Many people confuse Judas Iscariot with St. Jude Thaddeus, but they are two completely different people. Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. He is most known for his betrayal of Jesus to the authorities, leading to Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion.
St. Jude Thaddeus was also one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. He is the patron saint of lost causes and is often invoked by people who are struggling with difficult situations.
In this article, we will see why Judas Iscariot is not a saint, and we will also look at the life of St. Jude Thaddeus to see why he is considered a saint.
A Short Version of Judas Iscariot’s Life.
Judas Iscariot was born in the town of Kerioth in Judea. Not much is known about his early life. He was probably in his twenties when he met Jesus and became one of his disciples.
Judas played a key role in the events leading up to Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion. According to the Gospel of Matthew, Judas went to the chief priests and agreed to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.
On the night of Jesus’ arrest, Judas led the authorities to Jesus by kissing Him. Jesus was then arrested and brought to trial.
Judas Iscariot later regretted his betrayal of Jesus and tried to return the thirty pieces of silver, but the chief priests refused to accept them. Judas then threw the money into the temple and went out and hanged himself.
According to Acts 1:21-28, Judas went to Hell when he died.
Why Judas Iscariot Is Not A Saint?
Since Judas betrayed and led to the arrest of Jesus, he is not considered a saint. In addition, he committed suicide, which is considered a grave sin by the Orthodox Church.
Also, according to the Orthodox Church, a person must have lived a Holy life and must have been officially recognized as a saint by the Church to be considered a saint. Judas Iscariot did not meet either of these criteria.
So, even though Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, he is not a saint nor is he venerated by the Orthodox or the Catholic Church.
The Short Story of Saint Jude Thaddeus.
Saint Jude is said to be born in a Jewish family in Paneas, which was a town in Galilee, in present-day Northern Israel.
We know that he knew Greek and Aramaic, which were the most common languages in that area.
Jude was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. After the Ascension of Jesus, he preached the Gospel in Judea, Samaria, and Idumaea.
It is believed that he was a relative of Jesus Christ because his mother (Mary) was referred to as a cousin of Jesus’s mother (Virgin Mary).
We know that after he preached the Gospel, he went to Mesopotamia and became the leader of the Church of the East that Saint Thomas had founded there.
He is said to have been martyred in Persia or Syria around 65 A.D. In paintings and mosaics, he is often shown holding an axe or a club, which symbolizes the manner of his martyrdom.
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Differences Between Judas Iscariot And St. Jude Thaddeus.
Now that you know a little bit about the lives of Judas Iscariot and St. Jude Thaddeus, let’s look at some of the key differences between them.
1. Jude Became a Saint After His Death.
As we mentioned before, a person must have lived a Holy life and must have been officially recognized as a saint by the Church to be considered a saint. Judas Iscariot did not meet either of these criteria, which is why he is not considered a saint.
On the other hand, St. Jude Thaddeus was recognized as a saint by the Church soon after his death.
2. Judas Iscariot Betrayed Jesus Christ.
One of the most famous things about Judas Iscariot is that he betrayed Jesus Christ. He was paid 30 pieces of silver to lead the Roman soldiers to Jesus so that they could arrest him.
3. St. Jude Thaddeus Devoted His Life to Spreading the Gospel.
In contrast to Judas Iscariot, St. Jude Thaddeus devoted his life to spreading the gospel. He was one of the original twelve apostles of Jesus Christ and he traveled throughout the world to spread the good news about Jesus.
4. Judas Iscariot Committed Suicide While St. Jude Thaddeus Was Killed.
Another key difference between Judas Iscariot and St. Jude Thaddeus is the way they died. Judas Iscariot committed suicide after he betrayed Jesus Christ. He was so filled with remorse for what he had done that he hanged himself.
St. Jude Thaddeus, on the other hand, was killed for his beliefs. He was martyred for his faith in Jesus Christ and he died a martyr’s death.
5. St. Jude Has A Feast Day While Judas Does Not.
Finally, another key difference between Judas Iscariot and St. Jude Thaddeus is that St. Jude has a feast day while Judas does not. The Church celebrates the feast day of St. Jude Thaddeus on June 19th.
Bible Verses About Judas
| Bible Verse | Explanation |
| John 22:47-53 speaks about Judas Iscariot betraying Jesus. | After visiting the Mount of Olives, Jesus is betrayed by Judas with a kiss. An act of respect and love. |
| Matthew 26:23-25 tells us that Jesus knew about Judas’ betrayal. | This Bible verse shows Judas’ infamous betrayal of Jesus at the Last Supper. While Christ predicted this, it does not cancel Judas’ responsibility. God foresees but does not cause the evil actions of humans. |
| Matthew 26:14-26 talks about Judas willingly abandoning Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. | The verse tells us that Judas sought to betray Jesus on his own initiative. The motives have been debated but most likely greed was the driving factor. |
| Matthew 27: 3-5 speaks about Judas’ suicide. | Judas is remorseful for his actions but does not repent. In his despair, he commits suicide. This is not a sign of repentance but of being self-absorbed. |
| John 12:2-6 tells that Judas was the one who bemoaned that a costly ointment had been poured on Jesus. | The Gospel of John reveals Judas’ true character while other disciples said the same thing, Judas spoke from greed. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is St. Jude The Same As Judas Iscariot?
No, St. Jude Thaddeus was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ and should not be confused with Judas Iscariot. Judas Iscariot was the apostle who betrayed Jesus.
Is Judas In Hell?
The Bible isn’t clear on this point, as it does not explicitly say what happened to Judas Iscariot after his death. Some theologians believe that he is in Hell for his sin of betrayal, while others think that since he repented and returned the money, he may have been forgiven. As Orthodox Christians, we leave this question to God’s mercy. All we know is that Judas was a sinner who fell short of the glory of God and deserves our prayers.
What is the Gospel of Judas?
The Gospel of Judas is an ancient text that tells the story of Judas Iscariot. It claims that he was given special knowledge by Jesus and that he wasn’t really a traitor. However, this text is not accepted as canonical by the Catholic or Orthodox Church. It is considered to be a Gnostic text.
Final Thoughts
Judas Iscariot is not a saint, but he is an interesting figure in the Bible. His story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of greed and betrayal. Judas was a man who had everything, but his greed led him to betray Jesus Christ, the one person who could have saved him.
He is a reminder that no one is above temptation, and that even the most trusted people can turn against you. Judas is a tragic figure, but his story can teach us a lot about the human condition.
We hope you have found this article helpful. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Thank you for reading!
Charalampos
Charalampos is an Orthodox Christian who wants to help others learn about Christianity. His main goal is to help people understand the Bible and how to apply its teachings in their everyday lives. He also enjoys spending time with his family, playing sports, and hiking.
Connecting with God is essential to praying effectively and receiving answers. Our FREE cheat sheet will help you build a strong relationship with God and create an effective prayer life.
