing. As much as possible,

scholars have attempted to determine what was written in these lacunae, and

these suggestions are also placed in brackets. In addition, I have supplied

other material to render the translation into more fluid English prose or to

suggest to readers the referents for some obscure pronouns; these materials are

placed in parentheses: ( ).

 

(P.108) This new translation is based on the Coptic text established by Rodolphe

Kasser and Gregor Wurst*; all modifications of that text by myself or others are

noted in the Comments section. "

 

*The Gospel of Judas. Coptic Text. The National Geographic Society,

April 2006, published online at

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lostgospel/document.html with modifications

based on an advance copy of the critical edition of the Tchacos Codex edited by

Rodolphe Kasser and Gregor Wurst; English translation by Marvin Meyer and F.

Gaudard; notes by Marvin Meyer and Gregor Wurst, to be published by the National

Geographic Society, Washington, D.C., spring 2007. We would like to thank Marvin

Meyer for generously allowing us to see an advance copy of this edition. Any

restorations proposed here, however, remain tentative until they can be

confirmed by examination of the original manuscript of the announced facsimile

edition.

 

So folks, here is the 'English Translation of the Gospel of Judas' which has

been divided up into 16 Sections. The authors' 'Comments on the Translations'

are very extensive. i will post these separately, with their Individual 16

Sections, so that the 'English Translation' comes first and its accompanying

'Comments on the Translation' comes right after it.

 

Words just fail me in what Jesus told Judas, and in what circumstances He told

them, i.e., they were told " for eight days, three days before he observed

Passover " . And then Judas had to do what Jesus requested him to do, which was to

give Him over to the priests. What a role Judas had to play! How obedient Judas

was! But he could do it because what Jesus told him in those eight days must

have made all that Jesus had taught previously, fall into place. i believe it

must do the same for us who read these teachings of Jesus as given in the

ancient 'Gospel of Judas'.

 

yours 'In Christ',

 

violet

 

 

 

Part Two - English Translation of the Gospel of Judas

 

- Translated by Karen L. King

 

 

1./

 

[1] This is the hidden word of the pronouncement, [2] containing the account

about wh[en Je]sus spoke with Judas scari[ot] for eight days, three days

before he observed Passover.

[3] When he appeared on earth, he performed signs and great wonders for the

salvation of humanity. [4] For although some people continued to [walk] along

the path of righteousness, [5] others were walking along the path of their

transgression. [6] So twelve disciples were called, [7] (and) he began to speak

to them about the mysteries which are beyond the world and about the things

which will occur at the end.

[8] Frequently, however, he would not reveal himself to his disciples, but you

would find him in their midst as a child.

[9] And he dwelled in Judaea with his disciples.

2./

[1] One day he found them sitting, assembled together (and) training

(themselves) in godliness. [2] When he [came upon] his disciples assembled

together, sitting and offering thanks over the bread, [3] [he] laughed.

[4] The discipl[e]s said to him, " Teacher, why do you laugh at [our] offering

thanks? Or what did we do? [5] [This] is what is right. "

(P.110) [6] He replied, telling them, " It is not you I am laughing at - [7] you

are not even doing this by [yo]ur own will - [8] but (I'm laughing because) in

this (offering of thanks), your 'God' will receive praise. "

[9] " Teacher, 'you' are [.....] the Son of our God, " they said.

[10] Jesus said to them, " Do you (really think you) know me - how? [11] Truly I

say to you, no race from the people among you will ever know me. "

[12] Now when his disciples heard this, [they] began to be displeased and

[become] angry, and to blaspheme against him in their heart.

[13] But when Jesus perceived their foolishness, [14] [he said] to them, " Why

are you letting anger disturb you? [15] Your God who is within you and [his

.....] are displeased [together with] your souls. [16] Let whoever is [strong]

among you humans bring forth the perfect human [17] and stand up to face me. "

[18] And they all said, " We are strong! " [19] But their spirits did not have the

courage to stand up to face him - except Judas [is]cariot. [20] He was able to

stand up to face him, [21] even though he was not able to look him in the eyes,

bu[t] turned his face aside.

[22] Judas said to him, " I know who you are and which place you came from - [23]

you came from the realm of the immortal Barbelo - [24] but I am not worthy to

proclaim the name of the one who sent you. "

(P.111) [25] Then Jesus, recognizing that he perceived even more of such exalted

matters, said to him, " Separate from them. [26] I will tell you the mysteries of

the kingdom. [27] It is possible for you to reach that place, [28] but you will

suffer much grief. [29] For another [will] take your place, so that the twelve

di[sciples] might again be complete in their 'God.' "

[30] And Judas said to him, " When will you tell these things to me, [31] and

when will the great [da]y of the light dawn for the [......] race? "

[32] But after he said these things, Jesus left him.

3./

[1] When morning came, he [appear]ed to his disciples, [2] [and] they said to

him, " Teacher, where did you go? [3] What did you do after you left us? "

[4] Jesus said to them, " I went to another great and holy race. "

[5] His disciples said to him, " Lord, what great race is there that is more

exalted and holier than we are, yet is not in these realms? "

[6] Now when Jesus heard these things, he laughed. [7] He said to them, " What

are you contemplating in your heart about the strong and holy race? [8] [T]ruly

say to you that no offspring [of t]his realm will see that [race], [9] nor

will any angelic army of the stars rule over that race, [10] nor will any mortal

human offspring be able to belong to it. [11] For [t]that rac[e] does not come

from [this realm] which came into being [but ..... [12] The r]ace of humans [who

are] among [you (pl.)] is from the [r]ace of human[ity]. [13] [...............]

power which [....... some ot]her for[ces .......] since you rule i[n their

midst]. "

[14] When [his] disciples heard these things, each one of them was troubled i[n

their] spirit, [15] and they could not find a word to say.

4./

[1] On another day, Jesus came up to [them]. [2] They said to [him], " Teacher,

we saw you in a [vision]. [3] For we saw some great dr[eam]s [at] night [...]

[4] [He said], " Why have [you ......] hid yourselv[es]? "

[5] For their part, they s[aid, " We] sa[w] a great hou[se in which there was a

g]reat alta[r and] twelve men, whom we say are priests, and a name. [6] But

there was a crowd persevering tenaciously at that altar u[ntil] the priests

[finish]ed [receiving] the offerings. [7] As for us, we too [were] tenacious[ly

per]severing.

[8] Je[sus said], " What ki[nd] of [priests are they]?

[9] They [said,] " [so]me [abstain for t]wo [w]eeks. [10] Yet [others] sacrifice

their own children, others their wives, [11] all the while praising and acting

humbly toward each other. [12] Some are lying with ma[l]es. [13] Others work at

slaughtering. [14] Yet others were committing a [mul]titude of sins and

injustices. [15] [An]d the men who stand [ove]r the altar are invoking your

na[me]! [16] And so in all the labors of cutting up their sacrifices, that altar

stays full. " [17] And when they had said these things, they were silent for they

felt deeply disturbed.

[18] Jesus said to them, " Why are you disturbed? (P.113) [19] Truly I say to

you, all the priests who stand ove[r that] altar are invoking my name. [20] And

ag[ain] I say to you that they wrote my name upon the [...] of the races of the

stars through the races of human beings. [21] [An]d in my name, they shamefully

planted fruitless trees. "

5./

[1] Jesus said to them, " 'You' are the ones you saw receiving offerings at the

altar. [2] That is the 'God' you serve. [3] And you are the twelve men whom you

saw. [4] And the domestic animals you saw being brought for sacrifice are the

multitude you are leading astray upon that al[t]ar. [5] [The ruler of chaos will

es]tablish himself, [6] and this is how he will make use of my name. [7] And the

race of the pious will adhere tenaciously to him. [8] After this, another man

will take the side of the for[n]ic[ators], [9] and another one will stand with

those who murder children, [10] and yet another with those who lie with men,

[11] and those who fast, [12] and all the rest of impurity and lawlessness and

error, [13] and those who say, 'We are equal to angels' - [14] and they are the

stars which bring everything to completion. [15] For it has been said to the

races of humans, 'Behold God received your sacrifice from the hands of a priest'

- that is to say, from the minister of error. [16] But it is the Lord - the one

who is the Lord over the entire universe - who commands that they will be put to

shame at the end of days. "

[17] Jesus said [to them], " Cease sac[rificing .............]. [18] It is upon

the alt[a]r that yo[u ..........] [for they are] over your stars and your

angels, having already been completed there. [19] Let them become [....] again

right in front of you, and let them ...

6./

['about fifteen and a half lines are missing from the manuscript']

to the races [...]. It is not possible for a bak[er] to feed the whole creation

under [heaven]. And

['about three and a half lines are untranslatable']

7./

[1] Jesus said to them, " Stop struggling against me. [2] Each one of you has his

own star a[nd every] o[ne...

['about eighteen lines are missing from the manuscript or untranslatable']

He came to those who [........sp]ring of the tree of ['about one line is

untranslatable'] [sea]son of this realm [..... af]ter a time [..........].

Rather he came to water God's paradise and the [ra]ce that will endure, because

[he wi]ll not pollute the way of [life of] that race. Bu[t ......] for all

eternity. "

8./

[1] Judas said to [him, " Rabb]i, What fruit does this race possess? "

[2] Jesus said, " The souls of every human race will die. [3] But when those (who

belong to the holy race) have completed the time of the kingdom and the spirit

separates from them, [4] their bodies will die but their souls will be alive and

they will be lifted up. "

[5] Judas said, " What, then, will the rest of the race of humans do? "

(P.115) [6] Jesus said, " It is not possible to sow (seeds) upon a ton[e] and

have their [fr]uit be harvested. [7] Again [thi]s is the way [...........] the

race [which is pollut]ed and perishable wisdom. [8] [..] the hand which created

mortal humanity so that their souls [g]o up to the realms which are on high. [9]

T[rul]y I say to you (pl.) th[at no ruler nor a]ngel [nor p]ower will be able to

see [the places t]here, [10] which [this great] (and) holy race [will see]. "

[11] After Jesus said these things, he departed.

9./

[1] Judas said, " Teacher, just as you listened to all of them, now listen to me

also. [2] For I have seen a great vision. "

[3] But when Jesus heard, he laughed. [4] He said to him, " Why are you getting

all worked up, thirteenth god? [5] But you too speak, and I will hold you up. "

[6] Judas said to him, " I saw myself in a vision. [7] The twelve disciples were

stoning me; [8] they were persecuting [me severe]ly. [9] And I [ca]me also to

the place [.........] after you. [10] I saw [a house .....] but my eyes were not

able [to measure] its extent. [11] But some elders of great stature were

surrounding it, [12] and that house was roofed with greenery. [13] In the midst

of the house wa[s a] cr[owd ..............]. [14] Teacher, let me be taken [in

wi]th these people. "

[15] [Jesus] replied. He said, " Your star is leading you astray, Judas, [16]

since no mortal human offspring is worthy to enter the house that you saw. [17]

For that is the place which is preserved for the holy ones, [18] the place where

neither the sun nor the moon will rule them nor the day, [19] but they will

stand firm for all time in the realm with the holy angels. (P.116) [20] Behold,

I have told you the mysteries of the kingdom [21] and I have taught you [about

the er]ror of the s[tar]s and ['about one and a half lines are untranslatable']

upon the t[w]elve realms. "

[22] Judas said, " Teacher, surely the rulers are not subject to my seed? "

[23] Jesus answered. He said to him, " Come... [[24] 'about two lines are

untranslatable'] [25] ut because you will groan deeply when you see the

kingdom and its entire race. "

[26] When Judas heard these things, he said to him, " What benefit have I

received because you separated me for that race? "

[27] Jesus answered. He said, " You will become the thirteenth [28] and you will

be cursed by the rest of the races - [29] but you will rule over them. [30] In

the last days, they will and you will go up to the holy ra[ce]. "

10./

[1] Jesus said, [ " Com]e and I will [te]ach you about the [things..... that] no

human will see. [2] For there exists a great realm and a boundlessness whose

measure no angelic race has comprehended. [3] [in] it is the great invis[ib]le

Sp[irit] - [4] the one whom no a[ngeli]c eye has seen nor any inner thought of

heart contained nor has anyone called it by any name. [5] And a luminous cloud

appeared in that place.

[6] " And he said, 'Let an angel come into being to attend me.' [7] And a great

angel - the luminous divine Autogenes - came forth from the cloud. [8] And

another four angels came forth because of him from another cloud, [9] and they

came into being to attend the angelic Autogenes.

(P.117) [10] " And [A]uto[genes] said, 'Let [Adamas] come into be[ing],' and

[..........] came into being. [11] And he c[reated] the first luminary so that

[it] might rule over it. [12] Next he said, 'Let angels come into being to

worship it,' [13] and immeasurable myriads came into being. [14] And he said,

'[Le]t [a] luminous [re]alm come into being,' [15] and it came into being. [16]

He established the second luminary to rule over it, [17] along with innumerable

angelic myriads to worship (it). [18] And in this way, he created the rest of

the realms of light, [19] he established (luminaries) to rule over them, [20]

and he created for them innumerable angelic myriads for their service.

11./

[1] " Adamas dwelled in the first cloud of the light, [2] (yet) none among the

angels - who are all called 'divine' - has seen that (cloud). [3] And he ['about

two lines are untranslatable'] [4] the image [...........] and according to the

likeness of t[hat an]gel. [5] He made the imperishable [race] of Seth appear

[......] the twelve [.......] the twenty [fo]ur [.......]. [6] By the will of

the Spirit, he made seventy-two luminaries appear in the imperishable ra[ce].

[7] Then by the will of the Spirit, the seventy-two luminaries themselves made

three hundred sixty luminaries appear in the imperishable race in order that

their number might become five for each.

(P.118) [8] " And their father is the twelve realms of the twelve luminaries, [9]

with six heavens for every realm so that the seventy-two heavens might come into

being for the seventy-two luminaries, [10] with [five fi]rmaments for each one

[of them so that] three hundred sixty [firmaments might come into being .....].

[11] They were given [an] authority with a [great, innumerab]le angelic army for

glory and wor[ship], [12] [and] then [in addition] virginal [sp]irits for

gl[o]ry and [wor]ship of all the realms and the heavens and their [fi]rmaments.

12./

[1] " Now it is that crowd of deathless ones who are called 'cosmos', that is,

'what perishes.' [2] It was by the Father and the seventy-two luminaries who are

with Autogenes and his seventy-two realms that the first Human appeared in the

place (the perishable cosmos) with his imperishable powers. [3] For this realm,

along with its race which appeared, is the one that has within it the cloud of

knowledge and the angel who is called 'El.' [4]['about 3 lines missing']

[5] " [Af]ter these things, he [....] said, 'Let the [tw]elve angels come into

being [so they might r]ule over the chaos and the ob[livion].' [6] And behold an

a[ngel] ap[pear]ed from the cloud whose face was pouring forth fire, [7] while

his likeness was defiled with blood. [8] And he had [one n]ame, 'Nebro,' which

is interpreted as 'apostate,' [9] but some others call him 'I[al]dabaoth.' [10]

And again another angel came forth from the cloud (called) 'Saklas.' [11] Nebro

then created six angels along with Saklas to attend (him). [12] And these

produced twelve angels in the heavens, [13] and each of them received an

allotted portion in the heavens. (P.119) [14] And the twelve rulers, along with

the twelve angels said, 'Let each one of you...'[[15] 'about three lines

untranslatable'] [five] angels.

[16] " The first is [se]th, who is called 'Christ'. [17] The [secon]d is

Harmathoth, whom [...........]. [18] The [thir]d is Falida. [19] The forth is

Iobel. [20] The fifth is Adonaios. [21] These are the five who ruled over

oblivion and are first over chaos.

13./

[1] " Then Saklas said to his angels, 'Let us create a human being [ac]cording to

the likeness and according to the image.' [2] Then they formed Adam and his

wife, Eve. [3] But in the cloud, she was called 'Zoe' ('Life'). [4] For in this

name all the races shall seek after it (life), [5] and each one of them calls

her by their names.

[6] " But [sa]klas did not com[mand .......] exce[pt ...........] the ra[ce]s

[.........] this one [..............]. [7] And the [ruler] said to him, 'Your

life and that of your children will last (only) for a season.' "

[8] Judas said to Jesus, " [What] is the longest that a human being might live? "

[9] Jesus said, " Why are you surprised that the lifespan of Adam and his race is

numbered in this place? [10] It is in this place that he received his kingdom,

with its ruler, for a (limited) number. "

[11] Judas said to Jesus, " Does the human spirit die? "

[12] Jesus said, " This is the way it is: God commanded Michael to loan the

spirits of human beings to them so they might worship (him). [13] Then the Great

One commanded Gabriel to give the spirit with the soul to the spirits of the

great undominated race. (P.120) [14] Because of this, the re[mai]ning souls

will... ['about one and a half lines are untranslatable'] ... light ... ['about

one and a half lines are untranslatable'] ... [15] to seek [after the] spirit

within you (pl.) [which y]ou make to dwell in this [fle]sh among the races of

the an[gel]s. [16] Then God required knowledge [to be given] to Adam and those

with him [17] in order that the rulers of chaos and oblivion should not lord it

over them. "

14./

[1] [Then] Judas said to Jesus, " What, then, will those races do? "

[2] Jesus said, " Truly I say to you (pl.), it is the stars that bring completion

upon all things. [3] For when Saklas has completed his times which are fixed for

him, [4] their first star will be about to come along with the races, [5] and

those things which were spoken will be completed. [6] Then they will fornicate

in my name, [7] and they will kill their children, [8] and...

[[9-10] 'about eight and a half lines are untranslatable']

....i]n my name, [11] and your star will r[ule] over the [thi]rteenth realm. "

[12] But afterward, Jesus [lau]ghed.

[13] [Judas sai]d, " Teacher, [why are you laughing at us?] "

[14] [Jesus] re[pli]ed. [He said,] " It is not [yo]u (pl.) I am lau[gh]ing [at,

bu]t at the error of the stars, [15] because these six stars go astray with

these five warriors, [16] and all of them will be destroyed along with their

creations. "

(P.121) [17] Then Judas said to Jesus, " What will those who are baptized in your

name do? "

[18] Jesus said, " Truly I say [to you], This baptism [..........] my name ...

['about eight lines are untranslatable']

....die [........] to me. "

15./

[1] " Truly [i sa]y to you, Judas, those [who of]fer up sacrifice to Sakla[s

......g]od... [[2]'about three lines are untranslatable'] ... everything [for

they are w]icked. [3] As for you, you will surpass them all. [4] For you will

sacrifice the human being who bears me. [5] Already your horn is raised up, [6]

your anger is full, [7] your star has passed by, [8] and your heart has

[preva]iled.

[9] " Tr[uly I say to you,] 'Your end ...'

[[10-11] 'about five and a half lines are untranslatable']

....the ru[ler] who is destroyed. [12] [An]d then the pl[a]ce of the great race

of Adam will be exalted, [13] because prior to heaven and earth and the angels,

through the realms that race exists.

[14] " Behold, everything has been told you. [15] Lift up your eyes and see the

cloud and the light which is in it and the stars which surround it. [16] And the

star that leads the way, that is your star. "

[17] Then Judas lifted up his eyes. [18] He saw the luminous cloud [19] and he

entered into it. [20] Those standing upon the ground heard a voice coming from

the cloud, saying, " [............] great ra[ce .....im]age... "

['about six and a half lines are untranslatable']

16./

[1] [Then] their chief priests murmured because [he (Jesus)] entered [in]to the

guest room for his prayer. [2] And some scribes were there watching closely in

order to catch him at prayer, [3] for they were afraid of the people because he

was held to be a prophet by them all.

[4] And they approached Judas. [5] They said to him, " What are you doing in this

place? [6] You are the disciple of Jesus. "

[7] But as for him, he answered them according to their will. [8] Then Judas

received some copper coins. [9] He handed him over to them.

[10] The Gospel of Judas

Comments:

['Comments on the Translations' to come separately as explained above.]

Reading Judas - The Gospel of Judas and the Shaping of Christianity,

Part Two, The Gospel of Judas

Pg.107-122

Elaine Pagels and Karen L. King

Penguin Group - London, England

ISBN 978-0-713-99984-6