Colbert: “What the hell is the Gospel of Judas?”
Originally premiered 4/17/07. For those who don’t know, you can read an English translation of the Gospel of Judas on the National Geographic website. You can also see their Coptic transcription. April DeConick suggests that the National Geographic translation has errors and that Judas is actually “as evil as ever” in this Gospel of Judas. You can find comments from Jim Davila of PaleoJudaica about this. Dr. DeConick is working on getting a book published on what the Gospel of Judas really says. Maybe Stephen Colbert will have her on the show!
As you saw, Pagels mentions Irenaeus (that “chatty Cathy” in Colbert’s words) in this interview. I am interested to see whether Dr. DeConick interacts with Irenaeus’ mention of the Gospel of Judas in his Against the Heresies. Here is an English translation of the brief reference (you can find the surrounding context here):
They declare that Judas the traitor was thoroughly acquainted with these things, and that he alone, knowing the truth as no others did, accomplished the mystery of the betrayal; by him all things, both earthly and heavenly, were thus thrown into confusion. They produce a fictitious history of this kind, which they style the Gospel of Judas.
I could be wrong, but it seems that this quotation indicates that Irenaeus thought something like Pagels and King are advocating in regards to the message of the Gospel of Judas. Would Dr. DeConick suggest that scholars working on the Gospel of Judas are too quick to accept Irenaeus’ understanding of its message (if not his judgment of it as heresy) and let it influence their translation? Or perhaps I’m reading too much into things.
Also of interest: you can also find Bart Ehrman’s interviews on The Colbert Report (aired 06/20/06) and The Daily Show (aired 03/14/06) on his book Misquoting Jesus. Stephen Prothero, Chair of the Department of Religion at BU, was recently interviewed on The Daily Show (03/19/07). At a more popular level, The Colbert Report has interviewed Tony Campolo (02/27/06) and The Daily Show has interviewed Jim Wallis (01/31/05). I think it’s great when religion is talked about on these shows. Not only do Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert make complicated subjects more accessible, but they (usually) do so in an intelligent way. And it’s funny.
Wallis and Campolo came prepared. On the other hand, Bart Ehrmann had clearly never seen the show and came on prepared for a serious interview and, when he encountered Colbert’s over-the-top pseudo-rightwing persona, stared like a deer caught in the headlights. It was sad.
Patrick,
Check out a question I posted on this on my blog earlier today – we were on the same wavelength.
forbiddengospels.blogspot.com
It is really Pseudo-Tertullian who suggests Judas was a hero. Irenaeus reads ambigiously I think. He says that Judas was the only one who knew anything and his betrayal threw the cosmos into chaos.
Regarding your statement:
“Would Dr. DeConick suggest that scholars working on the Gospel of Judas are too quick to accept Irenaeus’ understanding of its message (if not his judgment of it as heresy) and let it influence their translation? Or perhaps I’m reading too much into things.”
I don’t think you are reading into things. I suspect that this may be what happened.
It’s good to know that I wasn’t off base, Dr. DeConick. I read your post before seeing your comment here and appreciated it. I would recommend it, as well as your most recent post on the need for the release of photographs of the GoJ, to other readers.
I was not yet familiar with the Pseudo-Tertullian reference. After some digging, I think I found it here. I don’t think I’m seeing a direct reference to the text of the Gospel of Judas, but a reference to those who belonged to this Judas-community (perhaps the author is informed by the “Gospel of Judas”?). Let me know if there is another reference out there that is more specific.
Michael, I agree. If you go on these shows (especially Colbert), you have to be prepared with a good sense of humor and the willingness to get into a silly verbal combat just for the fun of it. I should note that Ehrman did do better on The Daily Show than on Colbert.