Traditionally the history of anti-Semitism is related to Haman in the book of Esther. He was angry with Mordecai the Jew, who refused to bow down before him as others did. This was often the pattern and the reason behind harsh and discriminatory behavior towards the Jewish people. Because of their monotheist faith they could not accept the social and religious standards or behavior among the pagan idol worshippers. As such they stood out and became the target of hatred and malice. This was the beginning of what has been known as anti-Semitism, which is with us today perhaps stronger than ever before.
Christian anti Semitism
However, the sad aspect of anti Semitism is not what was done by pagans and gentiles, but rather the horrible acts of the church. The pages of the New Testament clearly teach us that the head of the church, the first disciples, the first members of the church and its leaders were Jewish. After all, Jesus declared that he came to the house of Israel. Most of his ministry was spent among his own people, even though they did not treat him as kindly as one would expect: he received similar treatment to that which God’s prophets had received.
But towards the end of the first century as the church became more and more gentilised, and less Jewish, a new kind of anti-Semitism was born that superseded its predecessor, the pagan anti-Semitism.
The Separation
The great war of 66 -70 AD that ended with the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, was a turning point in the separation of synagogue and church in more ways than one. The final separation on the part of the Jews occurred in the year 80 AD when the Sanhedrin in Yavne introduced a curse against the “apostates” into the traditional Shemoneh esreh prayer that was recited three times daily: “May the minim perish in an instant, may they be effaced from the book of life and not be counted among the just”.
But it was not just the Jewish people who demanded separation. The Gentile Christians systematically eradicated all Jewish customs and symbolism from their worship and from any other church activity. This included the change of dates of the Passover and Easter festivals, for instance.
Traditionally the history of anti-Semitism is related to Haman in the book of Esther. He was angry with Mordecai the Jew, who refused to bow down before him as others did. This was often the pattern and the reason behind harsh and discriminatory behavior towards the Jewish people. Because of their monotheist faith they could not accept the social and religious standards or behavior among the pagan idol worshippers. As such they stood out and became the target of hatred and malice. This was the beginning of what has been known as anti-Semitism, which is with us today perhaps stronger than ever before.
Christian anti Semitism
However, the sad aspect of anti Semitism is not what was done by pagans and gentiles, but rather the horrible acts of the church. The pages of the New Testament clearly teach us that the head of the church, the first disciples, the first members of the church and its leaders were Jewish. After all, Jesus declared that he came to the house of Israel. Most of his ministry was spent among his own people, even though they did not treat him as kindly as one would expect: he received similar treatment to that which God’s prophets had received.
But towards the end of the first century as the church became more and more gentilised, and less Jewish, a new kind of anti-Semitism was born that superseded its predecessor, the pagan anti-Semitism.
The Separation
The great war of 66 -70 AD that ended with the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, was a turning point in the separation of synagogue and church in more ways than one. The final separation on the part of the Jews occurred in the year 80 AD when the Sanhedrin in Yavne introduced a curse against the “apostates” into the traditional Shemoneh esreh prayer that was recited three times daily: “May the minim perish in an instant, may they be effaced from the book of life and not be counted among the just”.
But it was not just the Jewish people who demanded separation. The Gentile Christians systematically eradicated all Jewish customs and symbolism from their worship and from any other church activity. This included the change of dates of the Passover and Easter festivals, for instance.
Church anti Semitism – continues
More seeds of misunderstanding and hatred were sown against the Jews as a result of the church’s disappointment in the fact that the Jewish people as a whole was not converted. By the end of the third century the church fathers Hipolytus and Origon had come to the conclusion that Jews are a people punished for their unbelief and there is no hope for them to escape their misfortune for having rejected Christ. This kind of belief kept anti-Semitism alive and well into the fourth century and on. It was in the fourth century that the misery of the Jewish people was considered to be divine punishment for their role in crucifying Christ, an idea that became the bedrock of fourth century theology. It was in the year 329 that the Emperor Constantine was converted to Christianity while on his deathbed. The Roman empire began to deny the Jews the freedom and privileges they had previously enjoyed, under the claim that they were to blame for “killing Christ”.
There is an important lesson for us today, some 17 centuries later. The road to heresy and destruction is slippery. Is it not true that the Jews killed Jesus? And is it not true that they must suffer for killing the Son of God – what worse crime could man commit?
Well, the scriptures teach us otherwise. Jesus was not killed by the Jewish people alone, but by all people, beginning with Adam and Eve and ending with ourselves. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” So who killed Jesus? You and I, the Roman Empire and Pontius Pilate are no less at fault than any of the Jews.
Does God punish the Jewish people or us for Christ’s crucifixion? No, the opposite is true. Because of Christ’s crucifixion God pours out his love and grace on us and shows us mercy. Is the church today more faithful to God than the Jewish people in the first century or before –not really!
Conclusion
Today you and I have a great challenge. We must resist the trend of anti-Semitism and despite the difficulty in doing so, work to bring the Gospel to the Jewish people. Unlike any other nation we have received specific commands and promises, as we saw in Romans, that evangelization of the Jewish people is not only to be our priority but is also a success story.
More seeds of misunderstanding and hatred were sown against the Jews as a result of the church’s disappointment in the fact that the Jewish people as a whole was not converted. By the end of the third century the church fathers Hipolytus and Origon had come to the conclusion that Jews are a people punished for their unbelief and there is no hope for them to escape their misfortune for having rejected Christ. This kind of belief kept anti-Semitism alive and well into the fourth century and on. It was in the fourth century that the misery of the Jewish people was considered to be divine punishment for their role in crucifying Christ, an idea that became the bedrock of fourth century theology. It was in the year 329 that the Emperor Constantine was converted to Christianity while on his deathbed. The Roman empire began to deny the Jews the freedom and privileges they had previously enjoyed, under the claim that they were to blame for “killing Christ”.
There is an important lesson for us today, some 17 centuries later. The road to heresy and destruction is slippery. Is it not true that the Jews killed Jesus? And is it not true that they must suffer for killing the Son of God – what worse crime could man commit?
Well, the scriptures teach us otherwise. Jesus was not killed by the Jewish people alone, but by all people, beginning with Adam and Eve and ending with ourselves. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” So who killed Jesus? You and I, the Roman Empire and Pontius Pilate are no less at fault than any of the Jews.
Does God punish the Jewish people or us for Christ’s crucifixion? No, the opposite is true. Because of Christ’s crucifixion God pours out his love and grace on us and shows us mercy. Is the church today more faithful to God than the Jewish people in the first century or before –not really!
Today you and I have a great challenge. We must resist the trend of anti-Semitism and despite the difficulty in doing so, work to bring the Gospel to the Jewish people. Unlike any other nation we have received specific commands and promises, as we saw in Romans, that evangelization of the Jewish people is not only to be our priority but is also a success story.
copyright 2009 David Zadok |
