The roots of antisemitism are in the Christian Bible

Ever wondered why Jews are given such a hard time in some circles? It’s entrenched in the New Testament and for centuries was handed down as part of the Christian religion. After all, in the First century most Jews rejected Yeshua as their Messiah. By the year 100 CE (when the Fourth Gospel, ‘John’, was written) Christianity was no longer seen as a sub-sect of Judaism but as a separate religion and Jews and Christians were at each others throats.

All four gospels show Jews in a bad light, but the Fourth is the most derisive. Throughout this gospel, ‘the Jews’ are lumped together as a group, and the term used disparagingly. For example:

The Jews replied, ‘We are not permitted to put anyone to death’.’ (John 18:31)

‘Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus although a secret one because of fear of the Jews…..’ (John 19:38)

The Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue.’ (John 9:22)

The New Testament is the origin of antisemitism and it’s a legacy that has never been fully overcome.

©David Lawrence Preston, 13.6.2016

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Hay House/Balboa Press, 2015