Positive Portrayal of the Jewish People

[Blue Bird]

The Christian New Testament has plenty of seeds of antisemitism, some more full-grown than others. And the traditional Christian interpretations of their Old Testament is decidedly warped in favor of a Christian re-interpretation. Together, these tendencies have yielded a terrible societal prejudice against Jews often resulting in terrible violent murderous treatment of Jewish people. In its origins, however, the New Testament animosity toward 'Judaism' may have developed out of some limited persecution of early Christians by Jewish authorities. That in no way excuses or minimizes the horrible Christian crimes against Jews over the centuries. But it may help us better understand some of the New Testament writings in context.

Aren't there harsh words in the Hebrew Bible and in the Christian Bible?

[robrecht]

I'm not sure what you're asking. What do you mean by "harsh words"? There is certainly anti-Jewish bias in the New Testament, only some of which is probably directed primarily against Jewish authorities (eg, 1 Thes 2,14-16). Paul himself probably saw himself as a messianic Jew with a crucial role at the end of history to bring salvation to the gentiles, but as later Christian writers (eg, the author of the letter of Barnabas), the anti-Jewish theme would become all-consuming. The seeds were already there in the gospel of Mark and watered and grown in the gospels of Matthew and John. Harsh words of the prophets against Israel and Judah were used as condemnation of all Jewish people. Is that what you mean?

[Blue Bird]

Today I read in a book that the Evangelical Church banned the preaching of some verses in 1939. To this day I haven't heard a sermon on this text. That's the fault of the church but the verse is still there: „For salvation is of the Jews.“ (John 4:22)

[Blue Bird]

Why is there no more response to the answers to the original question? Is your question answered, SMR?

[searchinmyroots]

Why is there no more response to the answers to the original question? Is your question answered, SMR?

Blue Bird,

Yes, thank you for the verses!

Sorry for the delayed response, a lot going on recently in my neck of the woods and I haven't been that active here.

[Blue Bird]

People don't talk anymore here. I say goodbye.

[searchinmyroots]

People don't talk anymore. I say goodbye.

I'm not sure I understand what you are saying Blue Bird.

Are you leaving us?

Hope not!

[Blue Bird]

I don't know what to say. Posting answers and threads is a stale feeling and it's like I didn't post them because there is no answer. I'm not sure who's leaving who. (I remain a passive reader though)

[RabbiO]

I don't know what to say. Posting answers and threads is a stale feeling and it's like I didn't post them because there is no answer. I'm not sure who's leaving who. (I remain a passive reader though)

Frankly, the forum used be more robust, in part, I believe, because it had a larger number of more sharply defined subforums. After the forum unfortunately crashed, it came back in the sort of truncated form it has now.

I am not as active on this forum as I was in years past, partially because life has a way of interfering with forum participation. I’ve been busier with illness and death than with wedding and births - some of it closer to home than I would like.

I would hope you stay on the forum, even if you sometimes you feel like your voice is simply being carried off by the wind.

[veil23]

Paul, in Rom 9:1-3 shows his honesty in that he would rather himself be lost for eternity than to see his brethren according to the flesh lost.
If that isn't speaking well of -I don't know what is.

Any anti-semitism coming from any Christian or any "so-called" Christian is unacceptable and will be thoroughly judged by G-d.