John Shelby Spong - The Story of Judas Iscariot

In one of his boldest lectures yet, Bishop John Shelby Spong asserts that Judas Iscariot, the man who biblically betrayed Jesus Christ, never actually walked the earth. He's merely a literary creation, who, according to Spong, was added to the Bible as a device. For his proof, Spong turns to Jewish history, touching on the Roman Empire and previous biblical stories with striking similarities to Judas'. This lecture was Spong's fourth of five in a week titled "Re-claiming the Bible in a Non-Religious World."
Read Mary Desmond's recap for The Chautauquan Daily here: chqny.in/QBjKnT.

[@deysicatalinaramirez5428]

Thank you brother, for giving a new insight about how to see our faith and walk as christians.

[@Heresjonnyagain]

The reference to Mathias in the book of Acts makes it quite clear that this takes place after the resurrection, prior to the Pentecost. It also does not seem to have any mention elsewhere in the NT.
In any case, Paul's apparent omission of the story of Juda(s) is only John Spong's opening arguments. Please listen to the whole discourse. I find the unoriginal nature of the story far more compelling as to its lack of historicity.

[@cwhicker12]

Your argument is weak at best and gives no reason to assume that Judas Iscariot is a contrived character. Judas Iscariot wasn't Paul's prime topic, but was merely mentioned as a frame of reference - thus, he would naturally exclude details about Iscariot's involvement in the "handing over" of Jesus. Jesus appearing to the "12" after his death does not mean it was the original 12, since the scripture makes clear that Mathias was brought into that quorum of apostles to replace Judas Iscariot.