The other Gospels distinguishes the Pharisees as the "bad guys" in John all the Jews are the bad guys. While the others bareley mention the Jews he can't stop mentioning them. He has well over thirty antisemetic comments throughout the Gospel. He even goes as far as saying the Jews are satanic.
2007-03-23 01:51:44 · 13 answers · asked by Quantrill 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
2007-03-23 01:56:05 · update #1
If you can read John and not see an anti-Jewish bias I have no Idea what to tell you, it is plainly there.
2007-03-23 01:58:57 · update #2
Have you read the books by Paul? Man, even they're nutty! I guess maybe they couldn't find anything better to say since the Jews back then kept strong to their faith and were always challenging others, so they called the Jews satanic because they wouldn't believe in Jesus as messiah...man, oh man...wow! Take a look at Paul's books and you'll see that he was probably worse.
2007-03-24 03:20:25 · answer #1 · answered by -♦One-♦-Love♦- 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Quantrill, you're correct that the Gospel of John is much more condemning of some Jews as the synoptic Gospels. However, I don't agree that John condemns Jews across the board. There are several points I'd like you to consider:
1) The primary message of the Gospel of John is that Jesus is a form of God's Shekinah Glory -- God in the form of human flesh. (He appeared as a burning bush, and pillars of fire and smoke, so flesh really wasn't so difficult for Him!) Therefore, anyone -- Jew or Gentile -- who rejects this human representation of God rejects God the Father Himself.
2) I'm absolutely sure you've studied the Book of Isaiah, haven't you? To any serious student of God's thoughts as given to Isaiah, one glaring theme slowly comes into focus: again and again, God contrasts the believing remnant of Jews present during Isaiah's ministry with the huge numbers of Jews who aren't part of the remnant. These may not have "bowed the knee to Baal," as during Elijah's time, but they were every bit as bad -- the sacrifices and offerings were polluted and unacceptable; there was no true love for God in their hearts; they begrudgingly worshipped Him; etc. I believe the Apostle John is doing the same within this Gospel: contrasting the true, believing Jewish remnant with the false, who can only claim they're part of that remnant because they're descended from Abraham. Jesus calls them unbelieving hypocrits with no true love for the Father within their hearts. Why is it wrong for John to write about this, yet acceptable for Isaiah, Jeremiah, Elijah and others to write or speak the very same message? Do we ever accuse THEM of anti-Semitism? Of course not!
3) John's Gospel is replete with examples of righteous Jews. May I say this gently? Is it possible that you're so focused on the unrighteous that you're ignoring the righteous? What about the blind man whose story is recounted in John Chapter 9? These righteous Jews do exist. Please, read the Gospel again and consciously focus on finding the righteous -- I promise you, they are there.
2007-03-23 09:27:45 · answer #2 · answered by Suzanne: YPA 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This verse is found in John 8:44 and it is Jesus who said these words, not John. Remember that Jesus Himself was a Jew and yet He cared only about the truth, not whether He insulted a specific group of people. He said that the Jews imitated the devil (not meaning they were born of the devil) in these two ways. They were murderers because the intention of their hearts was to kill the Son of God. They were liars because they said that God was their Father. They pretended to be godly, spiritual men, but their lives were wicked.
2007-03-23 09:08:10 · answer #3 · answered by VW 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
John saw Jesus on the cross and John loved Jesus. He blamed the Pharisees or the chief priests of the temple for getting the Romans to crucify Jesus. Pilot didn't want to crucify Jesus. John heard the chief priests at the crucifixion. John only hated a few priestly Jews, because John was a Jew and he took care of Mary the mother of Jesus. Both Mary and Jesus who John loved are Jews.
2007-03-23 09:11:44 · answer #4 · answered by Jeancommunicates 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Gospels are written as an account of Jesus' life. Unlike the other three gospels, each chater of John shows a different "picture" of Christ. They aren't even in chronological order because it didn't make a difference. I would like to hear some of these supposed anti-semetic comments, I have not noticed them apparently, before.
2007-03-23 08:57:23 · answer #5 · answered by JesusLovesMe! 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Jesus is not anti-Jewish. He died on a tree so the repentant Jews would get eternal life.
He is anti-hypocrites. The religious leaders pretended to be true to God, but their hearts were far removed from God. So if the leaders were living a lie, they were imitating the devil.
Jesus is their judge, so he had the right to inform them.
2007-03-23 09:07:42 · answer #6 · answered by tienna 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The early church did indeed have issues with an identity crisis and they strove to distinguish themselves from the Roman and Judiac cultures.
2007-03-23 08:58:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hello... John was a Jew. So was Jesus. He wasn't saying all the Jews were bad. He was saying that Jews who preach and represent the law but don't follow them themselves are hypocrites.
2007-03-23 08:55:53 · answer #8 · answered by madbaldscotsman 6 · 8⤊ 1⤋
John was a Jew.
He wasnt racist.. He got angry by their stubbornness!
And try actually using the verses in context.. It makes alot more sense than when you pluck them out to make Christianity sound bad..
2007-03-23 09:03:04 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Your view might be influenced by the translation you are using.
2007-03-23 08:55:43 · answer #10 · answered by VanJimmy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋