Thaddaeus (Jude), an apostle of Jesus

   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, though the authorship is questioned.

   Dr. McBirnie did not mention it.  It is not surprising that he may not have seen that in the Ante-Nicene Fathers.  Back in the 1960’s and 1970’s, an electronic copy of the ten volume Ante-Nicene Fathers was not available.  Now I can do word searches!  I do note research work by Dr. McBirnie was incredible, as his bibliographies display.

   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.[4]  Yet ancient Berytus, which is modern day Beirut, is exactly where the questioned Hippolytus list states Jude died and was buried.[5]  Interesting.

   That questioned Hippolytus text could have some corruption.  Thus the Berytus statement could be incorrect.  In fact, maybe that Hippolytus text is where a 1960 Bible encyclopedia got some information.

   Yet there are a number of things in that ancient text which check out with primary sources.  I think it is legit.  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 add I think Eusebius had access to that writing!  That supports the document not being a late addition.

   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.[6]

Hunter Irvine

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[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] William McBirnie, The Search for the Twelve Apostles
(Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 1973), 202-203.
[5] 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.
[6] William McBirnie, The Search for the Twelve Apostles
(Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 1973), 200.