Judaism and Christianity

anti-semitism? anti-Judaism? ??

Biblical background

Many New Testament passages reflecting differences were written in context of disputed viewpoints and practices within Judaism, rather than as charges against a totally separate religion or community

• Matthew 23:2-3 listen to scribes and Pharisees
• John 4:22-23 salvation from Jews - but will worship in spirit

Historical aspects

• indication that first persecutions against Christians were as Jews
• early Jewish-Christian groups
James of Jerusalem
• ascendancy of pharisaic-rabbinic tradition after fall of Jerusalem
• Marcion
• Crusades and Inquisition
• Shoah
• modern Israel and Palestine

As observant Jews have often had roles for helpful gentiles (e.g., turning the lights on and off on the Sabbath), so for much of Christian history, Jews were an essential part of the society (e.g., as medieval bankers - since Christians weren't allowed to charge interest.)

Although the organized church was frequently supportive of atrocious acts towards Jews, often the church was somewhat protective of Jews against attacks and slander from individual and mobbed Christians.

Theological aspects

• supercessionism, dispensationalism, etc.
• Faithfulness of God
• Torah and Christ

Christianity needs to define itself in relation to Judaism, but Judaism does not need to define itself in relation to Christianity.

The call to witness to God's act in Christ, essential to historic Christianity, is often viewed by Jews and others as proselytism. Any understanding (and practice) of mission needs to take into consideration God's continuing covenant with the Jewish people, the scandal of the Gospel, and the histories of the relationships among various Christian and Jewish communities.

Assigned Readings

• Romans 9-11
9:8 children of promise are descendants
9:16 not dependent on human will, but on God's mercy
9:30-32 not dependent on works but on faith
10:4 Christ the end of the Law
10:9-17 need for preachers
11:1-6 God not rejected his people - still remnant
11:11-12 their stumbling not to fall, but for gentiles
11:29 gifts and calling of God are irrevocable
11:33-36 unsearchable judgments

what is salvation?


• Reading 9.6, sec. 4, pp. 329-330
Vatican II: Nostra aetate
spiritual ties to "stock of Abraham"
Jews not rejected or accursed
church deplores all signs of anti-semitism
church proclaims cross as sign of universal love
• 69th General Convention Blue book pp. 454-460
1. Guidelines for Christian-Jewish Relations understanding of Hebrew Bible not same as understanding of Judaism
   need awareness of varieties of both Judaism and Christianity
   common scriptures as part of separate traditions
   centrality of Israel and Jerusalem for Judaism, although in varied ways
2. Deicide and the Jews [1964] reject charge of deicide
3. Christian-Jewish Dialogue [1979]

Other suggested resources

• Speaking and singing about Jews
• Institute for Christian and Jewish Studies
• Declaration of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to the Jewish Community
• Boys, Mary C. Has God only one blessing? Judaism as a source of Christian understanding. Studies in Judaism and Christianity, ed. Helga Croner. New York: Paulist, 2000.
• Pawlikowski, John T., and Hayim Goren Perelmuter, eds. Reinterpreting revelation and tradition: Jews and Christians in conversation. The Bernadin Center series. Franklin, Wisconsin: Sheed & Ward, 2000.
• Hengel, Martin, and C. K. Barrett. Conflicts and challenges in early Christianity. Harrisburg: Trinity Press International, 1999. ed. Donald A. Hagner.
• 170 Jewish scholars. "Jewish statement on Christians and Christianity." Origins: ICNS documentary service 30, no. 15 (2000): 225, 227-8.
• Wolf, Arnold Jacob. "Biblical theology: is it good for the Jews?" {Judaism 49, no. 3 (2000): 363-72. Issue 195.
• McGarry, Michael B. Christology after Auschwitz. An Exploration book. New York: Paulist Press, 1977.
• Pollefeyt, Didier, ed. Jews and Christians, rivals or partners for the kingdom of God? : in search of an alternative for the theology of substitution. Louvain theological & pastoral monographs, 21. Louvain ; Grand Rapids: Peeters Press ; Eerdmans, 1997.

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The page last modified 1 December 2000