‘My friend,’ he says to Judas, ‘do what you are here for.’ Again it raises questions about the nature of the relationship between them. What, in particular, of that use of the word ‘friend’? There is to modern ears forgiveness in it – greeting the one who has betrayed you as friend – and forgiveness remains absolutely central to the Christian message. It might, though, have been uttered with irony. Another detail largely missing from the gospels – as here – is any indication of tone of voice. Which also leaves room for it to have been said in bewilderment. Yet, there is a clear suggestion here that Jesus always knew this was going to happen, and is reassuring his ‘friend’ Judas that his crime will not be held against him. And there are, inevitably, countless theories as to whether the Greek word used – hetaire – is best rendered as friend, or comrade, colleague or even ‘my man’.
— Peter Stanford, from “Judas: The Most Hated Name in History”
