luke: Anti-semetism in Lukes Gospel (PART B)

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Anti-Semetism in Luke's Gospel

Advantages

  • Trail execution shows Jews in worst light
  • Luke blames jews for Jesus' death
  • Luke portrays the Jewish people an their leaders as those who brought jesus' death, although the Romans executed him.
  • In the Lukan portrayal, the Roman governor, Pilate, repeatedly declares Jesus to be innocent of the charges brought against him, but the Jewish priests and their associates, as well as the people, insist that he should be put to death (see Luke 23:1-25). As a Roman ruler, Pilate appears to be incredibly weak, but the Jewish leaders are irredeemably unjust and malevolent.

Disadvantages

  • Pro-Jewish material in the Birth narrative and infancy- describes Jewish life postively
  • In infancy narrative we learn the importance of ritual, the temple and priesthood and show people living quiet devoted Jewish lives.
  • Emphasises the relationship of Jesus to Israel and his relationship with jewish people
  • Jesus practices Judaism- visits the temple, follows the Torah, celebrates Jewish festivals
  • Jesus was born in the City of David
  • The parents of John the Baptist, Zechariah and Elizabeth are described as "righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all commandments and regulations of the Lord." (Luke 1:6)

Evaluation

Luke and Acts are ambivalent. They are both pro-Jewish and anti-Jewish. Lloyd Gaston once—paradoxically but accurately--characterized Luke-Acts as “one of the most pro-Jewish and one of the most anti-Jewish writings in the New Testament.”

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