David, king of Judah and Israel

David, king of Judah and Israel
David is one of the most famous and most endearing characters in the Bible. He is the hero who defeats the giant Goliath, the poet who sings to God the Psalms which today still lift so many spirits. But this glorious and powerful king is also touching in his humanity, his faults and his weaknesses. We see him angry, envious, adulterous …

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Judas, a necessary traitor

The Gospels portray a traitor who gives up Jesus on the Mount of Olives for cash. The disciple, later realising how heinous a crime he had committed, is said to have hanged himself in despair. The legacy has been a heavy one to bear. No Christian thereafter would give their child the accursed name. But can we make a definitive judgment? Over the course of centuries, since the earliest days of Christianity, people have attempted to reveal a different side to the disciple, and to offer a varying interpretation of the events surrounding him. Why did the betrayal take place? Others have even gone so far as to try to rehabilitate Judas. The affair rose to prominence again and mystery deepened in 2006, when a second-century document came to light – the Gospel according to Judas.

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