Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Christian Claims as Blasphemous to Jews

I'm currently working on an article on Jesus and the Parting of the Ways between Judaism and Christianity. One thing that I find intriguing is that a number of charges laid against Jesus at his trial/interogation are used against Christians in other literature. Consider the one of blasphemy in Mark 14.64 which is brought against Christians in Acts 6.11 and Justin, Dial. Tryph. 38. In fact the latter reads:

And Trypho said, "Sir, it were good for us if we obeyed our teachers, who laid down a law that we should have no intercourse with any of you, and that we should not have even any communication with you on these questions. For you utter many blasphemies, in that you seek to persuade us that this crucified man was with Moses and Aaron, and spoke to them in the pillar of the cloud; then that he became man, was crucified, and ascended up to heaven, and comes again to earth, and ought to be worshipped."

1 comment:

Sylvanus said...

dear Michael.

I also find the parting of Judaism and Christianity interesting.
But as Justin further says in the same chapter, thing that are also repeated in the NT: "I know that, as the word of God says, this great wisdom of God , the Maker of all things, and the Almighty, is hid from you. Wherefore, in sympathy with you, I am striving to the utmost that you may understand these matters which to you are paradoxical."

And again in the NT: "For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in"(Rom 11:25)

And again: "But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart."(2Cor 3:15)

For "their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ." (2Cor 3:14)

For they will not remove the fading glory of the Law from behind the veil on Moses' head, As Trypho rightly confesses, which can only be removed by faith in Christ, who they also cannot accept, and whom Justin strived to expose. But thanks to God that in the final days "they also will obtain mercy." (Rom 11:31-32)