Customer Reviews

Antisemitism in the New Testament

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Anti Semitism in the New Testament is a book by Lillian Freudmann that traces the many anti-Semitic parts of the New Testament and in doing so gives an understanding as to why people have so hated Jews so much through the ages.

It starts by tracing pre New Testament Greek hostility of the Jews, to the letters of Paul, to the books of Luke, Matthew; etc. up to Acts, and ,finally, to the pornographic diatribes of Martin Luther and how many of Nazi Germany's persecutions of the Jews had precursors in christian persecutions against them; e.g. ghettos, yellow badges; etc.

Mrs. Fruedmann points out that Paul was not Jewish; he did not understand Judaism; he mistranslated several portions of the Old Testament; did not know Jesus and continued in his errors about Jesus even though Jesus's brother James tried to point out that he [Paul] was wrong.

Lillian Freudmann also points out that it is hardly likely that the Pharisees wanted Jesus dead and Paul and the other writers of the New Testament blamed the Jews, in part, because they were petrified of the power of Rome.

Mrs. Freudmann also points out that when Jesus was speaking of being the son of God he was just speaking in the vernacular of the day and was not viewing himself as some sort of co God at all.

I think this is a very good book that explains the many fables of Paul and the other New Testament writers and for those that wonder why the world hates the Jews so much, this book will provide the answer.

The editorial review sums it up well. Lillian Freudmann points out many misrepresentations of jewish scriptures by the christian scriptures, and also explains what the jewish scriptures really say. One important point she makes is: "Anti-Judaism is a part of Christian exegesis. Anti-Christianity is not properly a part of Jewish exegesis." I have read a lot of books about antisemitism, but my impression is that this is the best. A woman trumps the men! I give it 5 Stars.

I don't think the author is an academic historian, but she does a good job of laying out the historical background of antisemitism, and how it can be derived from some NT passages. I might question some of her interpretations, but the basic historical facts are well laid out and are undeniable. Read this book, then go on to more academic books on the same subject. Nowhere is the need for honest, historical-critical reading of the NT shown more clearly, than in this tragic subject.