Let me start by explaining that in no way do I mean this topic to be a slur on Jews. Nevertheless, it is true that most Jews either ignore the truths of the Gospel or actively deny those truths. Here's a list of some of the more common arguments I've heard Rabbis use against Christian doctrines:
- Jesus is not the Messiah.
- God did not inspire the New Testament.
- There are no passages in the Hebrew Bible that clearly prophesy Jesus or even mention him at all..
- The Jewish people never forfeited their role as God's chosen people to the Christian church.
- Contrary to the way the Pharisees are portrayed in the Gospels, they were actually good people who have blessed humanity.
- The miracles of Jesus, even if they are historical, do not prove he was sent by God.
- Christian doctrine led to centuries of hatred of and persecution on the Jewish people on the part of Christians which culminated in the Holocaust.
How can we defend our faith against these charges? I look forward to a lively discussion on this very important issue.
haven't read all the responses. so I'll address the list.
#1. "Jesus is not the Messiah". John chapter 4. the woman at the well and the whole city of Sychar. and the Lord Jesus who cannot lie, said he is the Messiah.
John 4:25 "The woman saith unto him,
I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things."
John 4:26 "Jesus saith unto her,
I that speak unto thee am he." WHICH IN TRUEN ANSWERS #3
#3. "There are no passages in the Hebrew Bible that clearly prophesy Jesus or even mention him at all."
scripture, right in the first book of the bible, Genesis 49:10 "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until
Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be."
here "
Shiloh" is the Hebrew term, H7886 שִׁילֹה Shiyloh (shee-lo') n/p.
1. tranquil.
2. Shiloh, an epithet of the Messiah.
[from H7951]
KJV: Shiloh.
my source, Mickelson's Enhanced Strong's Dictionaries of the Greek and Hebrew Testaments
#2. "God did not inspire the New Testament"
the OT prophesies is the NT revelation. when God inspired the prophets to write, they were writing the NT at the same time. the OT is nothing, but the NT hidden in prophecy, and the NT is the OT revealed by prophecy,
#4. "The Jewish people never forfeited their role as God's chosen people to the Christian church."
all people, jews and Gentiles are God chosen people. scripture, Psalms 22:27 "All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee." WHY? Genesis 17:4 "As for me, behold,
my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations." Genesis 17:5 "Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee." Genesis 17:6 "And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee." Genesis 17:7 "
And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee." who is the SEED? answer, Galatians 3:16 "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many;
but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ." Galatians 3:17 "And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect." Galatians 3:18 "For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise."
hence why we have a NEW COVENANT and why the NT is Inspired in the OT by God. Jeremiah 31:31 "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:" (NOTICE HOUSE AND NOT TRIBES) Jeremiah 31:32 "Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:" Jeremiah 31:33 "But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people." Jeremiah 31:34 "And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." (THIS IS THE NT IN A NUTSHELL).
question, "why the HOUSE of ISRAEL?" because Jacob name was changed to ISRAEL? and Israel was scattered throughout the gentile world, hence the HOUSE of Israel and the HOUSE of JUDAH, where proselytes was converted to Judaism. for in Christ. (The promise seed) is neither Jews nor Gentiles.
#5. "Contrary to the way the Pharisees are portrayed in the Gospels, they were actually good people who have blessed humanity."
NO, they were Just as IGNORANT as anyone else. just read John chapter 3 concerning a Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. just as Paul was. Romans 10:1 "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved." Romans 10:2 "For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God,
but not according to knowledge." Romans 10:3 "
For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God." Romans 10:4 "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."
and the apostle, himself. Philippians 3:4 "Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:" Philippians 3:5 "Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;" Philippians 3:6 "Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless."Philippians 3:7 "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ."
so having the apperance of God means NOTHING. for all men are blessed, Jew or Gentile.
#6. "The miracles of Jesus, even if they are historical, do not prove he was sent by God."
THEY KNEW, John 3:1 "There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:"John 3:2 "The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him."
and it is/was written in their OT, Isaiah 35:4 "Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you." Isaiah 35:5 "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped." Isaiah 35:6 "Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert."
and in Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called
Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
the term "Wonderful," here is the Hebrew word, H6382 פֶּלֶא pele' (peh'-leh) n-m.
a miracle.
[from H6381]
KJV: marvellous thing, wonder(-ful, -fully).
Root(s): H6381
H6381 פָּלָא pala' (paw-law') v.
1. (properly, literally or figuratively) perhaps to separate, i.e. distinguish.
2. (by implication) to be great, difficult, wonderful.
3. (causatively) to make great, difficult, wonderful.
as NICK said, John 3:2 "The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do
these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him."
#7. "Christian doctrine led to centuries of hatred of and persecution on the Jewish people on the part of Christians which culminated in the Holocaust."
Only the IGNORANT ones.
101G.