Antisemitism in Early Christianity
What does the presence of anti-Jewish polemics in the New Testament and early Christianity do to your attitude toward Christianity? Why is anti-Judaism so important to the birth of Christianity?
What does the presence of anti-Jewish polemics in the New Testament and early Christianity do to your attitude toward Christianity? Why is anti-Judaism so important to the birth of Christianity?
January 28th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
I believe that anti-Judaism was important to early Christianity because the New Testament meant a new agreement/covenant centered around Jesus. Christians tried to make it seem as though the prophets were looking forward to the New Testament in the Bible. Christians wanted to say that the words in the Bible was inspired by the divine/God were the Jews believed that Moses written the Torah by hand just as God dictated to him. The tension between the Jews and Christians of who really should had been the chosen ones…the New Testament would then try to prove Jesus existed and brought the book of revelations whereas the Jews dropped it from the Old Testament. As for the attitude towards early Christianity…I am not sure about because I am not familiar with the Bible…know only what has been said to me by friends/classes. I am sure there was and still is political situations/tensions over land, scrolls, seizing synagogues turning them into Christian churches, Jewish practices were outlawed…it was forced upon those to become pagan then remain a practicing Jew, wars were fought…Jews were tortured or suffered death.
January 29th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
I meant to say Christians wanted to say, did state that the words in the Bible were the words of Jesus/God where the Jews believed Moses had written down words dictated by God. Or so i believe this could be it…again not sure. I really hope by the end of the semester I will know the truth as to who believes what and why. Again I am the Buddhist here lol! I could give better reference about the Buddha.
January 29th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
The presence of anti-Jewish writings in the New Testament and the formation of early Christianity does not change my views on the religion at all. Rather, i am just more understanding of why the whole notion of anti-Judaism is vital to the birth of Christianity. The first chapter in the book really clarified for me why we see for instance, in the Gospel of John, him referring to the Jews who rejected Jesus as the true messiah as being the children of the devil. Jesus Christ is the figure head of all Christianity, they believe Him as the savior of the world and the messiah whom open to them the kingdom of heaven; of course since the Jews, who see themselves as the chosen people of God, rejected Jesus as being the son of God, they therefore reject the basis of Christianity itself. Hence, at least for me, i can understand why anti-Judaism is crucial in the formation of Christianity. Also, as mentioned in the book, the Christians attribute the crucifixion of Christ to the Jews, when in reality it was really the work of the Romans, however in that day, it would not of been wise for the Christians to place blame on the Romans since they were a fierce empire and the clear majority.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:33 am
I agree that the Christians could not have blamed the Romans for the death of Christ without being persecuted themselves for treason or conspiracy, and therefore had to blame the Jews in order to save themselves. However, I thought Christianity was supposed to be forgiving and accepting of everyone; this does not coincide with their anti-Judaism views. I understand that during the creation of Christianity, they could not accept the Jews or they would have been brought down and tortured with them, but hopefully they are not still teaching these anti-Jewish views. My opinion of Christianity would change if these beliefs are still being taught and strongly expressed throughout their community. I am hoping that most Christians do not believe those anti-Semitic stories today.
February 3rd, 2008 at 9:36 pm
i also believe the anti-judaism was important to early christianity, because if it was not for the jews that went threw the things they did than christianity would have never been “born”. What we learned in class like the detailed information about events in the old testament and the examples in the bible, made me realize that even though Christianity is the leading religion right now, it would have neevr even have been started without the jews, and being that i am catholic(went to a catholic school from k-12 grade), this was weird in learning so many positive things about a religion that was not my own. Also showing me that my own religion might not be as “perfect” as it was once portrayed. like Racheal said, christianity is suppose to be forgiving, treat others like they want to be treated, and if this is how they treated the jews, than what can we expect next, when christians do not like another religion?
February 3rd, 2008 at 10:35 pm
I was very surprised to find Anti - Semitic views within the books of the new testament. I have been brought up with a background in Catholicism, and find myself both appalled, and compelled at this new information. In light of learning about these instances in the new testament I find that I should further examine the origins of my own faith. In order for there to be Christianity there had to be Anti - Judaism for the simple reason that Christianity was based on the life of Jesus Christ, and if the Jews could not accept that Jesus was the messiah then they were in direct contradiction to Christianity, which would in turn breed Anti - Judaism.
February 4th, 2008 at 12:02 am
i am shocked to see that a book that many societies view as “holy” can have anti-semitic views in it. A book that is supposed to send a message of peace and good will towards mankind appears to have bread a hateful movement against the Jews. However, this does not change my views of Christianity; I’ve always felt that the religion and its scriptures where flawed in many ways. This just adds to my previous suspicions.
February 4th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Like the majority of religions that the world has seen, Christianity had to compete with the existing religions of the time. In the early first century C.E. the Christians had to try and convince both Jews and Gentiles that their religion was the one true path to become close to God. Considering the fact that the Scriptures were written so long after the death of Jesus, one must realize that they were written for the purpose of converting readers. This may account for the reason why the two main perpetrators in the death of Jesus were the Romans, who dominated much of the targeted area as well as the Jews, who had established themselves as the dominant religion in Israel. When taken literally, it is not surprising to find a plethora of antisemitic literature from the Christians. Every religion has shown this, even the Protestant forms of Christianity try to refute the other forms as well as Catholics. The danger of religion lies in the ways that it views other faiths. Sadly, due to the fact that the antisemitic views were heavy in the early Catholic views, the feelings have spread and antisemitic views can still be seen in many forms of Christianity. The antisemitic writings we read for class were not surprising to me, even though they were so wrong and misguided.
February 4th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
As a person whose religion can be summed up in one word - history - I find Christianity’s ominous role in our story unsurprising. What is surprising is how incredibly mundane Christianity continues to become as the course continues. Dogmatic schisms and Jesus’ name actually being the Greek version of Joshua are only two disappointments, the third so far being the turn toward anti-Semitism. Since the beginning of recorded history and certainly before that the ascending religion would always villainize the religion or gods of the past. It happened with Persian Zoroastrianism over the Mesopotamian beliefs, Team Mt Olympus vs. Team Titan in Greece, and now Christianity makes the same cliché move against Judaism. It’s bad enough the Old Testament and the mythology behind Jesus was already plagiarized but this move scratched away any scent of that new car smell.
Although, I do find Martin Luther to be a laugh riot. One of his better quotes being - “Reason is a whore and the enemy of faith.” I’m sure Plato, whose philosophies are essential to Christian dogma and stylized conversations of Socrates were used in constructing the gotcha conversations and parables of Jesus in the New Testament - would disagree. But who cares about what Plato thinks? He lived before our lord and is more then likely burning in eternal damnation… right Luther!?
February 4th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
I am a Bible believing Christian. My view of Christianity has not changed in the slightest bit, the views that are brought up in class to me are just one’s interpretation of the Bible. Over my years of being a Christian I have never come across any teachings or interpretations that are Anti-Semetic in any way. I have always been taught to love one another, and I find this class to be very Anti-Christian.
February 4th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
The presence of anti-Jewish polemics in the New Testament and early Christianity do not change my attitude towards Christianity. In my previous studies of the Bible I have never interpreted it as being anti-Semitic or hating the Jews in any way. I feel that the Words of the Bible may be twisted or interpreted in many ways in order to prove points. As talked about in class, the parables in Matthew were interpreted as being anti-Semitic, against God’s “chosen people” who were the Jewish nation in the Old Testament. God’s chosen people are now considered by Christians as all believers. Therefore the parable does not specifically target Jewish people. While I understand how non-Christian interpretations could view this as anti-Semitic, I disagree.
February 4th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
I was surprised to read that many Christian leaders were really against Jews. In the book it said that if a good christian meant hating Jews, then those people who hated Jews were good Christians (something along those lines). It kind of puzzled me b/c i was raised in a Christian family and was always told to love my neighbor (which meant everyone). I couldnt put together how hating Jews made early Christians good Christians. However, my view of Christianity hasnt changed, like other people have said, certian things are taken in different ways to prove points.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
My views toward Christianity have not changed whatsoever. I am a practicing Christian. I live my life by what the Bible teaches. The one thing about the Bible is that people interpret it in all different ways. It’s very hard to hear people bash the Bible and say it’s just made up stories but then they want to use the Bible to back up their views on how Christianity is Anti-semitic. It makes no sense.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
After having read the chapter it doesn’t seem surprising that Christianity would make an effort to preserve their particular extension of the religion. It just so happens that the special relationship that Christianity and Judaism share make them prime targets for one another. The main goal is survival. If there is one thing that I’m sure any religion has learned, especially Judaism, is that the world changes and you have to be resilient in the face of ultimate opposition. The relationship between Christianity and Judaism represent a special case study where one cannot survive without the other, but also represents a major threat to it’s integrity and population. This unique relationship makes these two major religions so tightly woven together.
Obviously any Christian who has believed the things they’ve been brought up with are going to be upset that under everything they learned there is this deeply rooted hatred for a whole group of people.
What is NOT important is whether you believe that the Bible is a piece of sacred word or not. What is important rather is that the book exists, the stories exist in the form they do. Their form and their message reflect humanity on a social, political, and religious level. I think it’s our job as 1) scholars to scrutinize primary sources to determine their validity and 2) if you’re a Christian, to look at the book from all different perspectives so that you’re not relying on the theory that God lives in the cracks of human knowledge.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
I am just amazed by how anti semetic the bible is, and how even in mel gibsons film the romans did nothing to help Jesus. I don’t think the class, bible, or teachings are anti-christian i just think it i snew information, getting presented in a different way, one that might even change one’s personal views. I am still a believing chrisitan(catholic)…but a surprised one.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
I was born and raised as a Catholic and before now I did not really have a full understanding of what Judaism really entailed and what Jewish people believed in. While in class today something occured to me as we were talking about the real historical events that the took place around the time of Jesus’ supposed existence. It seems to me that the only motivation that the Roman’s actually had for starting Christianity was to oppress Judaism. It seems as though instead of recording and announcing beliefs that they actually believed in that they would say and do whatever it took to contradict what the Jews believed in. So on that note, how could I allow myself let alone go on teaching these ideas when it could very well be information that is invalid or made up in an effort to persecute the Jews. Also, I am beginning to feel that much of Christianity is very hypocritical. When I go to mass, which is not often anymore, the priest will stand on the alter and preach about how the Catholic faith revolves around love and compassion toward others and how we should always forgive and never hate or do anything to harm another person. How could I believe that when the only reason it seems that Roman’s made this religion is to harm and persecute the Jews? Also the Nazi’s were supposedly Christian people and they hated everyone who didn’t fit their mold of the human race and completly tried to exterminate the whole Jewish race. Also, how can I believe that my religion is the true religion when so many other people share different views and have different beliefs? How do I know that I am doing God’s will on earth if I do not know really what is expected of me. The Catholic church makes my feel guilty about harboring these feelings toward the religion that I’ve been raised to follow. I feel as if I renounce my religion or question some of its ideas that I will be punished by God. If someone says something bad or derogatory even kidding around in my house my Grandmom will say “Oh God is going to get you for that.” I’m so totally brainwashed that even though I don’t want to believe a lot of what I was taught, I still feel like a bad person or Christian and that as a consequence that I will have bad things happen to me as a punishment for my emotions. I do not think that it is fair to have people fell as though their intellect and individuality is a sin and that they should feel remore for learning about diverse religions and believing in some of their ideas.
February 5th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
I have been a practicing Christian my entire life. I attended Christian School for part of my life. In all of my Christian teachings and classes, etc, never have I ever been told to hate the Jews nor have I ever seen these passages as anti-semetic. As a Christian this ‘claim’ that the Bible is full of antisemitism does nothing to alter my faith. However, I do have to accept the fact that many religious leaders of Christianity may have been anti semetic and hate the Jews. It has intrigued me to do my own research on thses figures. This will not change my faith or belief in God and the Bible, but that I may learn things I did not know about the beginning of Christianity. I think that this matter has twisted what Christianity teaches today and what it is all about. The Church as a whole is not anti-Jewish.
February 6th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Anti-Jewish Polemics in the New Testament are not surprising. It would be much more politically expedient, at the time, to dispute anyone who would be a direct challenge to your doctrine. The time in which the New Testament also needs to be taken into consideration. It was written during a time of great persecution and political upheaval. Blaming a small minority group was much more expedient versus the ruling power in the know world. Especially after witnessing Rome’s might in crushing the Bar Kochba revolt of 66-70 CE. Blaming the Jew, whom represents a contradiction of your own core doctrine, makes not only good political sense but liturgical sense as well.
February 6th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
I read through the comments made so far in trying to mentally sum up what I wanted to say. I too, like many in the class was raised Catholic, went to Catholic school or CCD in my childhood and received my sacraments. That being said, I don’t think going through the motions can particularly make someone a believer. While I previously thought I knew a lot about Christianity from my upbringing, I realized in class I’m quite unfamiliar with the Bible and recognize very few of the passages we have gone over. While I was never directly told Jews killed Jesus, they’re blasphemous, etc, I was aware of some anti-Jew sentiment within the church. I do think a lot of this stems from people (at least ignorant people, which there are many of) being overly convinced their religion is the “right and true” way and all others are blasphemy. I was however, at least mildly surprised to read in the text the way Christianity framed historical events to create the Jews as misguided devils, and upon entering their temple, one would burst into flames. (According to Martin Luther). I would advise anyone quick to say anything taught in this class is wrong and their line of thinking is right to remember we are in college and the intellectual thing to do would to be to open our minds to perspectives other than our own.
February 9th, 2008 at 8:35 am
For many people, reading the bible as “the word of God” is an easy task. For others the Bible is complicated, contradictory, and full of problems. Personally, I have stepped away from thinking that the bible is purely sacred, I have realized that humans have influenced the writings found in the Bible. Knowing this, it does not surprise me that the Bible has helped to perpetuate the hostility towards the Jewish person. When reading the Bible before, I ask myself “Why didn’t the Jews believe Jesus, one of them?” I knew Jesus introduced readical ideas about the nature of the Law, the ones held so dearly by the Jews. Yet, I could not understand their stubborness. The Christians needed to discredit Judaism only because the Christians ideaology was the complete opposite of what the Jews regarded as truth. One must be in error. The information about anit-semitism in Bible could be earth-shattering, and though I never had the ideas and historical facts expressed thoroughly, I knew that Anti-semitism began in the religious realm. Howqever it does not change the way I look at Christianity, because I have known tht historically Chrisitianity has a painful and bloody history.
February 9th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Throughout the past 2 thousand years anti-semitics have increased in power but it has always been the case since the beginning of the Israelites take over of the land in which YWHA promised to Abraham, Isac and Jacob. The first Christians did still follow the Jewish traditions but over time these traditions stopped and the Christians began new traditions. This is because the covenant that had been given to the Abrahamic fathers had been changed through the blood of Christ. The Christians believe that the Jewish traditions are no longer necessary because of the spilled blood of Christ, he had fulfilled once and for all. He was the Lamb that no more shed blood was necessary from the Levi- tic Priests. That man can now come to the presence of God through Christ the first fruit of many to follow.
February 9th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
As a child when I attended CCD and mass, I never had any inclinations that my religion had any negative aspects. Eighteen years of believing my religion was perfect was contorted within only two weeks of class. I feel like a bad person questioning my religion, but I see that it is not perfect. Now that I have been guided to see the different elements of anti-Semitism the New Testament and early Christianity , I feel uneasy about the attitude man has created toward the Jews. I think it is unfair that early Christians would not accept the Jews for who they were. Christians also lent no help during the holocaust. My impression of being a good Catholic was to be loving and respectful to all, but clearly some of our forefathers were not. By no means do I hate my religion now, I just am newly aware of the imperfections that any religion is capable of having.
Without Judaism there would be no Christianity. Anti-Semitism played an important part in the birth of Christianity. After Jesus’ execution the Roman’s shifted the blame to the Jews. During a time when there were already feelings of animosity toward the Jews, the Christians took the opportunity to gain more followers by slandering the Jews. The Christians were desperate for more followers and by turning the Jews into the “Christ-killers” people were sure to follow the Christians over the Jews. Anti-Semitism had a great impact on the way it united the bond and power of the Christians. It was necessary for the Christians to use tactics to make the Jews seem like blasphemous people in order to prove Christianity’s ideas were right. Both the teachings of Christianity and Judaism cannot be true at the same time; therefore, anti-Semitism was vital in strengthening Christianity to make the Jews seem unreliable.
February 11th, 2008 at 9:51 am
Growing up as a child in a christian home I never really took into effect the consequences of anti-semitism that took place in the bible. I just read the stories and believed they were always the true accounts. However as I have grown into an adult I have gained an understanding into how the Bible and Christiany can be viewed an Anti-Semetic because of the many writings and descritipions of people with Jewish decent.