Refuting The Gospel of Judas
By Gary Kah - May 2006
See also The Da Vinci Code and The Gospel of Judas and The Gnostic Apostle Thomas
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Here are a few of the passages from Matthew, Mark,
Luke and John that refute the claims of The Gospel of Judas, the Gnostics and
some of National Geographic’s “experts.”
Claim:
There were many forms of Christianity
in the early Church, and Gnosticism was one of them.
Counter:
As I mentioned in the preceding article, Gnosticism was never considered to be
Christian by the early Church. It was a form of occult mysticism that embraced
pantheistic concepts. Together with Rome’s imperial paganism, it represented
Satan’s foremost attempt to oppose and eradicate Christianity during the first
through the fourth centuries. Jesus assured that there was only one truth but
many pathways leading to destruction (Matt. 7:13-14, Luke 13:22-30, John
5:22-23; 6:29-59; 10:27-33; 14:6). He passionately warned his followers about
horrific deception and false prophets who would attack the truth (Matt. 7:15-23;
24:3-14, 21-25, Mark 13, Luke 12 & 21, John 8:42-47).
Claim:
Gnosticism consisted of Jesus’ secret teachings which were intended only for his
advanced-level disciples, and certain secrets were entrusted to Judas alone.
Counter:
Jesus’ teachings were intended for all who would receive them.
However, He knew that some people’s hearts were hardened against the truth.
His parables were only understood by those whose hearts were uncalloused and
open to His teachings. This is still the case today (Matt. 13:11-23, Mark 4:34).
Jesus said that anything hidden would be made known and would be spoken in the
daylight (Matt. 10:26-27), and that even children with open hearts would
understand (Matt. 11:25). Anyone who “asks, seeks and knocks”
would find the truth (Matt. 7:7-8, Luke 11:9-13). Jesus also said that his
followers were salt and light to a dark world and should share this light
(truth) and not hide it or keep it to themselves (Matt. 5:13-15, Mark 4:21-23,
Luke 8:16-18).
Claim:
Judas was stronger, more perceptive and spiritual than the other disciples and,
therefore, the only one who could stand before Jesus.
Counter:
Jesus was grieved by the wickedness that he knew was
lurking in Judas’ heart. He said it would have been better that the betrayer had
never been born (Matt. 26:20-25, Mark 14:17-21, Luke 22:20-23). According to
Luke
22:1-6 and John 13:27, Satan entered Judas and worked through him. From the Last
Supper, Judas slipped into the night to betray the Master (John 13:21-30). This
does not describe a man who was more highly regarded than the others by Jesus.
Claim:
Judas will receive a greater reward than the other disciples, because he is the
one who was “willing” to take on the assignment of betraying Jesus.
Counter:
In addition to the fact that this notion runs contrary to the scriptures just
cited, Jesus did not tolerate talk of one disciple being greater or receiving a
greater reward than the others. In Luke 22:24-30, Jesus rebuked his disciples
for asking Him which of them was the greatest.
So it would be completely out of character for Him to have said to Judas, “Your
star’s brilliance will eclipse all the others. You will be greater than them
all…” as The Gospel of Judas alleges. Other related passages include Matt.
18:1-5; 20:26-28, Mark 9:33-37; 10:35-45, and Luke 9:46-48.
Claim:
Judas’ betrayal of Christ was a noble act that was
orchestrated by Jesus Himself.
Counter:
Again, the scriptures already cited leave no room for this theory – not even as
a remote possibility. Compare this outrageous claim with Jesus’
prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane where he pleads with the Father to take “this
cup” from Him, unless it be the Father’s will; and where He tells His disciples
that His soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death (Matt. 26:36-42,
Mark 14:32-36). In Luke 22:44, we are told that Jesus was in such agony when He
prayed that his sweat was like “great drops of blood”
falling to the ground. And when Judas came with the chief priests and guards and
approached Jesus to kiss Him, Jesus, amazed by Judas’ audacity, asked him if he
was betraying Him with a kiss (Luke 22:48). This does not sound like someone who
would have looked forward to, or arranged, his own death.
As for Judas betraying Jesus for the “right” motives, Matthew 26:14-16 and Luke
22:1-6 make clear that Judas approached the chief priests and handed Jesus over
to them in exchange for money (thirty pieces of silver).
Clearly understanding the wrong he had done, Judas later returned the silver to
the priests and elders, telling them that he had sinned and betrayed innocent
blood. After doing so, he was so consumed by guilt that he committed suicide
(Matt. 27:3-5). This is a strange ending for someone who believed he was doing a
good deed!
Claim:
The Gospel of Judas contains no mention of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection,
thereby asserting that they were unimportant.
Counter:
Jesus’ death and resurrection is the climactic event of all history and is
treated as such by each of the four Gospels. It is of the utmost importance
because through it Christ conquered death and hell, paying the penalty for our
sins. He met the just requirements of God to atone for sin; something only He,
being the perfect Son of God, could do. Had Jesus not died and risen, there
would be no hope of man living for eternity in the presence of God. There would
only be an assurance of death and condemnation.
In John 3:16-21, Jesus states that He came into the world so that through Him it
would be saved from condemnation. And in Luke 2:11, the angel announcing Jesus’
birth described Him as Savior, and Christ (Messiah in Hebrew). In John 4:42
Jesus is said to be the Savior of the world. And in the same chapter (4:25-26),
when people were speaking of the Messiah, Jesus declared, “I who speak to you am
he.” In Mark 14:61b-62, we read, “Again the high priest asked him, ‘Are you the
Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’ ‘I am,’ said Jesus. ‘And you will see the
Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds
of heaven.’” Also, see John 5:22-23, 36-40; 4:36; and 6:40.
These are only a few of the passages that present Jesus as the Savior – whose
power to save would be conditional on His death and resurrection.
Specific scriptures on Jesus’ death and resurrection are found in Matt.
27-28, Mark 15-16, Luke 23-24 and John 19-20.
Claim:
The god who created earth is not the true God. Or, similarly, the true God did
not create earth.
Counter:
Along with the familiar Old Testament passages such as Genesis 1:1 which
declares, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”, there are
scriptures in the New Testament that are equally clear about who created the
world. John 1:1-18 places the Word (Jesus) with God at the beginning,
proclaiming that He was one with God and that through Him all things were made,
including the world. Also, see John 17:5.
For more about the history of Gnosticism and the occult, and their conflict with Christianity, consider reading my books En Route to Global Occupation and The New World Religion, available at www.garykah.org
Gary Kah is a former Europe & Middle East Trade Specialist for the Government of Indiana and is author of the Christian best-sellers En Route to Global Occupation and The New World Religion. He also publishes an excellent research news journal and has produced several quality videos. All of his materials may be purchased online at www.garykah.org or by dialing his orderline number: 1-317-290-4673
See also The Da Vinci Code and The Gospel of Judas and Slandering Jesus
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