From: leet@ims.com (Lee Thomas)
Subject: Re: What did Judas betray?
Organization: Integrated Measurement Systems, Inc.
	<GERRY.92Sep24103141@onion.cmu.edu> <5637@tuegate.tue.nl>
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 18:01:39 GMT

>>>>> On 25 Sep 92 10:43:12 GMT, wsadjw@rw6.urc.tue.nl (Jan Willem Nienhuys) said:

Jan> In article <GERRY.92Sep24103141@onion.cmu.edu> gerry@cmu.edu (Gerry Roston) writes:

Jan> Here's an old theory about Judas, which hasn't been raised yet, so
Jan> I'll raise it.

Jan> Judas was an ardent believer. He noticed that Jesus was too pacifist
Jan> for his taste.  He decided to provoke him.  Judas expected that Jesus
Jan> would show his true power on the moment of his attempted arrest. That's
Jan> why he wanted to be there and even, on the moment supreme, show his
Jan> loyalty (by the greeting kiss).  The plan misfired.  No wonder Judas
Jan> was very upset afterwards.  Later on, the Gospels cast him in a more
Jan> evil light. 

About all we can do with respect to Judas's motivation is speculate,
since there isn't a lot of detail about him.  Matthew's gospel says
that Judas "repented" and said "... I have betrayed innocent blood."
I personally think that you're partly right, but Judas's primary
motivation was personal gain (rather like being Jim Bakker's chief
accountant); he could rip off the chief priests for a bundle, and then
turn around and be made Secretary of the Treasury under Jesus's
kingdom.  

Jan> If you're more vicious, you might try to argue that Jesus was actually
Jan> in on some kind of plot like this, or at least some disciples (that was
Jan> why they were armed).  It wouldn't be the first time that a charismatic
Jan> leader would think he would receive the full power in dire need, and also
Jan> not the last time.  Maybe the plot was to start an uprising on the 
Jan> occasion of the attempted arrest, and it misfired because the Sanhedrin
Jan> had sent a much larger gang than was expected.  Of course there's not much
Jan> indication for any of this.

Which is why it's not taught.  Besides, if you read John's version of
the arrest (and I recommend that you do :-), you'll see that Jesus
volunteered.  So, now the theory has to account for some *later*
miraculous deliverance, along the lines of the _Passover Plot_, or
perhaps some late-night uprising during the trials ...

Jan> I doubt that the parsimonious explanation above won't be taught
Jan> in Sunday school, because of the implication that the Gospels
Jan> might not 100% historically accurate.

My Sunday School class (I teach adults) specializes in parsimonious
explanations, but only those that can withstand scrutiny.  The theory
about Judas may be partly true, but the idea that Jesus engineered a
failed sedition attempt just won't hold up.
--
Lee Thomas,  leet@ims.com      | "Then Judas, who had betrayed him, when he saw
Integrated Measurement Systems |  that he was condemned, repented, and brought
9525 SW Gemini Dr.             |  again the thirty pieces of silver to the 
Beaverton, Or 97005            |  chief priests and the elders,"
(503) 626-7117, ext. 1558      |  - Matthew 27:3                         THUMP!
Organization: Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA