Jews and Christians are rival siblings

    As if they were rival siblings, the presentation of self to one another of Jewish and Christian communities has often been marked by competition. The exchange of “in your face” self-understandings has made the respective communities more alike even as they sought to distance themselves from one another. Their habits of privileging texts through which to read themselves are intertwined. Attention to the reading habits of both Jews and Christians is necessary if the development of either faith is to be understood.

    Jew or Gentile, believer or atheist, it doesn’t matter: this series of short essays on canons of Jewish and Christian scripture in Greco-Roman antiquity is meant to be intelligible to all. On the other hand, the discussion is not dumbed down to the level of unsupported generalizations, nor is my intent apologetic. Links to source material and discussion are provided; for more bibliography, see the “Suggestions for Further Study” at series’ conclusion.

Definitions

    The terms of the discussion are controversial and must be defined. I will use the term “canon” in a functional sense. A writing is canonical if and only if passages from it can be appealed to in order to bolster an argument or establish a direction of thought or action. A more pointed definition is also helpful: a writing is canonical if it must be shown that its contents cohere with teaching developed on independent grounds. So defined, the term describes a usage that is not specific to a single epoch or religious group.

    For the purposes of this series of posts, Greco-Roman antiquity refers to the period stretching from 300 BCE to 600 CE, and embraces that part of the ancient world shaped by Greek and/or Roman hegemony in that period.

Imagine all the people

    The sages of classical Judaism conceptualized the political relationships of the people they took to be under their care along biblical lines. They taught the “Israel” they knew to identify with the “Israel” of the Bible. Israel’s Roman hegemons, pagan and then Christian, were thought of as blood brothers, and identified with Jacob/Israel’s brother Esau. According to the Bible, God loved Jacob, but hated Esau (Malachi 1:3). Nonetheless, the sages taught that Jews were to love their neighbors, Esau=Rome included. See Love of Neighbor in Classical Judaism, by Jacob Neusner.   

    Neusner puts it this way elsewhere:

To define the terms of the crisis that defined the task of Midrash as prophecy is simple. Christians saw Israel as God’s people rejected by God for rejecting the Christ. Israel saw Christians, now embodied in Rome, as Ishmael, Esau, Edom: the brother and the enemy. The political revolution marked by Constantine’s conversion not only forced the two parties to discuss a single agendum and defined the terms in which each would take up that  agendum. It also made each party investigate the entire past in making sense of the unprecedented and uncertain present. When emperors convert and governments shift allegiance, the world shakes underfoot.¹

    Jews and Christians were bitter rivals in antiquity. Even so, the respective communities knew their destinies were linked, and both communities knew they were called to love one another. Strong words: it is unfortunately not too much to say that it was thought more expedient for the appeal to be “more honor'd in the breach than in the observance.”

¹Jacob Neusner, Midrash Reader (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1990) 72, cited by William H. Shea, “Three Notes on Relations Between Early Rabbinic and Early Christian Sources,” Journal of the Adventist Theological Society 12 (2001) 78–82; 81 (online here)

Further Reading

Adam H. Becker and Annette Yoshiko Reed, eds., The Ways That Never Parted: Jews and Christians in Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2007); Daniel Boyarin, A Radical Jew: Paul and the Politics of Identity (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1994); idem, Dying for God: Martyrdom and the Making of Christianity and Judaism (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1999); idem, Border Lines: The Partition of Judaeo-Christianity (Divinations: Rereading Late Ancient Religion; Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2004); Shaye J. D. Cohen, The Beginnings of Jewishness: Boundaries, Varieties, Uncertainties (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1999); Terence L. Donaldson, Judaism and the Gentiles: Jewish Patterns of Universalism (to 135 CE) (Waco: Baylor University Press, 2008; short review here); Arthur J. Droge, “Self-definition vis-à-vis the Graeco-Roman World,” in The Cambridge History of Christianity: Volume 1 Origins to Constantine (Margaret M. Mitchell and Frances M. Young, eds.; Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006) 230-244; James D. G. Dunn, “Who Did Paul Think He Was? A Study of Jewish-Christian Identity,” NTS 45 (1999) 174-193; idem, The Partings of the Ways: Between Christianity and Judaism and Their Significance for the Character of Christianity (2nd ed.; London: SCM, 2006 [1991]); Louis H. Feldman, Jew and Gentile in the Ancient World: Attitudes and Interactions from Alexander to Justinian (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1993); idem, Judaism and Hellenism Reconsidered (Supplements to JSJ 107; Leiden: Brill, 2006); Martin Goodman, Rome and Jerusalem: The Clash of Ancient Civilizations (New York: Knopf, 2007); Marc G. Hirshman, A Rivalry of Genius: Jewish and Christian Biblical Interpretation in Late Antiquity. (Batya Stein, tr.; SUNY Series in Judaica: Hermeneutics, Mysticism, and Religion; Albany: State University of New York Press, 1996); William Horbury, Jews and Christians: In Contact and Controversy (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1998); Pieter W. van der Horst, Essays on the Jewish World of Early Christianity (Novum Testamentum et Orbis Antiquus; Göttingen: Vandenhoeck and Ruprecht, 1990); idem, Hellenism, Judaism, Christianity: Essays on Their Interaction (Contributions to Biblical Exegesis and Theology; Leuven: Peeters, 1998); Giorgio Jossa, Jews or Christians?: The Followers of Jesus in Search of their Own Identity (Molly Rogers, tr.; WUNT 202; Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2007 =. Giudei o cristiani? I seguaci di Gesù in cerca di una propria identità [Brescia: Paideia, 2004]); Judith M. Lieu, Christian Identity in the Jewish and Graeco-Roman World (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004); idem, “Self-definition vis-à-vis the Jewish Matrix,” in The Cambridge History of Christianity: Volume 1 Origins to Constantine (Margaret M. Mitchell and Frances M. Young, eds.; Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006) 214-229; Jacob Neusner, Persia and Rome in Classical Judaism (Lanham: University Press of America, 2008); Adiel Schremer, Brothers Estranged: Heresy, Christianity and Jewish Identity in Late Antiquity (New York: Oxford University Press, 2010); Alan F. Segal, Rebecca’s Children: Judaism and Christianity in the Roman World (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1986); idem, The Other Judaisms of Late Antiquity. Brown Judaic Studies 127. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1987); idem, Paul the Convert: The Apostolate and Apostasy of Saul the Pharisee (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1990); Stephen Spence, The Parting of the Ways: The Roman Church as a Case Study (Interdisciplinary Studies in Ancient Culture and Religion 5; Leuven: Peeters, 2004); Graham N. Stanton and Guy G. Stroumsa, eds., Tolerance and Intolerance in Early Judaism and Christianity (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998); Yaakov Y. Teppler, Birkat haMinim: Jews and Christians in Conflict in the Ancient World (Susan Weingarten, tr.; TSAJ 120; Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2007)

Comments

[Shawshank redemption 5]

It seems so odd at the end for the speaker to say Jews and Christians were rivals, but they knew they were destined to be linked. How did they know? Did they just feel an unspoken bond?

[True Grit 3]

Jew and Christians seem to be linked, some ways are more obvious than others. I thought the “rival siblings” part is interesting, simply for the fact that both religions do several of the same things, but just in different ways. I also found it interesting that they were suppose to be rivals, but yet they respected the other religion.

[Breaker Morant 2]

Jews and Christians are linked by their same set of core beliefs in the Old Testament. The biggest disagreement between the two religions is that people of the Jewish faith do not believe that the Messiah has come, whereas people who follow a Christian lifestyle have a core belief that the Messiah has already come and will come again. I think the word rival is an interesting word choice to compare Jewish and Christian faith because rival feels to me to be two drastically opposing forces. To say that Jewish people and Christians are rivals you would have to say that Christians are rivals with every other religion. Christians have more in common with Jewish people than many other religions in that they have the link of the Old Testament. Just a thought I had about comparing the two religions. I personally think rival is too negative of a word to use when comparing religions that have quite a bit in common compared to other religions. Yes they have the one major differing belief in the coming of the savior (among others) but Christianity has the core book beliefs of the Jewish faith intertwined into their religion.

[JohnFH]

SR 5, TG 3, and BM 2,

The matrix of Christianity, the soil in which it grew and still grows, is the Jewish faith, not only as found in the Old Testament, but in its development up to and including the time of Jesus and Paul. The bonds are organic. Nonetheless, the rivalry was fierce and in some ways has never come to an end.

For example, Paul, the first great Christian missionary, began as Saul, a Pharisee zealous for the Jewish faith to the point of persecuting fellow Jews who were teaching that Jesus was the Messiah. After his conversion to the faith of those he was persecuting, Paul thought of Gentile Christians as those who had been cut off of a bad tree (paganism) and grafted into a good tree (Judaism). See Romans 11:16-21.

Centuries later, when paganism waned and Christianity gained momentum in the Roman Empire, Christians treated Jews horribly and did so often, up to recent times. In fact, in many times and places, Christians were taught to hold Judaism in contempt. It is a sad, sad story which thankfully is coming to an end. But it is still the case that Christianity and (non-messianic) Judaism are rival understandings of the way things are.

[chariots of fire 3]

I thought that this was a very interesting article, the idea to compare Jews and Christians, as a type of sibling is attention grabbing. I never really looked at the different religions as a type of competition but after reading the article I can definitely see how people would think of the two religions as competing rivals. “Their habits of privileging texts through which to read their environment and themselves are intertwined.” I thought that this was a really good sentence that helped readers realize the competition that is between them and also how that same competition makes them similar in a competitive respect.

[Aaron Erickson]

Truman 1,

I think that it is a good way to look at the religions as siblings because of what was said in an earlier post about how we begin with the same core believes. I also agree that it should not be seen as a rivalry like it really has been to some people. From a Christian stand point Jesus himself was a Jew so for Christians to think negative of this faith I think would be a mistake. Personally I think that both Jewish people and Christian people are children of God and should be respected.

[Praying With Lior 2]

I completely agree with the thought that Jews and Christians are rival siblings. I think the matter is almost entirely due to the fact that we as humans tend to see what we believe in (whether faith, political stance, etc.) as the sole truth. Christians view Jews as wrong because they are too afraid that their own faith is fallible (which is the basis to life for many religious people). The same goes for Jews against Christians. Even if the beliefs between Jews and Christians are practically the same (which they are might I add) the rivalry between these two faiths will never change.

[Nell 2]

I initially liked one of the last lines included in the blog post, “the respective communities knew their destinies were linked, and both communities knew they were called to love one another,” (Jews and Christians are rival siblings) because it contradicts the idea that both religions are rivals, stated within the title an opening paragraph. I find the headline very appropriate. Because both religions follow most of the same patterns creates a “sibling” effect among them. In contrast, the rival effect performs the essential idea that siblings go through in their growing ages with each other.

I understand that different religions have their own certain beliefs and ideas on how a human should go about. However, in agreement with True Grit 3, religions respect each other. Yes, we all have different beliefs but at the end of the day our beliefs revolve around one person, God.

[Pulp Fiction 4]

After reading through this passage, I really strongly agree with the phrase "rival siblings", I think it is entirely true. Being a Christian I do not look down upon Jews, because Jesus was a Jew, and personally I don't think there should be any negative thoughts toward any religion. People are going to believe in what they want, and there should be a level of respect for everyone and their religion.

[Truman Show 2]

It is interesting to know that Jews and Christians were rivals even in ancient times. After reading Leviticus and Genesis on the topic of loving your neighbor I assumed that it meant the ones living next to you. Now that I have read Ben Azzai’s interpretation it makes more sense that “your neighbor” means all of humanity. If everyone originated from Adam and Eve than Jews and Christians are distant relatives it is clear why they knew they were expected to love one another, and share common destinies. Even though they practice different faiths they believe in the same God, so I don’t understand where the “rivalry” came from.

[Pulp Fiction 3]

I also agree that it is interesting how Jews and Christians were rivals. In regards to Pulp Fiction 4's post, I do not look down upon Jews as a Christian either. No religion should be looked at negatively. I believe that if people choose a religion and stick to the beliefs of that religion, there should be no negative attitudes toward them. People that do not declare a faith on the hand, I believe that people deserve the right to criticize them. I believe this because we should all be doing are best to give back to the person that made us who we are.

[Pulp Fiction 2]

Jews and Christians have been rival siblings for centuries now, ever since the break from Judaism to Christianity. In the Christian bible, almost three-quarters of it is shared between both religions (Old Testament). Leaving the rest, only one-quarter differing, the New Testament. This rivalry however is not only seen between Jews and Christians but between different denominations of Christians as well. Catholics and Protestants have often fought viciously over their differing beliefs which have more in common with each other than with the Jews. Religion has the potential to be just as beneficial to a society as it can be detrimental.

[True Grit 4]

As a Christian I do believe that Jews and Christians are rival siblings. We both believe that the Old Testament stories are true. We both believe in God’s promise of a messiah. The big difference comes from the fact that Christians believe the messiah has already come and Jews do not. This is the reason for the rivalry. Some people who do not know Christians think that we are rivals because the Jews are the ones who had Jesus put to death, but this is not the case. Christians should not be mad at Jews because of this because had Jesus not died we would not be saved.

[Breaker Morant 4]

I completely agree with the comparison between the christians and jews as rival siblings. growing up with a older brother and a younger sister there was lots of conflict between us. Now that we are older we get along because we know and under stand each other and where they are coming from. The rival siblings fits perfectly with the jews and Christians they fought a lot when they where both younger but with age comes understanding and now you rarely see conflicts between the religions compared to the past.

[TheMission7]

This is the first time I have ever heard of this conflict, and I don't know whether it's from being ignorant or the fact that this debate still matters in today's world. As a Christian, I don't see myself as a rival to any Jew or the Jewish community as a whole. I have never heard my church or any Christian say anything bad about Jews and I don't really know any Jews so I wouldn't know if this belief is still ongoing. I agree with most comments that Jews and Christians are the most alike religions out there and I think it's foolish that they would see themselves as rivals when they should be allies, helping spread the word of God from the Old Testament because they both agree that those events happened.
As for the Jesus debate, I still don't see the reason for any disputes. Religion is for people to understand, believe, and/or reject. If Jews don't believe that the Messiah came, they already rejected Christianity. That doesn't mean that they can't understand it and come to respect it. It's the same with Christians. Why do they feel the need to push that argument on people who have similar beliefs? They should all come to the conclusion that they are different and should focus more on what they DO have in common rather than what they don't.

[Chariots of Fire 2]

After reading these posts, I wasn’t surprised that there is actually an idea of Jews and Christians as being rival siblings. People always want to be right no matter what it is. I kind of think this follows along the lines of not understanding other peoples beliefs and respecting them. Everyone interprets the Bible and word of God differently although many religions do have some overlap of beliefs. I think it is true to say that the Jewish religion and Christian beliefs have similarities. I also agree with the post before about other religions being accepting of other people’s beliefs. Everyone can have their own belief but there should be respect for other people having their own because everyone has a chance to view religion in their own eyes. As sad as it is to see this dispute, it does not really surprise me in the fact that religion is a big topic and very important to certain cultures and how people were brought up.

[TheMission4]

I've never thought of comparing these two groups as rival siblings but after reading this I really couldn't agree more. Both Jews and Christians have the same basic beliefs. Yeah, their practices are really different but that's where the rival sibling part comes in. Siblings have most of the same genetics as each other, but it is the small things that individualize them. And as time goes on the siblings become more and more different but that does not stop them from being siblings. With Christians and Jews the same thing has happened as time has gone on but both still hold the same basic beliefs.

[True Grit 12]

It seems that, in referring to Jews and Christians as "rival siblings," it almost insinuates a certain level of immaturity. As one can sometimes see in average families, siblings are often rivals during childhood but then become friends as they reach adulthood. Could it be thought that Jews and Christians are simply in an childhood phase of rivalry that will someday become a partnership?