posted 04-15-2006 08:07 PM            

It may be a little off-topic, but I was more than a little surprised at the headlines the other week about the release of the long-lost Gospel of Judas. I read the English translation of the Coptic manuscript, but I found the language of the gospel to be a little heavy on mysticism, compared to the books of the Canon. Nonetheless, it does raise some interesting ideas and speculations.

This is hardly the place to get into a theological-philosophical exchange, but it had always perplexed me just how much money Judas accepted for the betrayal of Jesus. Most sources agree that the 30 pieces of silver were Tyrian shekels.

        Tyrian Shekel

This particular example was minted about 90 B.C. The obverse displays the profile of the Phoenician god Melqarth with a laurel wreath and lion's skin. The reverse displays an eagle, and bears the phrase
TYPOYIEPAΣ KAIAΣYΛOY
(translated "Of Tyre, the holy and inviolable")

Interestingly enough, one source says that while images of gods were forbidden at the Jerusalem Temple, for some reason the Tyrian shekel with the image of Melqarth was commonly used there as currency.

But how much were 30 of these shekels worth in (approx.) 32 A.D.? In Chapter 21, Verse 32, the Book of Exodus rules that the owner of an ox must pay that amount to the master of any slave, male or female, that is gored by the ox.

But the events of Exodus date to somewhere between the 15th and 13th centuries B.C. Is it safe to assume that 30 shekels was worth roughly the same between that time and the Crucifixion? Must we account for inflation? ...Just kidding.

To clarify things, it would be nice if I could find a contemporaneous reference in the New Testament which cites the cost of, say, a 2-pound fish or a quart of dates. It's unfortunate that the Big Mac Index is useless in this instance.

Some Informative Links:

• Judas' 30 Pieces of Silver
• Judas Iscariot
• Bible History: Coins

posted 04-18-2006 07:57 PM            

(Thanks for the compliment, feniangirl)

posted 04-18-2006 10:02 PM            

To try and evaluate purchasing power parity is to disregard (and perhaps poke fun at) the significance. It suffices to realize it's a paltry sum, then as now. Of course, were you to offer for sale those very pieces (with provenance), they would likely fetch a tidy sum today.

I have presented both extremes, as an example of the meaninglessness of this sort of speculation. It is unlikely any such coins ever traded hands. It is a story created at least a generation after the 'fact' for the purpose of instruction.

posted 04-19-2006 08:38 AM            

At some point, however, coin dealers dubbed these common and rather homely silver coins "30 pieces," just as they dubbed the common and rather homely denarius of Tiberius "the Tribute Penny," and the really ugly, super-common little lepton of Alexander Jannaeus "the Widow's Mite." Thus instantly tripling or quadrupling the market value of these coins among the faithful (and/or credulous).

posted 04-19-2006 06:58 PM            

I detect a tone of defensiveness in your last reply (although, admittedly, attempting to define the "tone" of members' posts can be risky business, as demonstrated in the very old silver fork thread). If at all I've offended you by perceivedly exploiting the Passion for my own amusement, I do sincerely apologize. I was merely hypothesizing and posing a small puzzle that had mystified me a little in the past (In no way did I mean to trivialize the events in question). It's true, any such calculations as above depend greatly on a number of what-ifs, and I in no way intended or expected a vastly enlightening conclusion out of this discussion. I do hope you did not really believe I was "poking fun" at the significance of the Gospel narratives.

As to my suggestion that the "divinely sanctified price" of a human life is arbitrary:

I fit probably far more appropriately, I must confess, in the category of Secular Humanism rather than that of Christianity. I cannot conceive how anyone, man or god, could place any set value on human life. Life, to me, is not quantifiable: It is a tremendous phenomenon that I am thankful to briefly enjoy, and elated to share and interact with other lives. Therefore, the sum of "30 pieces of silver", or for that matter "30,000 pieces of silver", for any human life, is patently arbitrary, to me. It is beyond my comprehension and willingness to consider.

However, I do not wish to allow this thread to become a philosophical or theological debate, as I pointed out when I started this thread. I simply wish to explain myself, and to offer my apology (in the original Greek sense).

posted 04-20-2006 02:31 PM            

Addendum: Of course, no hard feelings. The question may amuse, but is idle in the extreme and could be misconstrued. (I've added my reply to a prior post to avoid bumping the topic back to the top of the forum)

posted 04-21-2006 08:12 PM            

Okay, okay, you got me, I'll 'fess up:

Having found them at a local auction house, I'm considering purchase of the very same thirty pieces which Judas accepted... Clearly I've trespassed the Guidelines.