Photo: Michel Kasser — CC BY-SA 3.0Source
Rodolphe Kasser
- January 14, 1927
- October 8, 2013
- 86 years
About Rodolphe Kasser
Rodolphe Kasser, 86, Swiss Coptic scholar and archaeologist.
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Full Biography
|Rodolphe Kasser (14 January 1927 – 8 October 2013), was a Swiss philologist, archaeologist, and a Coptic scholar. He specialized in ancient Coptic language manuscripts, notably including the Codex Tchacos which includes the Gospel of Judas. He worked as both a professor at the University of Geneva and as head of the archaeological excavations of the Swiss Mission of Coptic Archaeology.
Biography
Born in Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland, Kasser obtained his higher education in theology in Lausanne and in Paris from 1946 to 1950 and a diploma from the École Pratique des Hautes Études (Ph.D. equivalent) in Paris in 1964. He conducted pastoral ministry in Switzerland and in France from 1953 to 1959.
From 1963 to 1998, he was on the staff at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Geneva, lecturing in Coptic languages and literature. First as professor extraordinary from 1963 to 1976, then as professor from 1976 to 1998. After 1965, he was the head of the archaeological excavations of the Swiss Mission of Coptic Archaeology in the Kellia, Lower Egypt.
After 1962, Kasser did important research in the field of Coptic philology, including the preparation of a new Coptic dictionary. This work was done in parallel with reforms in Coptic dialectal classification. He published several important Greek and Coptic codices of the Bodmeriana Library, most of them biblical.
After 2000, Kasser organized the restoration and prepared the edition princeps of Codex Tchacos, containing the Gospel of Judas and three other Coptic gnostic texts.
Selected publications
- Kasser, Rodolphe; Meyer, Marvin W.; Wurst, Gregor (2006). The Gospel of Judas. In collaboration with François Gaudard. National Geographic. ISBN 9781426201912.
- Kasser, Rodolphe; Meyer, Marvin W.; Wurst, Gregor (2008). The Gospel of Judas. In collaboration with François Gaudard (Second ed.). National Geographic. ISBN 9781426200489.
- Kasser, Rodolphe; Wurst, Gregor (2007). The Gospel of Judas: Together with the Letter of Peter to Philip, James, and a Book of Allogenes from Codex Tchacos: Critical edition. National Geographic. ISBN 9781426201912.
Kasser and his coauthors' work on Codex Tchacos was published in 2006, including an English translation of the Gospel of Judas and four articles of commentary, one from each translator and another from Bart Ehrman. A critical edition featuring full-color photographs was published in 2007, and a second edition in 2008. The National Geographic Channel also aired a full documentary in 2006 called The Gospel of Judas, with an 87 minute runtime (equivalent to 2 hours if commercials are included). The papyrus manuscript went on display at the National Geographic Society's museum in Washington DC, in April 2006.
The translation and commentary contends that the most vilified man in Christendom understood Jesus better than any of the other disciples. The disciple who betrayed Jesus was actually doing the bidding of Christ himself. This interpretation has been contested by other academics since the gospel's initial publication.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodolphe_Kasser
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- September 29, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 15 questions
Questions drawn from Rodolphe Kasser's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what city was Rodolphe Kasser born?
- A.Lausanne
- B.Yverdon-les-Bainscorrect
- C.Paris
- D.Geneva
The biography states that Rodolphe Kasser was born in Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland.
Source: Biography section
2.Rodolphe Kasser completed his higher education in theology in which two cities?
- A.Lausanne and Geneva
- B.Lausanne and Pariscorrect
- C.Geneva and Lyon
- D.Yverdon-les-Bains and Paris
Rodolphe Kasser obtained his higher education in theology in Lausanne and in Paris from 1946 to 1950.
Source: Biography section
3.What was the Ph.D. equivalent diploma Rodolphe Kasser earned in 1964?
- A.École Pratique des Hautes Étudescorrect
- B.Swiss Mission of Coptic Archaeology Certificate
- C.National Geographic Philology Diploma
- D.University of Geneva Arts Degree
Rodolphe Kasser earned a diploma from the École Pratique des Hautes Études in Paris in 1964, which is noted as the Ph.D. equivalent.
Source: Biography section
4.During which years did Rodolphe Kasser conduct pastoral ministry?
- A.1953–1959correct
- B.1946–1950
- C.1976–1998
- D.1963–1976
The biography specifies that Rodolphe Kasser conducted pastoral ministry in Switzerland and in France from 1953 to 1959.
Source: Biography section
5.At which institution was Rodolphe Kasser a staff member from 1963 to 1998?
- A.University of Genevacorrect
- B.University of Lausanne
- C.National Geographic Society
- D.École Pratique des Hautes Études
Rodolphe Kasser served on the staff at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Geneva from 1963 to 1998.
Source: Biography section
6.When did Rodolphe Kasser become the head of the archaeological excavations of the Swiss Mission of Coptic Archaeology?
- A.1965correct
- B.2000
- C.1962
- D.1959
Rodolphe Kasser became head of the archaeological excavations of the Swiss Mission of Coptic Archaeology after 1965.
Source: Biography section
7.In which Egyptian location did the Swiss Mission of Coptic Archaeology conduct excavations under Rodolphe Kasser?
- A.Kelliacorrect
- B.Cairo
- C.Alexandria
- D.Luxor
The excavations of the Swiss Mission of Coptic Archaeology directed by Rodolphe Kasser were located in the Kellia, Lower Egypt.
Source: Biography section
8.What significant philological project did Rodolphe Kasser begin after 1962?
- A.The translation of the Gospel of Thomas
- B.The preparation of a new Coptic dictionarycorrect
- C.The restoration of the Bodmeriana Library
- D.The archaeological mapping of Paris
After 1962, Rodolphe Kasser did important research, including the preparation of a new Coptic dictionary.
Source: Biography section
9.Which ancient manuscript did Rodolphe Kasser organize the restoration of after the year 2000?
- A.The Nag Hammadi Library
- B.The Dead Sea Scrolls
- C.The Bodmer Papyri
- D.The Codex Tchacoscorrect
After 2000, Rodolphe Kasser organized the restoration and prepared the edition princeps of the Codex Tchacos.
Source: Biography section
10.The Codex Tchacos includes the Gospel of Judas and how many other Coptic gnostic texts?
- A.Four
- B.Threecorrect
- C.Two
- D.One
The text states the Codex Tchacos contains the Gospel of Judas and three other Coptic gnostic texts.
Source: Biography section
11.In which year was the first English translation of the Gospel of Judas published with Rodolphe Kasser's involvement?
- A.2013
- B.2006correct
- C.2008
- D.2007
Kasser and his coauthors published their work on Codex Tchacos, including an English translation of the Gospel of Judas, in 2006.
Source: Selected publications section
12.Where was the papyrus of the Gospel of Judas displayed in April 2006?
- A.National Geographic Society's museumcorrect
- B.University of Geneva Museum
- C.The Louvre
- D.Vatican Museums
The papyrus manuscript went on display at the National Geographic Society's museum in Washington DC in April 2006.
Source: Selected publications section
13.Which scholar contributed an article of commentary to the 2006 Gospel of Judas publication alongside the translators?
- A.Bart Ehrmancorrect
- B.Marvin W. Meyer
- C.Gregor Wurst
- D.François Gaudard
The 2006 work included commentary from each translator and an additional article from Bart Ehrman.
Source: Selected publications section
14.According to the interpretation in the Gospel of Judas translation, why did Judas betray Jesus?
- A.Out of fear of the Roman authorities
- B.To stop the spread of gnosticism
- C.To gain money
- D.Doing the bidding of Christcorrect
The commentary contends that the disciple who betrayed Jesus was actually doing the bidding of Christ himself.
Source: Selected publications section
15.On what date did Rodolphe Kasser pass away?
- A.8 October 1998
- B.14 January 1927
- C.14 January 2013
- D.8 October 2013correct
The biography lists Rodolphe Kasser's death date as 8 October 2013.
Source: Biography section
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