The Gospel of Judas: Coptic Text, Translation, and Historical Interpretation of 'the Betrayer's Gospel'

Description

Lance Jenott presents a new critical edition, annotated translation, and interpretation of the Gospel of Judas which, for the first time, includes all extant fragments of the manuscript. Departing from the scholarly debate over how this second-century Gospel portrays the character of Judas Iscariot, he investigates the text's preoccupation with Jesus' Twelve Disciples, and why its author slanders them as immoral priests who unwittingly offer sacrifice to a false god. Jenott challenges previous interpretations of Judas as a Gnostic text that criticizes the sacrificial theology, Christology, and ritual practices of the orthodox church, including Eucharist and baptism. Instead, he emphasizes how its Christian author voices a political critique of the emerging clergy who established their ecclesiological authority through doctrines of apostolic succession and the exclusive right to administer the Eucharist. In the final chapter, Jenott leaves questions about the author's second-century Sitz im Leben behind to consider how Judas may have appealed to the fourth-century Coptic Christians who produced our only known copy. Cover Dedication Acknowledgements Table of Contents Introduction Chapter 1: Jesus’ Sacrifice ‘for the Salvation of Humanity’ A. Introduction: Christus Victor B. Docetic or Two-Natures Christology? I. Phantasmal Docetism II. Separationist Docetism III. Jesus’ Two Natures C. The Sacrificial Interpretation of Jesus’ Death D. Baptism as Reenactment of Christus Victor E. The Exaltation of Adam’s Great Race F. Conclusion Chapter 2: The Twelve Disciples A. Introduction B. Politics of the Eucharist C. The Disciples’ Eucharist D. The Temple Vision E. The Future of the Apostolic Cult I. The Identity of the Figure in 40.3 II. The Meaning of παριστάναι III. Those who say ‘We are equal to angels’ F. Conclusion Chapter 3: The Story of Creation A. Introduction B. The Invisible Spirit, Autogenes, and his Four Attendants C. The Absence of Barbelo and a Family Trinity D. The Realms of Autogenes E. The Incorruptible Race F. Cosmic Numerology G. Eleleth and the Apostate Angels H. The Problem of Mortality Chapter 4: Judas in Egypt: Codex Tchacos as a Collection A. Introduction B. Date and Provenance of the Codex C. Contents of the Codex D. Codicology and Cost of Production E. The Scribe and Owner(s) F. The Appeal of Codex Tchacos Conclusion Appendix A: Text and Translation Sigla Apparatus Notations Appendix B: Commentary Appendix C: Scribal Marks in Codex Tchacos I. Dicolon II. Blank Space (2 = two character spaces) III. Dicolon and Blank Space (2 = two character spaces) IV. Diplai (2 = two diplai, etc.) V. Ekthesis VI. Coronis VII. Paragraphus VIII. Diagonal Bar IX. Supralinear Dots X. Suspended nu XI. Ligature hook XII. Nomina Sacra Bibliography Index of References Hebrew Bible New Testament Ancient Authors & Texts Index of Modern Authors Index of Subjects