Judeophobia and the New Testament: Texts and Contexts

by Sarah E. Rollens (Editor), Eric M. Vanden Eykel (Editor), Meredith J. C. Warren (Editor)

Overview

An essential resource for understanding the troubling role of the Christian scriptures in anti-Semitism
 
This eye-opening collection of essays is essential reading for anyone concerned about the ways that Christian scripture has been used—both in the past and the present—in service of anti-Semitism. The authors seek to identify, contextualize, and problematize New Testament “Judeophobia,” a broad heading that encompasses anti-Semitism, supersessionism, and various discriminatory practices against Jews at different points in history.
 
In the first half of Judeophobia and the New Testament: Texts and Contexts, readers engage with the subject matter through thematic essays. In the second half, readers engage with text-based essays that focus on individual books of the New Testament as well as relevant non-canonical literature. Throughout, the book’s goal is to educate readers about the ways that New Testament texts have been used to engender Judeophobia from the early church to today. While the book is designed primarily as a resource for teachers and students, it also aims to help New Testament scholars account for Judeophobic interpretations, take responsibility for them, and encourage the discipline to work against its own role in rising anti-Jewish rhetoric and violence.

Contributors
Matthew R. Anderson
Jeremiah Bailey
Mary Ann Beavis
Chance E. Bonar
Tom de Bruin
Christy Cobb
Cavan Concannon
David L. Eastman
Scott S. Elliott
Sarah Emanuel
Emily Gathergood
Mark Godin
Jill Hicks-Keeton
Meira Z. Kensky
Kyu Seop Kim
Brian Yong Lee
Harry O. Maier
Shelly Matthews
James F. McGrath
Hugo Méndez
Mark D. Nanos
Sara Parks
Shaily Shashikant Patel
Adele Reinhartz
Michael Scott Robertson
Sarah E. Rollens
Justin Jeffcoat Schedtler
Nathan Shedd
Shayna Sheinfeld
Ekaputra Tupamahu
Eric Vanden Eykel
Alana M. Vincent
Meredith J. C. Warren
Taylor M. Weaver

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780802882882
Publisher:	Eerdmans, William B. Publishing Company
Publication date:	04/24/2025
Pages:	372
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Sarah E. Rollens teaches religious studies at Rhodes College. She is the author of Framing Social Criticism in the Jesus Movement: The Ideological Project in the Sayings Gospel Q and co-editor of Judeophobia and the New Testament: Texts and Contexts.

Eric M. Vanden Eykel teaches religion at Ferrum College. He is the author of The Magi: Who They Were, How They’ve Been Remembered, and Why They Still Fascinate and co-editor of Judeophobia and the New Testament: Texts and Contexts.

Meredith J. C. Warren teaches biblical and religious studies at the University of Sheffield. She is the author of Food and Transformation in Ancient Mediterranean Literature and co-editor of Judeophobia and the New Testament: Texts and Contexts.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Bible Translations Cited
Introduction by Sarah E. Rollens, Eric Vanden Eykel, and Meredith J. C. Warren
 
Part One: Contexts and Pedagogy
1. Judeophobia in the Undergraduate Classroom by Christy Cobb
2. Judeophobia in the Seminary by Tom de Bruin
3. Judeophobia and the Pharisees by Meredith J. C. Warren, Shayna Sheinfeld, and Sara Parks
4. Historical Jesus Research and Judeophobia by Sarah E. Rollens
5. Pauline Scholarship and Judeophobia by Matthew R. Anderson
6. Feminist New Testament Scholarship and Judeophobia by Sara Parks
7. Torah, the Law, and Judeophobia by Shayna Sheinfeld
8. Judeophobia in Contemporary Culture by James F. McGrath
9. Interreligious Dialogue and Judeophobia by Alana M. Vincent
 
Part Two: Texts in the New Testament and Beyond
10. Gospel of Matthew by Nathan L. Shedd
11. Gospel of Mark by Sarah Emanuel
12. Gospel of Luke by Meira Z. Kensky
13. Gospel of John by Adele Reinhartz
14. Acts of the Apostles by Shelly Matthews
15. Romans by Brian Yong Lee
16. 1 Corinthians by Ekaputra Tupamahu
17. 2 Corinthians by Taylor M. Weaver
18. Galatians by Alana M. Vincent and Mark A. Godin
19. Ephesians by Emily J. Gathergood
20. Philippians by Mark D. Nanos
21. Colossians by Harry O. Maier
22. 1 Thessalonians by Jill Hicks-Keeton
23. 2 Thessalonians by Cavan Concannon
24. 1, 2 Timothy and Titus by Michael Scott Robertson
25. Philemon by Mary Ann Beavis
26. Hebrews by Kyu Seop Kim
27. James by Chance E. Bonar
28. 1 and 2 Peter by Scott S. Elliott
29. 1, 2, and 3 John by Hugo Méndez
30. Jude by Scott S. Elliott
31. Revelation by Justin P. Jeffcoat Schedtler
32. Epistle of Barnabas by Jeremiah N. Bailey
33. Martyrdom of Polycarp by David L. Eastman
34. Gospel of Peter by Shaily Shashikant Patel
35. Protevangelium of James by Eric Vanden Eykel
 
Appendix 1: Mean, Angry Old Testament God versus Nice, Loving New Testament God
Appendix 2: Pharisees Flowchart
About the Contributors
Index of Authors
Index of Subjects
Index of Scripture and Other Ancient Sources

Editorial Reviews

Hostility to Jews and Judaism from the far right to the far left can be expressed in ways that draw, knowingly or unknowingly, on the New Testament and its reception. Judeophobia and the New Testament is a teaching tool that will enable those of good faith to more effectively spot and respond to this phenomenon.”
—Tzvi Novick, University of Notre Dame
 
“There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to assessing the degree to which the New Testament manifests what is sometimes called ‘Judeophobia.’ The strength of this volume is the dedication of its many contributors to examining specific texts in specific contexts. Whether the desire is to condemn or to excuse or to problematize the rhetoric of early Christian writers, truth is not served by overgeneralizations.”
—Patrick Gray, Rhodes College

From the Publisher