From: Andrew Johnson
Date: 2006-04-13 09:48:01
www9.nationalgeograp… Text of Gospel Below!!! ============ THE GOSPEL OF JUDAS
Translated by
Rodolphe Kasser, Marvin Meyer, and Gregor Wurst,
in collaboration with François Gaudard
From The Gospel of Judas Edited by Rodolphe Kasser, Marvin Meyer, and Gregor Wurst Published in book form complete with commentary by The National Geographic Society. Copyright (c) 2006 by The National Geographic Society. All rights reserved. No part of this translation may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without permission in writing from the National Geographic Society. INTRODUCTION: INCIPIT The secret account of the revelation that Jesus spoke in conversation with Judas Iscariot during a week three days before he celebrated Passover. THE EARTHLY MINISTRY OF JESUS When Jesus appeared on earth, he performed miracles and great wonders for the salvation of humanity. And since some [walked] in the way of righteousness while others walked in their transgressions, the twelve disciples were called. He began to speak with them about the mysteries beyond the world and what would take place at the end. Often he did not appear to his disciples as himself, but he was found among them as a child. SCENE 1: Jesus dialogues with his disciples: The prayer of thanksgiving or the eucharist One day he was with his disciples in Judea, and he found them gathered together and seated in pious observance. When he [approached] his disciples, [34] gathered together and seated and offering a prayer of thanksgiving over the bread, [he] laughed. The disciples said to [him], Master, why are you laughing at [our] prayer of thanksgiving? We have done what is right. He answered and said to them, I am not laughing at you.
which no eye of an angel has ever seen,
no thought of the heart has ever comprehended,
and it was never called by any name.
And a luminous cloud appeared there. He said, Let an angel come into being as my attendant. A great angel, the enlightened divine Self-Generated, emerged from the cloud. Because of him, four other angels came into being from another cloud, and they became attendants for the angelic Self-Generated. The Self-Generated said, [48] Let [ ] come into being [ ], and it came into being [ ]. And he [created] the first luminary to reign over him. He said, Let angels come into being to serve [him], and myriads without number came into being. He said, [Let] an enlightened aeon come into being, and he came into being. He created the second luminary [to] reign over him, together with myriads of angels without number, to offer service. That is how he created the rest of the enlightened aeons. He made them reign over them, and he created for them myriads of angels without number, to assist them. ADAMAS AND THE LUMINARIES Adamas was in the first luminous cloud that no angel has ever seen among all those called God. He [49] [ ] that [ ] the image [ ] and after the likeness of [this] angel. He made the incorruptible [generation] of Seth appear [ ] the twelve [ ] the twentyfour [ ]. He made seventy-two luminaries appear in the incorruptible generation, in accordance with the will of the Spirit. The seventy-two luminaries themselves made three hundred sixty luminaries appear in the incorruptible generation, in accordance with the will of the Spirit, that their number should be five for each. The twelve aeons of the twelve luminaries constitute their father, with six heavens for each aeon, so that there are seventy-two heavens for the seventy-two luminaries, and for each [50] [of them five] firmaments, [for a total of] three hundred sixty [firmaments ]. They were given authority and a [great] host of angels [without number], for glory and adoration, [and after that also] virgin spirits, for glory and [adoration] of all the aeons and the heavens and their firmaments. THE COSMOS, CHAOS, AND THE UNDERWORLD The multitude of those immortals is called the cosmos that is, perditionby the Father and the seventy-two luminaries who are with the Self-Generated and his seventytwo aeons. In him the first human appeared with his incorruptible powers. And the aeon that appeared with his generation, the aeon in whom are the cloud of knowledge and the angel, is called [51] El. [ ] aeon [ ] after that [ ] said, Let twelve angels come into being [to] rule over chaos and the [underworld]. And look, from the cloud there appeared an [angel] whose face flashed with fire and whose appearance was defiled with blood. His name was Nebro, which means rebel; others call him Yaldabaoth. Another angel, Saklas, also came from the cloud. So Nebro created six angelsas well as Saklasto be assistants, and these produced twelve angels in the heavens, with each one receiving a portion in the heavens. THE RULERS AND ANGELS The twelve rulers spoke with the twelve angels: Let each of you [52] [ ] and let them [ ] generation [one line lost] angels: The first is [S]eth, who is called Christ. The [second] is Harmathoth, who is [ ]. The [third] is Galila. The fourth is Yobel. The fifth [is] Adonaios. These are the five who ruled over the underworld, and first of all over chaos. THE CREATION OF HUMANITY Then Saklas said to his angels, Let us create a human being after the likeness and after the image. They fashioned Adam and his wife Eve, who is called, in the cloud, Zoe. For by this name all the generations seek the man, and each of them calls the woman by these names. Now, Sakla did not [53] com[mand ] except [ ] the gene[rations ] this [ ]. And the [ruler] said to Adam, You shall live long, with your children. JUDAS ASKS ABOUT THE DESTINY OF ADAM AND HUMANITY Judas said to Jesus, [What] is the long duration of time that the human being will live? Jesus said, Why are you wondering about this, that Adam, with his generation, has lived his span of life in the place where he has received his kingdom, with longevity with his ruler? Judas said to Jesus, Does the human spirit die? Jesus said, This is why God ordered Michael to give the spirits of people to them as a loan, so that they might offer service, but the Great One ordered Gabriel to grant spirits to the great generation with no ruler over itthat is, the spirit and the soul. Therefore, the [rest] of the souls [54] [one line missing]. JESUS DISCUSSES THE DESTRUCTION OF THE WICKED WITH JUDAS AND OTHERS [ ] light [nearly two lines missing] around [ ] let [ ] spirit [that is] within you dwell in this [flesh] among the generations of angels. But God caused knowledge to be [given] to Adam and those with him, so that the kings of chaos and the underworld might not lord it over them. Judas said to Jesus, So what will those generations do? Jesus said, Truly I say to you, for all of them the stars bring matters to completion. When Saklas completes the span of time assigned for him, their first star will appear with the generations, and they will finish what they said they would do. Then they will fornicate in my name and slay their children [55] and they will [ ] and [about six and a half lines missing] my name, and he will [ ] your star over the [thir]teenth aeon. After that Jesus [laughed]. [Judas said], Master, [why are you laughing at us]? [Jesus] answered [and said], I am not laughing [at you] but at the error of the stars, because these six stars wander about with these five combatants, and they all will be destroyed along with their creatures. JESUS SPEAKS OF THOSE WHO ARE BAPTIZED, AND JUDASS BETRAYAL Judas said to Jesus, Look, what will those who have been baptized in your name do? Jesus said, Truly I say [to you], this baptism [56] [ ] my name [about nine lines missing] to me. Truly [I] say to you, Judas, [those who] offer sacrifices to Saklas [ ] God [three lines missing] everything that is evil. But you will exceed all of them. For you will sacrifice the man that clothes me.
Already your horn has been raised,
your wrath has been kindled,
your star has shown brightly,
and your heart has [ ]. [57]
Truly [ ] your last [ ] become [about two and a half lines missing], grieve [about two lines missing] the ruler, since he will be destroyed. And then the image of the great generation of Adam will be exalted, for prior to heaven, earth, and the angels, that generation, which is from the eternal realms, exists. Look, you have been told everything. Lift up your eyes and look at the cloud and the light within it and the stars surrounding it. The star that leads the way is your star. Judas lifted up his eyes and saw the luminous cloud, and he entered it. Those standing on the ground heard a voice coming from the cloud, saying, [58] [ ] great generation [ ] image [ ] [about five lines missing]. CONCLUSION: JUDAS BETRAYS JESUS [ ] Their high priests murmured because [he] had gone into the guest room for his prayer. But some scribes were there watching carefully in order to arrest him during the prayer, for they were afraid of the people, since he was regarded by all as a prophet. They approached Judas and said to him, What are you doing here? You are Jesus disciple. Judas answered them as they wished. And he received some money and handed him over to them. THE GOSPEL OF JUDAS