An ancient manuscript deciphered by National Geographic "cleanses" Judas Iscariot, who became synonymous with betrayal, and states that he was the closest man to Jesus
The magazine National Geographic, will come out in the May issue with sensational revelations about one of the most slandered people in Christian history - Judas Iscariot, whose name has become an example and wit when they come to express treachery. A film describing the discovery, "The Gospel according to Ish Kiryot", will be broadcast tonight on the National Geographic channel on cable and satellite.
An ancient manuscript from the XNUMXrd or XNUMXth century AD, revealed by National Geographic together with the Kern
From the Museum of Ancient Art and the White Institute for Historical Discoveries, it is apparently the last remnant of the "Gospel according to Yehuda Ish-Kariyot", this passage was omitted from the New Testament.
The manuscript, from the XNUMXrd or XNUMXth century AD, is most likely the last remnant of the Gospel of Yehuda Ishkariot, which was not eventually included in the New Testament. The decoding of the codex, in which National Geographic, the Metzens Foundation for Ancient Art and the White Institute for Historical Discoveries were partners, disproves the image of Judas Iscariot as a traitor and presents him as the person closest to Jesus. According to the text, parts of which will be shown today for the first time to the public at the National Geographic offices in Washington, Judas Iscariot handed Jesus over to the Romans at his express request, which is in complete contrast to what is told in the rest of the New Testament.
The Gospel according to Yehuda Ish Keriot, also known as the "Codex Chakos", the gospel book, is a scroll of about 66 pages, in which the last days of Jesus are told. The content of the scroll contradicts what is written in the other Gospels in the New Testament regarding the involvement of Judas Iscariot in the handing over of Jesus to the Romans in that the Gospel, contrary to others, says that Jesus ordered Judas Iscariot to hand him over to the Romans and thus cleanses Judas Iscariot of the negative association that stuck to him that describes him as a symbol the treachery As far as is known, the scroll was written in Greece, after the death of Jesus, by Gnostic Christians. The book did not enter the New Testament and was confiscated by the church because it expressed views about Jesus and his teachings, which were different from those of the mainstream Christianity.
The story of the extradition of Jesus by Judas Iscariot, was one of the main reasons for the development of anti-Semitism and hatred of Jews throughout history and was the basis for many blood plots as well as the blame of the Jews for the death of Jesus.
Today only one copy of this manuscript exists in the Coptic language. This copy was found in 1978 in a cave in the El-Minya desert in Egypt. National Geographic, the Metzens Foundation and the White Institute have launched an international effort to authenticate the ancient manuscript, which was likely written sometime between the writing of the gospels included in the Christian scriptures and 180 AD. It was found in the 70s of the last century in the desert
Al-Minya in Egypt. After that, the manuscript, which includes 66 pages, was passed on to antiques dealers and traveled from Egypt to Europe and from there to the United States, where it "lay" for 16 years in a safe on Long Island in the state of New York.
In 2000, the manuscript was purchased by Frida Nussberger-Chakos, an antiques dealer living in Zurich, Switzerland. After her attempts to sell the manuscript, which was in a state of disintegration, failed, she gave it in February 2001 to the Metzens Foundation for Ancient Art in Basel, Switzerland for restoration and translation. The manuscript, now known as "Codex Chakos", will be transferred from Egypt and kept in the Coptic Museum in Cairo.
In order to verify and decipher what is written in it, the three bodies that shared in the discovery were helped by advanced technological methods such as carbon dating, ink testing and infrared photography. In addition, the discoverers were assisted by the services of the Swiss researcher Rudolf Casser, one of the greatest experts in the world on the Coptic language, in which the manuscript was written.
The work of translation was no less difficult than finding it. "The manuscript is so fragile that it crumbled at the slightest touch," said Cassar, the manuscript's chief translator. Cassar said that there had never been a manuscript in worse condition.
To compile the manuscript, Kaser recruited Florence Darber, a papyrus conservation expert from Switzerland, and Gregor Wurst, a Coptic expert from Germany. The papyri were placed between glass plates and photographed. With the help of computer programs and careful visual inspection, Darber, Wurst and Casser were able to reassemble more than 80% of the text. This work lasted five years. In February 2006, half a page was discovered in New York with the Gospel number missing. It was photographed, transcribed and included in the English translation.
The manuscript fundamentally contradicts what is said in the canonical Christian texts about Yehuda Ish-Kariyot. The manuscript shows that Yehuda Ish-Kariyot was the only one who understood the true meaning of the teachings of Jesus and acted according to his instruction, when he handed him over to the authorities. The Gospel of Judas Iscariot was confiscated by the church because it expressed views about Jesus and his teachings, which were different from those of the mainstream Christianity.
Judas Iscariot is described as one of the closest people to Jesus. "You will surpass all because you will sacrifice the man who covers me", says Jesus to his disciple. The manuscript shows that, contrary to what is told in the New Testament, Judas Iscariot acted according to Jesus' instruction, when he handed him over to the Romans. Another contradiction between the manuscript and Christianity is the fact that it does not mention either the crucifixion or the resurrection of Jesus.
"This dramatic discovery of an ancient text, which was not included in the Christian scriptures - considered by some to be the most important find found in the last 60 years, enriches our knowledge of the history of the beginning of Christianity and the theological views of that early period. It is appropriate that historians, researchers and theologians continue to examine it. This process requires time and a continuous dialogue, which has only just begun", explains Terry Garcia, one of the National Geographic executives, the importance of the manuscript.
Did Jesus walk on ice?
American scientists believe that Jesus did not perform miracles and walk on water, but stood on some kind of invisible glacier, while he was in the waters of the Sea of Galilee. According to the group of scientists from the USA, it is not possible to tell from a distance whether a person is standing on a glacier, so it appears that he is standing on the surface of the water.
Prof. Doron Nof from the Department of Oceanography at Florida State University said that he discovered that during the period when the miracle occurred, extremely rare weather hit the Sea of Galilee, which made it possible to walk on water even for a short time. In Nof's research, which deals with the combination of water and environmental conditions, he explains that the waters of the Sea of Galilee froze temporarily, and small ice blocks were formed on them that floated on the surface of the water. Jesus stepped on them and amazed the believers.
According to him, the "walking on water incident" took place in the waters of the Sea of Galilee, while the temperatures in the area began to drop. According to them, it is a floating glacier because Lake Kinneret did not freeze, due to the flow of water that came from salty springs that are located along the west coast of the Kinneret in the Tabha area. Tabakha is known in Christianity as the place where Jesus performed the miracle of the loaves and fishes. In this area, many archaeologists have found many artifacts related to Jesus and Christianity.
The new theory of Prof. Nof and the group of scientists with him began to take shape following a study they conducted to test the temperature of the Mediterranean Sea thousands of years ago, using samples of shells and the remains of other animals.
Following the findings of the research, Prof. Nof said: "I leave to others the question of whether the research we conducted really explains the biblical description."
