“Although the Gospel of Judas does not encourage martyrdom, ironically—or better, paradoxically—it portrays Judas himself as the first martyr. This gospel reveals that when Judas hands Jesus over, he seals his own fate. But he knows, too, that when the other disciples stone him, they kill only his mortal self. His spirit-filled soul has already found its home in the light world above. Although Christians may suffer and die when they oppose the powers of evil, the hope Christ brings will sustain them.” JesusGospelMartyrdomJudasGnosticismJudas IscariotEarly ChristianityGospel Of Judas Book:Reading Judas: The Gospel of Judas and the Shaping of Christianity Source: Reading Judas: The Gospel of Judas and the Shaping of Christianity
“The story of the betrayal of Jesus by Judas gave a moral and religious rationale to anti-Jewish sentiment, and that's what made it persistent and vicious.” MadeStoriesJesusReligiousMoralBetrayalMade ItSentimentsViciousPersistentJudasRationale Author:Elaine Pagels
“Jesus Christ rose from the grave.' With this proclamation, the Christian church began. This may be the fundamental element of Christian faith; certainly it is the most radical.” MayChristianJesusChristChurchElementsJesus ChristFundamentalsRoseGravesRadicalChristian FaithProclamationChristian Church Book:The Gnostic Gospels Source: The Gnostic Gospels
“Although the gospels of the New Testament-- like those discovered at Nag Hammadi-- are attributed to Jesus' followers, no one knows who actually wrote any of them.” KnowsJesusFollowersTestamentNew TestamentJesus Followers Author:Elaine Pagels
