'Comments on the Translation' (Gospel of Judas) - Segment 8

[Guest guest]

A./ 'English Translation of the Gospel of Judas'

 

Segment 8:

 

(P.114) [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.

('English Translation of the Gospel of Judas' - Pg. 114-115)

B./ 'Comments on the Translation' (Gospel of Judas) - Segment 8

[Note: A comprehensive Commentary is given for the totality of [1]-[8], but no

'Commentary' is given for [9]-[11].]

Comments:

(P.138) Judas asks about Jesus's interpretation of the " fruit " - presumably the

fruit of the tree of knowledge or the tree of life, from the 'Genesis' story of

the trees of paradise, which Jesus had been discussing in chapter 7. In response

to his question, Jesus again talks about the two races. All the souls of people

who belong to the mortal race will die when their bodies perish and the divine

Spirit leaves them. (P.139) But those who belong to the immortal race will have

a different fate: When their bodies perish, the Spirit will lift up their souls

to eternal life. Judas can't seem to understand what Jesus is saying, because he

asks again about what happens to those who don't ascend at death. Although

Jesus's response is in a section of severely damaged manuscript, he seems to

answer Judas that it is possible for them to ascend as well. Jesus refers first

to the parable of the sower (e.g., Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:4-15;

Thomas 9), indicating that those who are polluted with the wisdom of the world

(see also Judas 10:4) are like seeds falling on stone: Nothing can be harvested

from them. But then he speaks about a " hand " that created human beings so that

they 'can' ascend to the heavenly realm.

It would appear that the fate of one's soul depends upon whether one turns

inward to discover the Spirit within or whether one lives according to the

standards of the world ( " corruptible wisdom " ), notions common in the second

century. Plato had already argued something similar in the 'Phaedo', in which

Socrates, about to be put to death by poisoning, discusses with friends the fate

of the soul. He argues that when the soul is in bondage to the body, pains and

pleasures are like nails that rivet the soul to the body and make the soul

" corporeal. " The result is that the soul then " fancies the things are true which

the body says are true. For because it has the same beliefs and pleasures as the

body, it is compelled to adopt also the same habits and mode of life, and can

never depart in purity to the other world, but must always go away contaminated

with the body.... Therefore it has no part in communion with the divine and pure

and absolute. " In contrast, those who cultivate the virtuous life of the soul

have no fear at the death of the body, knowing that death will only free the

soul for immortal life with the divine. (P.139) Those with a prophetic spirit,

Socrates claims, go to their deaths with joy, because " they are to go to the god

whose servants they are. " [11] In the 'Gospel of Judas', too, this fate belongs

to the one disciple who has a prophetic spirit capable of receiving divine

revelation: Judas. We can assume that all those who accepted the teaching of the

'Gospel of Judas' also thought that they, too, were on the spiritual path to

God.

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

'Comments on the Translation' Pg. 138-140

Elaine Pagels and Karen L. King

Penguin Group - London, England

ISBN 978-0-713-99984-6

Notes:

[11] See 'Phaedo' 66-69; 83d-84b; 84e-85b; quotation from 83d-e, 'Plato', Vol.

1, translated by Harold North Fowler, Loeb Classical Library edition (Cambridge,

MA: Harvard University Press, 1914), p.291.

, " Violet " <violetubb

wrote:

>

> A./ 'English Translation of the Gospel of Judas'

>

> Segment 5:

>

> (P.113) [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 ...

>

> ('English Translation of the Gospel of Judas' - Pg. 113-114)

>

>

>

> B./ 'Comments on the Translation' (Gospel of Judas)

> [Note: Here is a comprehensive summary for the totality of Segment 5]:

>

>

> (P.137) Now Jesus gives them the full interpretation of the dream,

equating " the twelve " with the priests at the altar and the offerings

with people that they lead astray. All the immoral acts and violence

they witnessed in the dream result from worshipping the lower " God " ,

who uses Jesus's name to set himself up falsely as the true God. It is

this lower " God " who demands sacrifices, but he is merely a " minister

of error " (5:15). Jesus calls upon his disciples to stop this

behaviour, to quit sacrificing themselves and others to this false

" God " who said that at the resurrection they will " be like angels " -

even as the 'Gospel of Luke' said that Jesus taught that " those who

are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection

of the dead...cannot die anymore, because they are like angels

(literally " equal to angels " ) and are children of God " ('Luke'

20:35-36). (P.138) Here Jesus teaches that if people do not stop this

behavior, at the end of days the true Lord of the universe will put

them all to shame. The mention of the " end of days " is yet another

instance where the author draws upon apocalyptic imagery and belief in

God's final condemnation of the unrighteous. This will happen when the

stars complete everything - a reference to Jesus's teaching about the

heavenly sphere, which will become more clear later.

>

> In 5:7: " And the race of the pious will adhere tenaciously to him " ,

Jesus says that the pious will adhere to something. But what?

Grammatically, the referent is ambiguous. It could mean that the

so-called pious will adhere to the ruler of chaos or it could mean

that they will adhere to Jesus's name. In either case, it is clear

that the world ruler leads people astray through Jesus's name.

>

>

>

> Segments 6-7:

>

>

> 6./

>

> (P.114) ['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./

>

> (P.114) [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. "

>

> Comments:

>

> (P.138) These pages are heavily damaged, so we have to speculate

about what is being conveyed. One clear point of interest is Jesus's

insistence that everyone has a star - again referring to teaching

about the heavenly bodies that Jesus will clarify later in his

revelation to Judas.

>

> The end of chapter 7 seems to contain an interpretation of the

garden paradise described in 'Genesis'. It refers to the springs that

water it and to a tree. Someone (Christ) provides " water " (knowledge?)

to the " race that will endure " (the children of Seth?) so that they

will not be polluted. It may be an amplification of what Jesus means

when he later tells Judas that God gave knowledge to Adam and those

with him so that they could escape the domination of the lower-world

rulers (see 'Judas' 13:16-17).

>

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

> 'Comments on the Translation' Pg. 137-138

> Elaine Pagels and Karen L. King

> Penguin Group - London, England

> ISBN 978-0-713-99984-6

>

>

>

>

> , " Violet " <violetubb@>

> wrote:

> >

> > A./ 'English Translation of the Gospel of Judas' - by Karen L. King

> >

> > Segment 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. "

> >

> > ('English Translation of the Gospel of Judas' - Pg. 112-113)

> >

> >

> >

> > B./

> >

> > 'Comments on the Translation' (Gospel of Judas) - Segment 4

> >

> > [1]-[7] of Segment 4

> >

> >

> > (P.112) " On another day, Jesus came up to [them]. They said to

> [him], " Teacher, we saw you in a [vision]. For we saw some great

> dr[eam]s [at] night [...]

> >

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

> >

> > 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. But there was a crowd persevering tenaciously at that altar

> u[ntil] the priests [finish]ed [receiving] the offerings. As for us,

> we too [were] tenacious[ly per]severing. "

> >

> > Comments:

> >

> > (P.136) The 'Gospel of Judas' contains accounts of two dreams, the

> first by the twelve disciples, the second by Judas. Both come to Jesus

> to help them understand the meaning of what they have seen, and in

> both cases Jesus uses the dreams to correct the false beliefs and

> practices of his disciples. The dream of " the twelve " , however, stands

> in contrast to the dream Judas will have, for while " the twelve " see

> only the violence and immorality of life in this world, Judas grasps a

> partial vision of the realm above.

> >

> > In their dream the twelve disciples see " a great house " . This is a

> temple (a house of God) before which sacrifices are offered, most

> likely understood to be the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. Twelve priests

> stand before the altar, receiving offerings from a crowd. They also

> perceive " a name " . The disciples see themselves in the dream among the

> crowd, devoted to the altar.

> >

> >

> > [8]-[21] of Segment 4

> >

> > (P.112) Je[sus said], " What ki[nd] of [priests are they]?

> >

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

> sacrifice their own children, others their wives, all the while

> praising and acting humbly toward each other. Some are lying with

> ma[l]es. Others work at slaughtering. Yet others were committing a

> [mul]titude of sins and injustices. [An]d the men who stand [ove]r the

> altar are invoking your na[me]! And so in all the labors of cutting up

> their sacrifices, that altar stays full. " And when they had said these

> things, they were silent for they felt deeply disturbed.

> >

> > Jesus said to them, " Why are you disturbed? (P.113) Truly I say to

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

> 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. [An]d in my

> name, they shamefully planted fruitless trees. "

> >

> > Comments:

> >

> > (P.136) Jesus directs the disciples' attention more closely to the

> priests (or " the crowd " ? - a reading would fit in the lacunae as well

> as " the priests " , but the meaning is not clear, since it is the job of

> priests to sacrifice, although it is plausible that the author wants

> us to think that the crowd adopts the immoral behaviour of its

> leaders). The disciples then tell him more about what they are doing.

> (P.137) It is shocking: They are sacrificing their own wives and

> children, engaging in illicit sex, slaughter, and " a multitude of sins

> and injustices " . And yet the altars stay full! Readers also learn here

> that " the name " the priests are invoking is that of Jesus.

> >

> > Again the disciples are upset and silent. Jesus condemns the

> priests, because they are using his name shamefully to plant

> " fruitless trees " - a charge closely resembling those that other

> Christians aimed at one another. In the New Testament book of 2

> 'Peter', for example, the author charges other Christians as " false

> prophets " and " false teachers " , who " indulge their flesh in depraved

> lust " and entice others into " licentious desires " ; they are " slaves of

> corruption " , " like irrational animals " , " waterless springs " , and so

> on. The author assures his readers that they will all be condemned and

> punished (2'Peter' 2:1-22). The charges of murder and same-sex

> relations, too, belong to the general theme in ancient thought that

> impiety leads to violence and sexual immorality (see, for example,

> 'Romans' 1:18:32). [10] The 'Apocalypse of Peter' also calls those

> Christians who are praising Jesus for his death on the cross " blind

> and deaf " (73:13-14) - showing yet again that charges of error and

> immorality were flying in all directions.

> >

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

> > 'Comments on the Translation' Pg. 136-137

> > Elaine Pagels and Karen L. King

> > Penguin Group - London, England

> > ISBN 978-0-713-99984-6

> >

> >

> > Notes:

> >

> > [10] For an excellent examination of views of same-sex relations in

> antiquity and Christianity, see Bernadette J. Brooten, 'Love Between

> Women: Early Christian Responses to Female Homoeroticism' (Chicago:

> University of Chicago Press, 1996).

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > , " Violet " <violetubb@>

> > wrote:

> > >

> > > A./ 'English Translation of the Gospel of Judas' - by Karen L. King

> > >

> > > Segment 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]hat 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.

> > >

> > > ('English Translation of the Gospel of Judas' - Pg. 111-112)

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > B./

> > >

> > > 'Comments on the Translation' (Gospel of Judas) - Segment 3

> > >

> > > [1]-[13] of Segment 3

> > >

> > > (Pg.111) " When morning came, he [appear]ed to his disciples, [and]

> > they said to him, " Teacher, where did you go? What did you do after

> > you left us? "

> > >

> > > Jesus said to them, " I went to another great and holy race. "

> > >

> > > 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? "

> > >

> > > Now when Jesus heard these things, he laughed. He said to them,

> > " What are you contemplating in your heart about the strong and holy

> > race? [T]ruly say to you that no offspring [of t]his realm will

> > see that [race], nor will any angelic army of the stars rule over that

> > race, nor will any mortal human offspring be able to belong to it. For

> > [t]hat rac[e] does not come from [this realm] which came into being

> > [but ..... The r]ace of humans [who are] among [you (pl.)] is from the

> > [r]ace of human[ity]. "

> > >

> > > Comments:

> > >

> > > (P.135) When Jesus left his disciples, he ascended " to another great

> > and holy race. " Readers learn here that Jesus is by no means trapped

> > in " the prison of his body " and needing to be saved from it, as some

> > church fathers from the second century claimed heretics believed.

> > Instead, he is easily able to move between this world and the world

> above.

> > >

> > > The disciples are surprised to learn that there is a race living in

> > realms beyond this world. Their ignorance and disbelief again cause

> > Jesus to laugh - signaling the reader that important teaching is to

> > follow. Here Jesus distinguishes clearly between the mortal children

> > of the lower world and the race that comes from the realm above. The

> > race from above is strong and holy, and is not subject to the angels

> > or stars that govern the lower world - a point Jesus will stress again

> > (see also 9:17-19). In contrast, people who worship the lower angels

> > are thereby enslaved to them, reminding one of Paul's teaching in

> > 'Galatians' 4:8-11: " Formerly, when you did not know God, you were

> > enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods. Now, however, that you

> > have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn

> > back again to the weak and beggarly elemental spirits? whose slaves

> > you want to be once more? How can you want to be enslaved again?

> > (P.136) You are observing special days, and months, and seasons, and

> > years. I am afraid that my work for you may have been wasted. " Here

> > Paul upbraids Christians in the Galatian churches for following the

> > ritual calendar, seeing it as enslavement to the elemental spirits,

> > which are associated with the heavenly bodies that set the calendar.

> > Similarly, the 'Book of Revelation' pictures pure believers living

> > eternally in the New Jerusalem, where they will " need no light of lamp

> > or sun, for the Lord God will be their light " ('Revelation' 22:5).

> > >

> > >

> > > [14]-[15] of Segment 3

> > >

> > > (P.112) " When [his] disciples heard these things, each one of them

> > was troubled i[n their] spirit, and they could not find a word to say.

> > >

> > > Comments:

> > >

> > > (P.136) Again the twelve disciples' reaction shows that they don't

> > really understand, for Jesus's teaching upsets them and they don't

> > even know how to ask Jesus to clarify what he is saying.

> > >

> > > 'Comments on the Translations' (Gospel of Judas) - (P.135-136)

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > , " Violet " <violetubb@>

> > > wrote:

> > > >

> > > > 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

> > > >

> > >

> >

>