26,820
edits
Christian Apologetics: Difference between revisions
→Miriam Bodian
| Line 222: | Line 222: | ||
The coming of Christ changed Jewish identity forever, something the Jews at His time comprehended only with difficulty. From then, the terms "Israelite" and "Jew" were no longer synonyms, because,...“the ‘true Israelites’” from the Christian perspective “are precisely those who, like Nathaniel, recognize in Jesus the Messiah.” The conflict that defines “Jew” in the fourth gospel is essentially religious....<br> | The coming of Christ changed Jewish identity forever, something the Jews at His time comprehended only with difficulty. From then, the terms "Israelite" and "Jew" were no longer synonyms, because,...“the ‘true Israelites’” from the Christian perspective “are precisely those who, like Nathaniel, recognize in Jesus the Messiah.” The conflict that defines “Jew” in the fourth gospel is essentially religious....<br> | ||
Judaism celebrates the “Jews’” identity, their origins, their history and their past, and anyone who questions one of these elements, as Jesus does, is a threat to that identity. The festivals celebrate and confirm Jewish identity; the encounters between Jesus and the “Jews” occur during the festivals because for John Jewish identity revolves around the person of Jesus.<br> | Judaism celebrates the “Jews’” identity, their origins, their history and their past, and anyone who questions one of these elements, as Jesus does, is a threat to that identity. The festivals celebrate and confirm Jewish identity; the encounters between Jesus and the “Jews” occur during the festivals because for John Jewish identity revolves around the person of Jesus.<br> | ||
Christianity is intimately connected with Christ. Judaism is just as intimately connected with Jerusalem. The “Judaism in question takes on an official character. It has its seat in Jerusalem and it is hostile to Jesus.” It is “ | Christianity is intimately connected with Christ. Judaism is just as intimately connected with Jerusalem. The “Judaism in question takes on an official character. It has its seat in Jerusalem and it is hostile to Jesus.” It is “''le principal accusatueur''” of Jesus. Its headquarters is in Jerusalem where all confrontations between Christ and “the Jews” occur; it is the center of the “systematic hostility of ‘Judaism’” against Jesus....<br> | ||
The meaning of “Jew” in this context is clear: a Jew is openly hostile to Christ and willing to persecute those Jews who accept Him as the Messiah. John's mention of “fear of the Jews” indicates that Jews were then afraid of “Jews.” The well- being of the Jews who accepted Christ was threatened by the Jews who rejected him....<br> | The meaning of “Jew” in this context is clear: a Jew is openly hostile to Christ and willing to persecute those Jews who accept Him as the Messiah. John's mention of “fear of the Jews” indicates that Jews were then afraid of “Jews.” The well- being of the Jews who accepted Christ was threatened by the Jews who rejected him....<br> | ||
The parents of the man born blind exhibit “fear of the Jews” because the “Jews” threaten to expel followers of Jesus, also Jews, from the synagogue. The identity of both groups was essentially religious, not ethnic; both identities were a function of Christ. The Jews who acknowledged Christ were expelled from the synagogue. The Jews who rejected Him, the people John calls “the Jews,” defined themselves by that rejection.” | The parents of the man born blind exhibit “fear of the Jews” because the “Jews” threaten to expel followers of Jesus, also Jews, from the synagogue. The identity of both groups was essentially religious, not ethnic; both identities were a function of Christ. The Jews who acknowledged Christ were expelled from the synagogue. The Jews who rejected Him, the people John calls “the Jews,” defined themselves by that rejection.” | ||