Jewish Christian Relationships Essay 2022

Running head: JEWISH CHRISTIAN RELATIONSHIPS
Jewish Christian Relationships
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Author Note

1JEWISH CHRISTIAN RELATIONSHIPS
1) In this essay, the aim is to discuss about the differences and similarities between the anti-
Christian and anti-Jewish polemics. These texts had been written in the Middle Ages so Jews
could be protected from converting into Christianity.
There were many examples of such texts where anti-Christian polemics written to
save the Jews. Some of these examples are Dialogue of Timothy and Aquila, Dialogue with
Trypho and Dialogue of Simon and Theophilus. The first text had been written in the 6th
century (Kessler: 21). The second and third texts were published in 2nd and 5th century
respectively. The interdisciplinary approach had been taken in this scenario so religious polemics
could be understood properly. The polemic texts were written by the Jews in Europe from the
beginning of the 12th century. Another polemic text in this context is the Milhamoth ha-Shem.
It can be identified from the examples and further research work that Pharisees were the
progenitors of rabbis. They were able to survive in this conflicting atmosphere of their own in
the countries where they had large numbers of people. On the other hand, the context of the
Christians should be discussed in this scenario (Haynes: 20). The Church fathers were
responsible behind writing these polemic texts that were indicated against Jews and Judaism.
This was the patristic literature and this formed the basis for the Christian texts for centuries
counting from the first century. The literature texts written by the Christian fathers are principal
evidences where tensions regarding Jewish- Christian relationships could be seen. Various
aspects can be imagined in this scenario of inter-faith and inter-religious polemic texts. The basic
similarity between these two types of polemics is they both have targeted each other with scorn
and distrust (Collins: 18). The difference lies in the fact that Christians have drafted the anti-
Jewish polemics based on their religious beliefs. The Jews did not even recognize Jesus Christ as
Messiah or the ultimate protector of mankind. Christians always value Jesus Christ at the