The Jewish-Christian Schism RevisitedBetween 1971 and 1996, the late John Howard Yoder wrote a series of ten essays "revisiting" the Jewish-Christian schism. He argued that, properly understood, Jesus did not reject Judaism, Judaism did not reject Jesus and that the apostle Paul's mandate for the salvation of the nations is best understood not as a product of his Hellenization, but rather as belonging to the context of his Jewish heritage. Drawing on his lifelong critique of the Constantinian deformation of Christianity, Yoder argues that the "free church" vision of Christianity can be closely linked to Diaspora Judaism. In their introduction, the editors locate Yoder's argument in relation to his decades-long dialogue with the philosopher and rabbi Steven S. Schwarzschild and in relation to Yoder's understanding of Jewish-Christian reconciliation. The editors also show how Yoder's understanding of the Jewish-Christian schism must be understood in the context of his theological understanding of what it means for Christians and Jews to share the God-given vocation to be "missionary" peoples to and for the nations. |
Contents
What Needs to Change in the JewishChristian | 30 |
It Did Not Have to Be | 43 |
Jesus the Jewish Pacifist | 69 |
Copyright | |
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Abraham accept already appears argue argument authority become beginning believe century challenge chapter Christ Christian Church claim coming concern context continue conversation covenant critical culture debate described dialogue early efforts essays ethical existence experience fact faith Gentiles God's Hebrew human identity important interpretation Israel Jeremiah Jerusalem Jesus Jewish Jewish-Christian Jews John Judaism kind land later less living means Mennonite messianic mission moral movement offered original particular Paul peace persons perspective political position possible practices present Press problem promise Protestant provides question rabbinic radical readers reading reason reference reformation rejection religion religious representative respect response schism Schwarzschild Scripture seek sense social story synagogue term Testament Theology thought Torah tradition understanding University vision western witness Yoder