God Did The Same Thing
That Judas Did
By Jonathan Mitchell

Something To Consider

REALLY? I know, that title is an attention-getter. But this thought came to me when I was reading Rom. 1:24, where I noticed that Paul used the same verb to express God's actions as Matthew did, in Mat. 26:25, 45, 46 and 48 (cf Mk. 14:10ff; Lu. 21-24; Jn. 6:64, 71; et al).

The same verb is used in Rom. 1:24, 26, 28, and in 8:32, to describe God's actions, as was used in those Gospel verses, to describe Judas' actions. Why did the translators not call God's action "betrayal," as they did Judas' actions? A bit of theological bias, perhaps?

The Greek verb is paradidómi. Here is my rendering of Mat. 26:25,

"So Judah (or: Judas) - the one in process of transferring, committing and turning Him in (delivering and handing Him over) - making a discerning response, said, 'I, myself, am not the one who You mean, am I, Rabbi? (or: No way is it I, myself, Teacher!)'"

Here, I gave the renderings: transferring, committing and turning Him in (delivering and handing Him over)."

Let us look at Rom. 1:24,

"Wherefore (or: On which account) God gave (or: hands) them over (or: delivered or transfers them into another's power), within the full passions (or: rushing passionate cravings; added earnest desires, wants and wishes; or: compiled angers and complete wrath) of their hearts, into uncleanness (or: ritual impurity), to be continuously dishonored and shamed - with respect to (or: pertaining to) their bodies - among (or: within) themselves."

Now, obviously, the situations were different, in these two contexts. But does not the common rendering regarding Judas' actions give a slanted nuance that may or may not be warranted? Recall what Jesus told Judas, in Jn. 13:27,

"Therefore Jesus proceeds to say to him, "What you are in process of doing (or: proceeding to do), do more quickly (or: promptly)."

Jesus knew what Judas was in the process of doing, and instructed him to do it more quickly. Now after letting that sink in, let us see where Paul used the same verb, paradidomi in Rom. 8:32,

"Surely (or: Actually; In fact; Certainly), He Who at one point did not spare (or: is not using thrift concerning) His own Son, but further, over [the situation] of us all (or: on behalf of all of us), He at one point transmitted Him (or: commends and commits Him; hands Him along; delivers Him), how will He not also, in grace and joyous favor, freely be constantly and progressively giving all things (or: The Whole) to us, together with Him?"

So Paul instruct us that it was the Father who, in not sparing His own Son,

"transmitted, commends and commits Him; hands Him along; delivers Him."

Judas was the instrument of God. Judas was a part of God's plan of redemption.

Next, let us consider what Paul said, in Gal. 2:20b,

"the Son of God, the One loving me and giving Himself over to another for the sake of me (or: even transmitting Himself, over my [situation and condition]; or: also passing Himself along for me; committing and transferring Himself over me)."

Ah, so Jesus was a part of Judas' actions, and in fact, Paul, here, ignores Judas and, similar to Rom. 8:32, puts Jesus in the driver's seat of this event.

Looking back to the Genesis account, it was God who put the death-fruit tree in the Garden, and then it was God who transferred Adam out of the Garden, into the realm of the Death. We do not normally say that God "betrayed" humanity; rather we say that He "committed" us into this human predicament. And thus, we have the story of the first Adam, and the eschatos (last) Adam (1 Cor. 15:45). You see, it's true: where we went one/One, we went all. We might say that these were/are the Alpha and the Omega of God's creation, and His plan of the ages (Eph. 3:11).

Jonathan

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