Early Enemies of Christianity
31 Aug 2009 | 05:53 PM (1728 KB)
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In the television special, "Search for Jesus, " there was an assault on the veracity of the New Testament. The program, with Peter Jennings, tried to do away with anti-Jewish sentiment by suggesting that it was the Romans – specifically the Roman Curator, Pontius Pilate, who were responsible for the death of Jesus. The program tried to point out that Jesus was just another Jew and did not endorse His divinity.
First, let us be clear on this. The New Testament is not against Jews and there should be no prejudice toward Jewish people in the hearts of converted Christians. In fact, there should be no prejudice in Christians toward any race. A person of Jewish origin is no more reponsible for the death of Christ than you or I are. Christ died for all our sins and all have sinned (Rom. 3:24).
Whatever our ethnic or racial origin, when we are in the Church, the Body of Christ, we are told, "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him" (Rom. 10:12 NRS). In the Church there is no distinction (Col. 3:11).
But the program implied that the New Testament was and is historically inaccurate. Let us set the record straight. Jesus was born a Jew. He was born into the Jewish community of the first century. That community consisted of various sects and cults – Pharisees, Sadduccees, Herodians, Essenes, Scribes, and zealots. Jesus came from a Jewish ancestry that could be traced back to King David and beyond (see Matt. 1 and Luke 3). There were, of course, Gentiles in His background – Ruth, the Moabitess, and Rahab the Canaanite harlot.
It was early in His ministry that Jesus set Himself against the legalism that had developed after the Persian captivity. Traditions of elders became like a second religion among the Jews. Jesus spoke out against it and condemned it when it overran the commandment of God and actually laid the commandment aside in favor of the tradition (Mark 7:1-13). The Pharisees did their best to entrap this teacher who was creating a stir among people (Matt 22:15), but they could not.
Jesus went on a strong tirade against the legalism and its oppression of people. The pretended prayers, devouring of widows houses, the faking of long prayers for money, the brainwashing of proselytes, and the inability to distinguish the important from the unimportant (Matt. 23:13-34).
According to the New Testament Gospel of John, Jesus was accused and arrested by Jewish authorities and turned over to the Roman ruler (John 18:12, 19-24, 28). When He didn’t answer Pilate He was told, "Don’t you know I have the power to release you or to crucify you?" Jesus answered that Pilate’s power came from above, thus those delivering Him to Pilate had the greater sin (John 19:10-12).
It is true that Christianity began as though it was a sect of Judaism, but events came about that separated the Christian church from the Judaism. In fact, so much so that by the time of the writing of the New Testament the apostles used the word "ecclesia" to mean the assembly of the Christians. They used "synagogue" to mean the assembly of the Jews.
In our next "Sabbath Thoughts" we will examine just what happened that the New Testament Church became alienated from Judaism.
First, let us be clear on this. The New Testament is not against Jews and there should be no prejudice toward Jewish people in the hearts of converted Christians. In fact, there should be no prejudice in Christians toward any race. A person of Jewish origin is no more reponsible for the death of Christ than you or I are. Christ died for all our sins and all have sinned (Rom. 3:24).
Whatever our ethnic or racial origin, when we are in the Church, the Body of Christ, we are told, "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him" (Rom. 10:12 NRS). In the Church there is no distinction (Col. 3:11).
But the program implied that the New Testament was and is historically inaccurate. Let us set the record straight. Jesus was born a Jew. He was born into the Jewish community of the first century. That community consisted of various sects and cults – Pharisees, Sadduccees, Herodians, Essenes, Scribes, and zealots. Jesus came from a Jewish ancestry that could be traced back to King David and beyond (see Matt. 1 and Luke 3). There were, of course, Gentiles in His background – Ruth, the Moabitess, and Rahab the Canaanite harlot.
It was early in His ministry that Jesus set Himself against the legalism that had developed after the Persian captivity. Traditions of elders became like a second religion among the Jews. Jesus spoke out against it and condemned it when it overran the commandment of God and actually laid the commandment aside in favor of the tradition (Mark 7:1-13). The Pharisees did their best to entrap this teacher who was creating a stir among people (Matt 22:15), but they could not.
Jesus went on a strong tirade against the legalism and its oppression of people. The pretended prayers, devouring of widows houses, the faking of long prayers for money, the brainwashing of proselytes, and the inability to distinguish the important from the unimportant (Matt. 23:13-34).
According to the New Testament Gospel of John, Jesus was accused and arrested by Jewish authorities and turned over to the Roman ruler (John 18:12, 19-24, 28). When He didn’t answer Pilate He was told, "Don’t you know I have the power to release you or to crucify you?" Jesus answered that Pilate’s power came from above, thus those delivering Him to Pilate had the greater sin (John 19:10-12).
It is true that Christianity began as though it was a sect of Judaism, but events came about that separated the Christian church from the Judaism. In fact, so much so that by the time of the writing of the New Testament the apostles used the word "ecclesia" to mean the assembly of the Christians. They used "synagogue" to mean the assembly of the Jews.
In our next "Sabbath Thoughts" we will examine just what happened that the New Testament Church became alienated from Judaism.
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