Bible Question: Why would the Jews be considered enemies of the gospel? |
Bible Answer: Sadly the Jews in 1st and 2nd century became very bitter against the Christian church. Paul as Saul represented the Jewish leaders as a persecutor of the hellenistic part of the church in Jerusalem. The whole people turned on the Christians in Acts 12. Paul was oonstantly dogged by Jewish enemies (Acts 13.50; 14.5, 19) and was in the end delivered to the Romans by them. Later on James the Lord's brother was martyred by the Jews in Jerusalem. After the destruction of Jerusalem the Rabbis began the restoration of Judaism which had been shaken to the core, and this too caused friction with Christians. When Christianity became a proscribed religion the Jews were the main informants against Christians giving them up to torture and death (compare Revelation 2.9; etc.). This continued on into the second century. Unfortunately the later church, which had become apathetic and was partly paganised by Constantine, turned against the Jews which resulted in the shameful anti-Semitism that followed. However there is hope for the Jews for it may well be that the Scriptures indicate that towards the end there will be a great turning to Jesus Christ among them (much depends on interpretation). There can be no restoration of the Jews without it. Best wishes |