This article examines the implicit audience of Ps.-Gregory’s Testimonies against the
Jews, a late fourth-century collection of Old Testament proof-texts and commentary
intended to prove the truth of Christian beliefs over against Jewish objections. As a
“meta-collection” of previous Christian proof-text collections and exegetical traditions,
it reflects disparate and sometimes contradictory images of the Jews. In comparison
with other Christian adversus Iudaeos literature, however, the Testimonies is remarkable
for its generally positive portrayal of Judaism. It argues, for example, that the purpose
of the Jewish law was to keep the descendants of Abraham pure until the birth of the
Messiah. While “proving” at length that Jesus’ death was prophesied in scripture, it
never blames the Jews for that death. Its tone is consistently civil, presuming that “the
Jew” is not “blind” or “hard-hearted,” but rather is a person who can be persuaded by
rational argument.
%0 Journal Article
%1 albl_image_2008
%A Albl, Martin
%D 2008
%J Vigiliae Christianae
%K antika antiquity greek grčki jews nastava teaching židovi
%P 161-186
%R doi:10.1163/157007207X235155
%T The Image of the Jews in Ps.-Gregory of Nyssa's Testimonies against the Jews
%U http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/brill/vc/2008/00000062/00000002/art00003
%V 62
%X This article examines the implicit audience of Ps.-Gregory’s Testimonies against the
Jews, a late fourth-century collection of Old Testament proof-texts and commentary
intended to prove the truth of Christian beliefs over against Jewish objections. As a
“meta-collection” of previous Christian proof-text collections and exegetical traditions,
it reflects disparate and sometimes contradictory images of the Jews. In comparison
with other Christian adversus Iudaeos literature, however, the Testimonies is remarkable
for its generally positive portrayal of Judaism. It argues, for example, that the purpose
of the Jewish law was to keep the descendants of Abraham pure until the birth of the
Messiah. While “proving” at length that Jesus’ death was prophesied in scripture, it
never blames the Jews for that death. Its tone is consistently civil, presuming that “the
Jew” is not “blind” or “hard-hearted,” but rather is a person who can be persuaded by
rational argument.
@article{albl_image_2008,
abstract = {This article examines the implicit audience of Ps.-Gregory’s Testimonies against the
Jews, a late fourth-century collection of Old Testament proof-texts and commentary
intended to prove the truth of Christian beliefs over against Jewish objections. As a
“meta-collection” of previous Christian proof-text collections and exegetical traditions,
it reflects disparate and sometimes contradictory images of the Jews. In comparison
with other Christian adversus Iudaeos literature, however, the Testimonies is remarkable
for its generally positive portrayal of Judaism. It argues, for example, that the purpose
of the Jewish law was to keep the descendants of Abraham pure until the birth of the
Messiah. While “proving” at length that Jesus’ death was prophesied in scripture, it
never blames the Jews for that death. Its tone is consistently civil, presuming that “the
Jew” is not “blind” or “hard-hearted,” but rather is a person who can be persuaded by
rational argument.},
added-at = {2009-01-14T15:39:34.000+0100},
author = {Albl, Martin},
biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/26da58403ce8dc7075121d7cfb1ecf506/filologanoga},
doi = {doi:10.1163/157007207X235155},
interhash = {b86726612f089c26177c403fa127c293},
intrahash = {6da58403ce8dc7075121d7cfb1ecf506},
journal = {Vigiliae Christianae},
keywords = {antika antiquity greek grčki jews nastava teaching židovi},
month = {February},
pages = {161-186},
timestamp = {2009-01-22T23:59:22.000+0100},
title = {The Image of the Jews in Ps.-Gregory of Nyssa's Testimonies against the Jews},
url = {http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/brill/vc/2008/00000062/00000002/art00003},
volume = 62,
year = 2008
}