Judas is an infamous figure in Christian tradition, known for betraying Jesus Christ to the authorities which led to Jesus’ crucifixion. He was one of the original twelve disciples of Jesus and is mentioned in all four canonical gospels of the New Testament. While Judas’ full name was Judas Iscariot, he is also referred to by several nicknames and epithets throughout the Bible and later Christian writings. These nicknames reflect the negative views of Judas held by early Christians due to his betrayal of Jesus. In this article, we will examine the meaning and origins of the various nicknames used for Judas Iscariot to understand how his legacy has been shaped over time.
Judas the Betrayer
The most common nickname used for Judas is “Judas the Betrayer.” This epithet is a direct reference to his betrayal of Jesus Christ. Judas arranged to hand over Jesus to the authorities in exchange for 30 pieces of silver, as described in Matthew 26:14-16:
Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver.
By accepting payment to reveal Jesus’ location, resulting in his arrest and crucifixion, Judas clearly betrayed Jesus in a time of need. For this reason, Judas is almost universally referred to as “the Betrayer” throughout the New Testament and later Christian texts. For example, in John 6:71, John 13:2, John 13:26, John 18:2, and Acts 1:16. His betrayal of Jesus for selfish reasons is seen as the utmost act of deceit and treachery.
Judas the Thief
Another common epithet used for Judas is “Judas the Thief.” There are a few possible origins for this nickname:
- According to John 12:6, Judas was the disciple who was in charge of the money bag for Jesus’ ministry, and he often stole from it: “He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.”
- Judas was paid 30 pieces of silver to betray Jesus, “blood money” that he took greedily.
- It is traditionally believed that Judas stole the bread from Jesus at the Last Supper when Jesus identified his future betrayer, as depicted in famous works like Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper painting.
Overall, in taking bribe money and perhaps the bread from Jesus, Judas showed behaviors that would characterize him as a thief among the disciples.
Judas the Traitor
“Traitor” is another common substitute for “betrayer” when referring to Judas Iscariot. His turn against Jesus by revealing his location directly to the authorities in Jerusalem could be seen as traitorous act against his teacher. Luke 6:16 directly labels Judas as “Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.” And in Acts 7:52, Stephen condemns the Pharisees by saying “Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him.” Here Stephen uses the same Greek root to describe Judas’ betrayal of Jesus as an act of treachery. By helping Jesus’ enemies arrest him, Judas proved himself a traitor among the disciples.
Judas the Double-Crosser
Similar to being called a traitor, Judas is sometimes referred to as a “double-crosser” for the way he turned Jesus over to the Jewish authorities. This epithet evokes the image of Judas figuratively stabbing Jesus in the back by working against him as an enemy on the inside. Even though Judas was chosen as one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, he ultimately betrayed that position and association by colluding with the chief priests to arrest Jesus secretly after receiving payment, as described in Mark 14:10-11:
Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
Judas pretended to still be a faithful follower of Jesus right up until the end, then double-crossed him for his own gain. The “double-crosser” epithet emphasizes this two-faced nature.
Judas the Hypocrite
Related to the idea of being a double-crosser, Judas is also sometimes referred to as “Judas the Hypocrite” in later Christian texts like the 2nd century text Gospel of Nicodemus. This nickname stems from Judas pretending to still be loyal to Jesus while actively working against him in secret. Matthew 23:13-15 describes the hypocrisy of the Pharisees:
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.”
In a similar manner, Judas put on an outward appearance of being Jesus’ faithful disciple but was working to undermine him in exchange for money. His hypocrisy led directly to Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion, making him a notorious hypocrite figure in Christian tradition.
Judas the Son of Perdition/Destruction
The most elaborate epithet used for Judas Iscariot is “son of perdition” or “son of destruction.” This full phrase is used to refer to him only once, in John 17:12 during Jesus’ prayer at the Last Supper:
While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
Here, Jesus alludes to Judas’ future betrayal, saying he is doomed for destruction. The title “son of perdition/destruction” emphasizes this fate and can also mean someone who is headed towards eternal damnation or hell, forecasting the dire spiritual consequences of Judas’ betrayal. The full phrase evokes an image of Judas as an agent of doom, damnation, and destruction because of his treacherous actions.
Conclusion
In summary, Judas Iscariot has been memorialized with several negative epithets and nicknames throughout Christian history:
- Judas the Betrayer
- Judas the Thief
- Judas the Traitor
- Judas the Double-Crosser
- Judas the Hypocrite
- Judas the Son of Perdition/Destruction
These names reflect his lasting reputation as the disciple who betrayed Jesus Christ for selfish motives, precipitating Jesus’ arrest, trial, and crucifixion. The varied nicknames provide nuance into different aspects of Judas’ betrayal and the ways it has been interpreted, from greed and hypocrisy to treachery and the foreshadowing of doom. Juxtaposed with his former position as one of Jesus’ trusted twelve disciples, these epithets encapsulate why Judas Iscariot is one of the most notoriously reviled figures in the New Testament and all of Christian tradition.