Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Solo · 03-07-2007, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean Anderson

Now the first part of the name - Judas - is obviously a double-meaning. It is clearly a Hellenization of "Judah" (as can be seen in Matthew 1:2), the name of the son of Jacob who (according to the story) gave his name to both the Kingdom of Judah and to Judaism itself. As such, although this would have been a common name, it also has the obvious double meaning of "Jew" - and the Judas character can be seen as symbolic of "the Jews" betraying Jesus.

"Iscariot" is more problematic, though.

Most sources I have seen say that Iscariotes is a translation of "of Kerioth" - a town a few miles outside Hebron that is mentioned in Joshua 15:25 in the lists of places conquered by Joshua's armies.
.....

The fragmentary Gospel of Peter (cca. 70-105 CE) knows nothing of Judas' treachery.

[58] Now it was the final day of the Unleavened Bread; and many went out returning to their home since the feast was over. [59] But we twelve disciples of the Lord were weeping and sorrowful; and each one, sorrowful because of what had come to pass, departed to his home. [60] But I, Simon Peter, and my brother Andrew, having taken our nets, went off to the sea. And there was with us Levi of Alphaeus whom the Lord ...

Yet, it is likely that the tale originated within the Galilean group of disciples, which had a dislike of, and rivalry with, the Jews of the South (i.e. Judaeans). See Schonfield' Passover Plot (or via: amazon.co.uk) for more on the often overlooked item in the formation of the anti-Jewish mantra of the later church.

Jiri

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