Jews?

[Stephen]

Hello 

Does anyone know why the NT uses the phrase 'the Jews', given that the NT was written by and for Jews? 

 

[romansh]

6 hours ago, Stephen said:

Hello 

Does anyone know why the NT uses the phrase 'the Jews', given that the NT was written by and for Jews? 

 

I certainly don't and I am not sure anyone does. But my friendly ChatGPT gives some possibilities:

• Historical Context: The New Testament was written during a time when early Christians were distinguishing themselves from mainstream Judaism. The term "the Jews" often reflects this emerging distinction.

• Literary and Theological Purposes: The New Testament authors often used "the Jews" to refer to particular groups, especially the religious leaders and authorities who opposed Jesus and his followers. This usage served to highlight the conflicts and tensions between Jesus and the Jewish religious establishment.

• Group Identification: In the diverse and multicultural Roman Empire, "the Jews" was a way to identify the ethnic and religious group of people who practiced Judaism, as distinct from other groups such as Gentiles (non-Jews).

• Narrative Device: In the Gospels, "the Jews" can serve as a narrative device to build tension and conflict in the story of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. It often contrasts the opposition Jesus faced with the belief and acceptance by his followers.

• Varied Usage: The term is used differently across the various books of the New Testament. For example, in the Gospel of John, "the Jews" frequently refers to those who opposed Jesus, whereas in other contexts, it might simply denote the Jewish people more broadly.

• Translational and Interpretive Issues: Some nuances of the original Greek texts can be lost or misunderstood in translation. The term "Ioudaioi" (often translated as "the Jews") can mean Judeans (people from the region of Judea) or members of the Jewish faith, depending on the context.

• Post-70 CE Context: After the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE, the identity of the Jewish people and the early Christians continued to evolve, influencing how the term was used retrospectively by the New Testament writers.

 

Why do we care?

[tariki]

6 hours ago, Stephen said:

Hello 

Does anyone know why the NT uses the phrase 'the Jews', given that the NT was written by and for Jews? 

 

Interesting entry on Wiki:-

 

In the Gospel of John, the word Ἰουδαῖοι, or the Jews, is used 63 times,in a hostile sense 31 times, and no distinctions are made between Jewish groups. The Sadducees, for example, prominent elsewhere, are not distinguished. The enemies of Jesus are described collectively as "the Jews", in contradistinction to the other evangelists, who do not generally ascribe to "the Jews" collectively calls for the death of Jesus. In the other three texts, the plot to put Jesus to death is always presented as coming from a small group of priests and rulers, the Sadducees.The Gospel of John is the primary source of the image of "the Jews" acting collectively as the enemy of Jesus, which later became fixed in Christian minds.

 

Which I suppose goes some way to explaining the anti-semitism inherent within Christianity through the centuries. 

[PaulS]

13 hours ago, Stephen said:

Hello 

Does anyone know why the NT uses the phrase 'the Jews', given that the NT was written by and for Jews? 

 

Actually, the New Testament was written more for Christians (a broad category of Jesus followers) than it was for Jews.  Perhaps a better comparison would be that it was written for Jesus followers, and broadly for anybody not already  'believing' their message (Jews & Gentiles alike).

During these times Christianity was starting to emerge as a distinct religion, often in opposition to the Jewish leaders who did not accept Jesus as the Messiah. This opposition is reflected in the New Testament's portrayal of "the Jews" as adversaries of Jesus and his followers.

Bart Ehrman explains that this language served to distinguish early Christians from the Jewish community and to frame the narrative of Jesus' persecution and crucifixion as part of a broader cosmic struggle between good and evil. He suggests that the use of "the Jews" can be seen as part of the rhetorical strategy to position Christianity as the true continuation of God's covenant, superseding Judaism.