PThU Bible blog
- Antisemitism: a modern phenomenon?In literature, both scientific and in the press, a distinction is often made between anti-Semitism and anti-Judaism. The latter is seen as primarily a Christian, pre-modern phenomenon, while the former is viewed as a modern development with explicitly racist characteristics. The formula is often presented as: anti-Judaism + racism = anti-Semitism. However, I want to argue that some forms of medieval Christian hatred towards Jews were indeed racist, and can therefore be called anti-Semitic.
- Jews as children of the devil?For years, New Testament texts about Jews have been interpreted in a literal way. This includes, for example, texts where Jews are associated with the devil, or the well-known verse "his blood be on us and on our children" (Mat 27:25). This led to stereotypical depictions of Jews, in writing and images, in which Jews, for example, are said to use blood of Christian children for their rituals, and poison wells. Today, such public depictions and statements are considered unacceptable. However, that doesn’t mean that such stereotypical images have disappeared. Can biblical scholarship help to counter this?
- Did Jesus walk on water?Walking on water is impossible, or so we learn in school. The church isn’t as sure. After all, the New Testament does describe how Jesus walks on the waves. How should we read this story? That question has been debated for centuries. Theology student and pastor Jacob Uilkens had a clear opinion about it more than two hundred years ago.
- Is Isaiah 52-53 a forbidden text for Jews?Is Isaiah 53 a "forbidden chapter" for Jews? This is a common, suggestive question, from the mouths of some Christians. The reason would be that these texts refer to Jesus and that Jews do not want to know this. In traditional Jewish literature, however, Isaiah's texts about the servant are also applied to the (Jewish) messiah.
- Does Paul tell us to always obey the government?A passage from Paul's letter to the Romans seems to say that you have to obey the rules of the government, even if they offend you. Does Paul mean it that way?