JudaismDraft · awaiting advisor review
Isn’t the New Testament antisemitic?
In short
The New Testament is a largely Jewish book: Jesus, his first followers and most of its writers were Jews, and Paul insists God has not cast away his people. But some passages have been used terribly against Jews for centuries, and Christians must face that honestly. The Gospels blame particular leaders, not a people, and Jesus prayed for those who killed him.
The Objection
The New Testament calls Jews children of the devil and has them curse themselves with Jesus’ blood. These texts fuelled centuries of persecution, ending in the Holocaust. A book that did that can’t simply be called good news.
Put as its strongest advocates would put it.
The Christian Case
- Scripture
Jesus, his family, the apostles and almost all the first believers were Jews. Paul grieved for his people and said God has not cast them away, and “salvation is of the Jews” is Jesus’ own phrase.
- Scripture
The Gospels blame particular leaders, not a people. Acts says Herod, Pilate, the Gentiles and the people of Israel together acted against Jesus, and Jesus says he lays down his life of himself. From the cross he prayed for forgiveness for those who killed him.
- Historical evidence
Some texts have been used terribly, such as “his blood be on us” and John’s “the Jews”. For centuries Christians accused Jews of killing God. In 1965 the Catholic Church taught (Nostra Aetate) that Christ’s passion cannot be charged against all Jews then living, nor against Jews today, and decried antisemitism.
- Christians differ
Scholars, Christian and Jewish, differ on texts like John 8. Many read “the Jews” in John as meaning certain Judean authorities, or as an argument within the Jewish family. Others, such as Adele Reinhartz, argue that John’s language is itself anti-Jewish and must be faced honestly.
Where the Evidence Is Weaker
The harm done with these texts is real, and Christians were responsible for it. Some passages remain hard to read, whatever their original setting, and explaining their context does not undo how they were used.
Arguments to Avoid
- Saying “the Jews killed Jesus”.
- Denying or minimising Christian antisemitism in history.
- Using these questions to take sides in present-day politics.
Read for Yourself
Romans 9:1–5
1I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 4Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
Romans 11:1–2
1I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
Luke 23:33–34
33And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 34Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Further Reading
- The Misunderstood Jew · Amy-Jill Levine (2006)A Jewish New Testament scholar on reading the Gospels without anti-Judaism.
- Cast Out of the Covenant: Jews and Anti-Judaism in the Gospel of John · Adele Reinhartz (2018)A Jewish scholar’s critical reading of John.
- Paul: The Pagans’ Apostle · Paula Fredriksen (2017)
Drafted with Opened AI and awaiting review by Opened’s apologetics advisors. Labels show the kind of support each point has: Scripture is what the Bible says; historical evidence and philosophical arguments can be checked by anyone; “Christians differ” marks questions on which faithful Christians disagree.
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