Judas: Einer der nachosterlichen Zwolf

Siegfried Bergler's thesis suggests that the disciples and the twelve designate two different groups: the former were Jesus' disciples, while the fixed lists of twelve names testify to a post-Easter body/presbytery of the early Jerusalem community. Judas, who exercised a prominent function in the church, may have renounced the belief in Jesus' divine origin or messianship, turned back to Judaism, and contributed to the dissolution of the Twelve. He was demonized, declared dead, and finally projected back into the Life of Jesus as his betrayer, correctly: deliverer.

Format: Hardback
Length: 1179 pages
Publication date: 11 July 2022
Publisher: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co KG

Judas is portrayed in all four Gospels as one of the twelve, distinct from the other disciples. According to Siegfried Bergler's thesis, the disciples and the twelve represent two distinct groups: the former, with varying numbers, were followers of Jesus, while the fixed lists of twelve names signify a post-Easter body or presbytery within the early Jerusalem community. This group, influenced by a Christophany, believed itself to represent eschatological Israel. Former disciples of Jesus, including Judas, were part of this congregation. Consequently, the title "Judas and the post-Easter Twelve" emerged. In addition to exegesis of all Judas appearances, the monograph delves into all twelve passages in the New Testament, beginning with 1 Corinthians 15:5 (where Judas appears among the twelve) to the discovery of the logia source (where he sits on twelve thrones, as depicted in Matthew 19:28 and Luke 22:30) and culminating in Acts 21 (where he is mentioned as one of the twelve cornerstones). Furthermore, the book offers a critical appraisal of the ambivalent image of Judas in the Gnostic Gospel of Judas. Judas, who held a prominent position in the church (as indicated in Acts 1:20, with his supervisory office), may have renounced his belief in Jesus' divine origin or messianic role, reverted to Judaism (as suggested in John 6:64, 66, 71), and thus played a part in the dissolution of the Twelve. He was demonized, declared dead (as seen in the three different deaths of the ungodly: Matthew 27, Acts 1, and Papias), and ultimately reintegrated into the Life of Jesus as his betrayer, albeit correctly recognized as the deliverer.

Dimension: 235 x 160 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783525560549