Gospel of Matthias Gospel of Matthias The Gospel of Matthias is a lost text from the New Testament apocrypha, ascribed to Matthias, the apostle chosen by lots to replace Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:15-26). The content has been surmised from various descriptions of it in ancient works by church fathers (see below). There is too little evidence to decide whether a Traditions of Matthias is the same work, according to J.B. Matthews, "The Anchor Bible Dictionary" (IV:644). Though the work is lost, Clement of Alexandria records a sentence urging asceticism that the Nicolaitanes ascribe to Matthias: "we must combat our flesh, set no value
Judas Iscariot אִסְכַּרְיוּתָא, "Iskarioutha", "chokiness" or "constriction." This might indicate that the epithet was applied posthumously by the remaining disciples, but Joan E. Taylor has argued that it was a descriptive name given to Judas by Jesus, since other disciples such as Simon Peter/Cephas ("Kephas" "rock") were also given such names. One of the best-attested and most reliable statements made by Jesus in the gospels comes from the Gospel of Matthew , in which Jesus tells his apostles: "in the new world, when the Son of Man shall sit on his glorious throne, you will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the