Comparing Christianity And Gnosticism

Eun Jin Koh

Paul Tchir

MMW 12, Section C11

Writing Assignment 1

27 January 2015

Christianity and Gnosticism

Early Christianity was threat to Roman Empire (Bentley and Ziegler 228). The unique characteristics, such as all human beings are equal, or concept of heaven attracted numbers of poor people in Rome (Bentley and Ziegler 228). Due to the massive popularity, Roman Empire was fearful of losing control and persecuted Christianity (Bentley and Ziegler 229). David Frankfurter’s article, “An Historian’s View of the ‘Gospel of Judas’,” gives an emphasis the various accounts of Jesus’ relationship with individual disciples (Frankfurter 174). The Gospel of Judas was written in Coptic manuscript and developed in Gnosticism, “which is a belief of

Gnosticism has different belief from orthodox Christianity, “which of the division of the material and spiritual worlds” (Chang). Gospel of Judas implies Gnosticism perspective, and highly emphasizes on the relationship between Judas and Jesus. Unlike the Gospel of Matthew and John, Gospel of Judas has significantly contrasting view point of Judas. Comparing to Gospel of Matthew, Judas was such a betrayer and Iscariot who sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver (New Oxford Bible, Matthew 27:6). However, according to the Gospel of Judas, it is highly suggested that Judas was not only the most favorite disciple, but also the most trusted one (“Gospel of Judas”, 126). The Gospel further states that it was from Jesus command to Judas to hand him over to the Romans (“Gospel of Judas”, 129). It highlights that how Judas was obedience to Jesus order, and fulfills Jesus plan (“Gospel of Judas”,

In the beginning of the Matthew, there is foreshadowing of betrayal by saying, “the one who betrayed him”, (New Oxford Bible, Matthew 10:4). Matthew Gospel clearly demonstrates the motive for Judas to become betrayer by showing him receiving thirty pieces of silver coins, the ‘bloody money’ (New Oxford Bible, Matthew 27:6). At the end, Judas commit suicide by hanging himself, when he heard about Jesus condemned to death, (New Oxford Bible, Matthew 27:5). However, in the Gospel of Judas, it does not mention about exact amount of money. It says, “He received some money and handed him over to them”, (“Gospel of Judas” 130). The Gospel of Judas highly supports how Judas finally fulfilled the command from Jesus, and learned about the “mysteries of Kingdom”, (“Gospel of Judas”,