Antisemitism

Antisemitism

• 1.
  ANTISEMITISM disguised in Supersessionism & Theology embedded in the New Testament Copyright © The Olivetree Connection
• 2.
  Underlying Causes  2nd C. BCE Hellenism and Assimilation  Samaritans deny ‘Jewish’ connection  The War of Rome against the Jewish people 1st Century Greek speaking Jews in Pharisaic/Rabbinic Judea, etc and Diaspora Jews vs. Hellenized followers of Zealots,Essenes Jesus
• 3.
  Underlying Causes The conquestof the Holy Land by Alexander the Great introduced Hellenism to the Hebrews. Substantial numbers accepted Greek language and culture and thereby create deep divisions in Jewish life and culture. Persecution under Antiochus IV. Epiphanes deepens the division, but Hebraists are victorious and Jerusalem Temple is rededicated. Roman conquest of Judea further isolates the Hebraists from the secularists. Resistance by Nationalists to Romanization favoured by Hellenists Rapid Hellenization of the Jesus movement separates the church from Judaism with a growth in anti-Jewish polemics from the Church Fathers
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  Gentile Presumptions: Temple destruction consequence of failure to acknowledge Jesus as Messiah Non-Jewish Christians take it upon themselves to exegete Jewish Scriptures and define Jewish traditions
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  GENTILE PRESUMPTION CONT’D Synoptic Gospels: John’s Gospel: Jesus becomes Present a Jesus who is Jewish generic and enemy of the Jews Opinion forming, distorting Narratives Jews are faithless; have difficulty Roman Centurion calls Jesus accepting Jesus’ mission Lord; has faith (Matt. 8:5-8; 13) Jews are blind to Jesus Roman Centurion ‘sees’! (Matt.27:54; Mk.15:39; Lk.23:47) Jews antagonistic “OTHER”, Roman Graciousness; kindness; violent, mob mentality (Acts 23) Embodiment of evil, bloodthirsty Jews “sons of the devil” Ethos of demonization
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  Gentile Presumption cont’d.  Monotheism  Divinity of Jesus  Election  Gentiles  Land Focused  Stephen’s Idea of the in the Temple Temple within  Paul and the ‘Law’  Covenant Focused in the Torah
• 7.
  Contributing factors: 1stto 4th cent. C.E.  Hellenized, Greek speaking Jews in Jerusalem, Judea  The Zealots and various pro-temple factions  Hellenized followers of Jesus  Marcion and his Anti-Jewish New Testament  The early Church Fathers  Constantine bans Jewish festivals, the Sabbath and circumcision
• 8.
  Contributing factors: 5th to 20th cent. C.E.  The New Testament  The post-Nicene Church Fathers  Ethos of demonization  The Inquisition  Martin Luther  The 1611 King James Bible
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  Fig. 1 Amap as published in the Revised Standard Version of the Bible; publ. 1952 – the name Palestine (Palaestina) did not come into being until more than 100 years AFTER Jesus
• 10.
  Contributing factors: 5th to 20th cent. C.E.  Ongoing Allegorization of the Hebrew Bible (O.T.)  Palestinianism and denial of a physical restoration
• 11.
  Common Christian Conclusions Lossof Temple Loss of God’s Loss of Priesthood = Loss of Sacrifice Favour ...therefore: No Temple, no priesthood, no sacrifice, NO GOD ERROR: Church is the New Israel and Modern Israel is illegitimate
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  SUMMARY: Early Christianity hada major influence in forming the Gentile world’s opinion concerning the Jewish people. The compilers of the New Testament used anti- Jewish language to perpetuate the problem The church promoted active Jew hatred through blood libel and the Inquisition that lasted over 600 years. For further information please email info@theolivetreeconnection.com