Jesus had to die for us to be saved, isn't Judas then in fact a hero for betraying him?

Some historians and scriptural experts suggest that Judas knew Jesus had to be betrayed and then put his own neck in the noose for the rest of the world. He is such a hated person, and yet it is because of him that one of the largest religions in the world has taken power. In my opinion, Christians should revere his name, not scorn it. If you want more info, go to a library and check out a copy of the Gnostic Gospels (also called the Nag Hammadi), or more specifically the Gospel of Judas.

God some people are idiots. The Gospel of Judas is something that been passed around the shadiest of hands in the open market for quite some time. It reminds me of the Dead Sea scrolls, the excavation of which was funded by the Rockefellers. Geeee, I wonder if these people have an agenda... make money money? make money money money?

Also the Gospel of Judas was written with iron ink, something that wasn't around for another 300 years. If it's indeed real, then this would also be the earliest known example of the use of such ink. How the hell does Jesus dying for our sins save us? How does this actually work? It doesn't, you just don't know what the hell your talking about.

Jesus being God already knew what Judas was about to do Judas is no hero Jesus death for our sins was in Gods eternal plan as away to fully pay the price for sin you are only saved through the blood of Jesus if you take up God offer of salvation and not without

According to the Gospel of Judas, the answer is yes. According to Paul, the answer is no.

If Judas' betrayal of Jesus could be prophesied by man, even though it was a decision made freely, is it also possible that GOD would have forseen the rebellion in the Garden of Eden before that decision was made? Wouldn't it also then be that GOD'S plan must have been from the beginning to kill his son? Does this sound a little contrived to anyone else?

So, if I do something evil, with evil intent, I should be rewarded it God brings something good out of it?!

The point is that Judas was not seeking to 'do Jesus a favor' when he betrayed him. He was handing him over to be judged! (Appeal to the "Gospel of Judas" is most unhelpful here, because it does not just follow the New Testament with a 'little addition' that Jesus asked Judas to do it. On the contrary, it contradicts most of what the NT teaches, painting all the rest of the disciples as dolts with only Judas 'getting it' and, more importantly, teaches that Jesus goal was not redemption or resurrection, but simply to be able to 'escape his body'!)

Of course, it's not as if the NT gospels left the question open. In them JESUS very explicitly speaks a "woe" on the one who would betray him. So, if you want to suggest otherwise, you must dismiss the gospels as a lie.

But what is so difficult about this concept of God's working his purpose through someone who is acting for their own evil purposes?

Actually, other Scriptures clearly address this very question.

Consider what God has to say to the King of Assyria in Isaiah 10, esp. vv. 5-7:

"Ah, Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff in their hands is my fury! Against a godless nation I send him, and against the people of my wrath I command him, to take spoil and seize plunder, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. But he does not so intend, and his heart does not so think; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few"

and so, God announces (v. 12):

"When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, he will punish the speech of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the boastful look in his eyes."

Look also at Peter's words in his Pentecost sermon:

"This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men." (Acts 2:23)

(Now Peter IS announcing good news here -- but it is not the good news that they are OK because 'it was all part of God's plan'. Rather, it is that because Jesus went to the cross there is FORGIVENESS for those who repent,even them.)

You would think, but this is the impossible paradox of the whole resurrection story and how the Church in all its forms has justified it. Blaming Judas, the Jews, and pagan Rome for what in their theology has to have happened and was basically man's only hope of salvation doesn't make sense.

It does however, foster an us v.s them mentality and fills the church pews and uses personal prejudice and hate as a tool to proselytize and retain membership. It also garners political and economic power into the hands of the clergy, where it was exclusively in the Western world and near east until after the Reformation.

Nope. Judas didn't have to do it. Jesus would be crucified even though Judas didn't betray Him. BUT it was pre-ordained that Judas would do that, hence Jesus telling Judas "to do what he came there to do." Why it was pre-ordained like that? I honestly don't know. But Judas is not a hero for doing that. Betrayal is sin. People don't become heroes for sinning.

That is the idea propounded by gnostics christians of the sethian sect in the Gospel of Judas. It is an interesting way to look at the passion because w/out the betrayal, we would not have it. Orthodox christian view of course dismisses this and the view we now have of Judas act is as of betrayer.

Have you seen all the news about the recently translated gospel from Judas? It says that Jesus asked Judas to betray him, like it was part of the plan. It's really fascinating stuff.

i mean, if you take a big step back, none of it really makes any sense. the stories in the bible were never meant to be taken literally. Powerful people took advanteage of the general population's "pack," or "mob" mentality and used religion to control people and keep society in order. Religion was the original scare tactic. Its no coincidence then that our super-religious president also uses scare tactics, in the most reprehensible and misleading of ways.

Well to be honest - m actually confused :P

To jom156- did you come to know that Gospel of Judas exists? Without National Geographic - it wouldnt b possible for us to know the reality....so u just dun vomit widout thinking