Judas is the
Greek form of Judah.[1] Thus it was a common name in Judea. I discussed the name confusion with James,
son of Alphaeus. Back at the time the
Bible was written, no one wanted to be confused with Judas Iscariot! Thus this apostle called Judas in John 14:22,
which was probably his common name, is listed in the apostle lists as his
formal name Thaddaeus or as Jude.
Clement of
Alexandria, who lived from approximately 153 A.D. to 217 A.D., said the book of
Jude, the last book before Revelation, was written by Jude the “brother” of
Jesus.[2] This authorship is widely accepted among
scholars, yet Clement could have been wrong, and the author could have been
this Jude who was one of the Twelve.
John
14:22 “Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot)
said, ‘But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the
world?’” (NIV).
This is the
sole Bible verse where Jude speaks.
Jude
ministered in Armenia![3] By ministering in this country, and probably
Mesopotamia, Jude himself showed Jesus to the world!!
My big find
in this study has been the ancient apostle list loosely attributed to Hippolytus,
yet which is questioned. In reading Dr.
McBirnie’s classic book in June of 2003, he never mentions it, and apparently did not know about it as is shown in the city of Berytus story below. It is not surprising that he may not have known about it, because back in the 1960’s and 1970’s, an electronic copy as we have today was not available. I can do word searches! (The bibliography at the end of McBirnie's book is
incredible, and the bibliography includes the 10 volume Ante-Nicene Fathers which I think is critical.[4])
But Dr. McBirnie stated he read in a Bible Encyclopedia published by Wm. B. Eerdmans from 1960 that Beirut and Egypt were burial places for Jude; there could be more than one site if bones were separated. But in a visit to Lebanon in 1971, Dr. McBirnie talked with Christians in Beirut in both the Roman Catholic and the Syrian Orthodox Church, and they heard nothing about this.[5] Yet ancient Berytus, which is modern day Beirut, is exactly where the questioned Hippolytus list states Jude died and was buried.[6] Interesting. That questioned Hippolytus text seems to have some corruption. For example, the Berytus statement could be incorrect, and maybe that is where a 1960 Bible encyclopedia got some information. However, there are a number of things in that ancient text which check out with prime sources. I consider it an important document, and I am thankful to God I unearthed it after persevering with a word search into that fifth volume one night. I even think Eusebius had access to that writing!!
I have spent much time doing this research, God has blessed it, and I give Him the glory.
But Dr. McBirnie stated he read in a Bible Encyclopedia published by Wm. B. Eerdmans from 1960 that Beirut and Egypt were burial places for Jude; there could be more than one site if bones were separated. But in a visit to Lebanon in 1971, Dr. McBirnie talked with Christians in Beirut in both the Roman Catholic and the Syrian Orthodox Church, and they heard nothing about this.[5] Yet ancient Berytus, which is modern day Beirut, is exactly where the questioned Hippolytus list states Jude died and was buried.[6] Interesting. That questioned Hippolytus text seems to have some corruption. For example, the Berytus statement could be incorrect, and maybe that is where a 1960 Bible encyclopedia got some information. However, there are a number of things in that ancient text which check out with prime sources. I consider it an important document, and I am thankful to God I unearthed it after persevering with a word search into that fifth volume one night. I even think Eusebius had access to that writing!!
I have spent much time doing this research, God has blessed it, and I give Him the glory.
Jude’s
martyrdom is not debated, since his death preceded Bartholomew who then came to
Armenia, or who was there when he died. Yet
how Thaddaeus was killed is not clear.
The strong
tradition is he was martyred in Armenia, and that he had a shrine in Artaz
(Macoo), which was in ancient southeast Armenia.[7]
Hunter Irvine
When I was a
youth minister in Wheat Ridge, Colorado from 1998-2000, I had only a part-time
salary, and paying bills was a challenge.
One day I bought this cassette tape for about $2 from the bargain
bin at a Christian bookstore. This song
is a little oversimplified; I have had some financially hard times which were so hard that I cried to God. And I think He honored me sincerely turning to Him for help. Yet the song if fun, God used it to encourage
me at that time, and surely one of the apostles preferred country music, so I
share the link here. Lisa Daggs:
[1] William McBirnie, The Search for the Twelve Apostles
(Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 1973), 195.
[2] Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, eds., The Ante-Nicene
Fathers: The Writings of the Fathers Down to A.D. 325 (1867; digital repr.,
Albany, Oregon: SAGE Software, 1996), 2:1207.
[3] William McBirnie, The Search for the Twelve Apostles
(Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 1973), 199.
[4] Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, eds., The Ante-Nicene
Fathers: The Writings of the Fathers Down to A.D. 325 (1867; digital repr.,
Albany, Oregon: SAGE Software, 1996).
[5] William McBirnie, The Search for the Twelve Apostles
(Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 1973), 202-203.
[6] Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, eds., The Ante-Nicene
Fathers: The Writings of the Fathers Down to A.D. 325 (1867; digital repr.,
Albany, Oregon: SAGE Software, 1996), 5:535.
[7] William McBirnie, The Search for the Twelve Apostles
(Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 1973), 200.
(Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 1973), 195.
[2] Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, eds., The Ante-Nicene
Fathers: The Writings of the Fathers Down to A.D. 325 (1867; digital repr.,
Albany, Oregon: SAGE Software, 1996), 2:1207.
[3] William McBirnie, The Search for the Twelve Apostles
(Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 1973), 199.
[4] Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, eds., The Ante-Nicene
Fathers: The Writings of the Fathers Down to A.D. 325 (1867; digital repr.,
Albany, Oregon: SAGE Software, 1996).
[5] William McBirnie, The Search for the Twelve Apostles
(Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 1973), 202-203.
[6] Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, eds., The Ante-Nicene
Fathers: The Writings of the Fathers Down to A.D. 325 (1867; digital repr.,
Albany, Oregon: SAGE Software, 1996), 5:535.
[7] William McBirnie, The Search for the Twelve Apostles
(Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 1973), 200.
