Are all Jews in hell, because they don't believe in Christ?

Question

I asked this because my VERY conservative Christian roommate said "Jesus is the only way to escape hell"
Then he said only Christians go to heaven.

Answer 1

Like Abraham, the man who spoke with god?
Or Jospeh, who saw god in dreams?
What about Moses, who freed god's people?
King David, who god chose to rule his people?
What about Joseph and Mary?
And Jesus? Jesus was Jewish-- do you think he's in hell?

Answer 2

I doubt it. Most of the condemnation language in the New Testament comes from the Gospel of John, which is very sketchy in terms of authenticity. Unfortunately, most of mainsteam Christianity is based on this book. Most believe John was written by the Apostle John, son of Zebedee, who was very close to Jesus. This is highly, highly unlikely. Jesus and all his disciples were Jews, but the writer of the Gospel of John was almost certainly a Gentile. He uses the word "Jew" in almost a derogatory fashion throught his narrative. Also, most scholars find that the Gospel of John was not written until 90 AD at the EARLIEST, while some suggest a date of authorship as late as 120 AD. The apostle John would probably have died by this time (though it is possible he was still alive). The Gospel of John also portrays a completely different and often contradictory Jesus than the other three Gospels, who all show Jesus as a humble but self-assured teacher and healer. John shows Jesus as more of a boastful magician, striving not to teach people the right way to live but only to convince them that he is the Son of God.

John was mostly likely written by a Gentile religious zealot in the late first century trying to make a bold statement about the "rightness" of his view of Jesus. He really has no support for the image of Jesus he portrays, nor for the claims he makes about condemnation.

It's possible the Christian claims that everyone who isn't Christian is going to hell are true, but I don't really think that's what Jesus was trying to accomplish. Don't worry about converting Jewish people. Just live the way Jesus says to live (in the first three Gospels, which are supported and corroborated more than enough to be considered largely authentic representations of Jesus' ministry).

Answer 3

Generally, being a "Jew" in a religious sense means that that one follows Judaism. That would mean that, at most, that Jew would regard Jesus as a "good teacher". They would not regard Him as the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). They would not call Him their Lord and Savior.

1 John 2:23
No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

Answer 4

i've had that happen to me before....

i'm jewish, and i also don't even believe in a heaven and a hell. we all go to the same place when we die. i consider it very narrow-minded to live as if you're better than the other because you're 'saved' or whatever the justification is. of course it would be great if the entire world were jewish since i'm jewish, but not only is diversity of faith something that can't be changed, it's also an opportunity to learn and accept.

Answer 5

No!!! Some Jews DO believe in Christ. Google "Jews For Jesus"-- it's a HUGE ministry.

Answer 6

Perhaps remind him that Jesus was a Jew, in fact an orthodox Jew from the West Bank. So, is he in hell too then?

Answer 7

I have wondered abouot this too,,

what about all who came before christ....

what about people outside of the small area christ inhabited for 33 years or so. Were all those people doomed?

What about babies born but only live a short time? Are they granfathered in somehow?

Answer 8

No, I don't believe so.

Remember what the Jewish people suffered during the Holocaust. Should all the 6,000,000 who endured such attrocity be in Hell, after they were already in Hell on earth?

Answer 9

Hell is a Christian fantasy.

Answer 10

if you say jews are all in hell for not believing in christ that would mean that you were also in hell because we all live on earth.