The document discusses how antisemitism became embedded in early Christianity through the New Testament and church fathers, who used anti-Jewish rhetoric. This was influenced by the division between Hellenized Jews and traditional Jews in the 1st century CE. Over subsequent centuries, Christian teachings and theologians furthered negative stereotypes about Jews through claims they were responsible for Jesus' death, demonization, and denying Jewish connection to the land. This laid the foundation for centuries of antisemitism sanctioned by the church.

1. ANTISEMITISM
disguised in
Supersessionism & Theology
embedded in the New Testament
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2. Underlying Causes
 2nd C. BCE Hellenism and Assimilation
 Samaritans deny ‘Jewish’ connection
 The War of Rome against the Jewish people
1st Century
Greek speaking Jews in Pharisaic/Rabbinic
Judea, etc and Diaspora Jews
vs.
Hellenized followers of Zealots,Essenes
Jesus

3. Underlying Causes
The conquest of the Holy Land by Alexander the Great introduced
Hellenism to the Hebrews. Substantial numbers accepted Greek
language and culture and thereby create deep divisions in Jewish life
and culture. Persecution under Antiochus IV. Epiphanes deepens the
division, but Hebraists are victorious and Jerusalem Temple is
rededicated.
Roman conquest of Judea further isolates the Hebraists from the
secularists.
Resistance by Nationalists to Romanization favoured by Hellenists
Rapid Hellenization of the Jesus movement separates the church
from Judaism with a growth in anti-Jewish polemics from the
Church Fathers

4. Gentile Presumptions:
Temple destruction consequence of failure to
acknowledge Jesus as Messiah
Non-Jewish Christians take it upon themselves to exegete
Jewish Scriptures and define Jewish traditions

5. GENTILE PRESUMPTION
CONT’D
Synoptic Gospels: John’s Gospel: Jesus becomes
Present a Jesus who is Jewish generic and enemy of the Jews
Opinion forming, distorting Narratives
Jews are faithless; have difficulty Roman Centurion calls Jesus
accepting Jesus’ mission Lord; has faith (Matt. 8:5-8; 13)
Jews are blind to Jesus Roman Centurion ‘sees’!
(Matt.27:54; Mk.15:39; Lk.23:47)
Jews antagonistic “OTHER”,
Roman Graciousness; kindness;
violent, mob mentality (Acts 23)
Embodiment of evil, bloodthirsty
Jews “sons of the devil”
Ethos of demonization

6. Gentile Presumption cont’d.
 Monotheism  Divinity of Jesus
 Election  Gentiles
 Land Focused  Stephen’s Idea of the
in the Temple Temple within
 Paul and the ‘Law’
 Covenant
Focused in the
Torah

7. Contributing factors: 1st to 4th cent. C.E.
 Hellenized, Greek speaking Jews in Jerusalem, Judea
 The Zealots and various pro-temple factions
 Hellenized followers of Jesus
 Marcion and his Anti-Jewish New Testament
 The early Church Fathers
 Constantine bans Jewish festivals, the Sabbath and
circumcision

8. Contributing factors: 5th to 20th cent.
C.E.
 The New Testament
 The post-Nicene Church Fathers
 Ethos of demonization
 The Inquisition
 Martin Luther
 The 1611 King James Bible

9. Fig. 1 A map as published in the Revised Standard Version of
the Bible; publ. 1952 – the name Palestine (Palaestina) did not
come into being until more than 100 years AFTER Jesus

10. Contributing factors: 5th to 20th cent. C.E.
 Ongoing Allegorization of the Hebrew Bible (O.T.)
 Palestinianism and denial of a physical restoration

11. Common Christian Conclusions
Loss of Temple
Loss of God’s
Loss of Priesthood =
Loss of Sacrifice Favour
...therefore:
No Temple, no priesthood, no sacrifice, NO
GOD
ERROR: Church is the New Israel and
Modern Israel is illegitimate

12. SUMMARY:
Early Christianity had a major influence in
forming the Gentile world’s opinion concerning
the Jewish people.
The compilers of the New Testament used anti-
Jewish language to perpetuate the problem
The church promoted active Jew hatred through
blood libel and the Inquisition that lasted over
600 years.
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