Deck 25: Christians and Jews: Hebrews, Barnabas, and Later Anti-Jewish Literature

Question 1

Discuss the different understandings of Judaism in the epistle to the Hebrews and the Epistle of Barnabas. How might these differences reflect each community's approach to self-definition?

Answer 1

Rather than seeing Judaism as the foreshadowing of Christianity, the Epistle of Barnabas portrays it as a false religion. According to this author, the Jews broke their covenant as soon as they received it. Whereas the author of Hebrews claims that the Old Testament contains prophecies of the new covenant and the perfection of Judaism, Barnabas claims that the Old Testament has never been a Jewish book but has always belonged to Christians. The author of Hebrews depicts Christianity as the logical continuation of Judaism. The author of the Epistle of Barnabas depicts Christians as the people of God because they are the only ones who understand God's covenant. According to Barnabas, then, there is no continuity between Judaism and Christianity.

Question 2

Trace the rise of anti-Judaism in early Christianity from the Gospel of Matthew through Melito's Passover homily. What do you think caused the escalation of anti-Jewish sentiment?

Answer 2

In the Gospel of Matthew, the Jewish leaders are the ones who are responsible for Jesus' death. Matthew is careful not to indict the Jews as a whole, but to show how the religious leaders led the crowd to call for Jesus' crucifixion. (Even though Matthew narrates the Jews proclaiming, "His blood be on us and on our children," the larger context of this Gospel is the continuity of Jesus and Judaism. Matthew places the responsibility of Jesus' death squarely on the religious leaders.) The anti-Jewish sentiment grows in the Gospel of John, where the blame is placed on "the Jews," those people who knowingly reject the messiah. Hebrews presents Judaism as good but not as perfect as Christianity. Barnabas denies any relationship between Judaism and Christianity, positing Judaism as a false religion. By the time Melito delivered his paschal homily in the second century, anti-Judaism had risen to the point that the Jews were accused of killing God himself. Anti-Jewish rhetoric was tied up with Christian self-identity, and it served to distinguish Christianity from Judaism.

Question 3

The epistle to the Hebrews was written by Paul. Pick a side and argue it. Keep in mind that the most persuasive arguments anticipate (and answer) counterarguments.

Answer 3

Hebrews mentions Timothy (one of Paul's trusted friends) and includes travel plans and greetings that could be construed as possibly those of Paul. But the book does not claim to be written by Paul, and the writing style is very different from Paul's. The major topics are also things Paul rarely mentions, let alone emphasizes. Students may also note that some terminology in the book seems to be used differently than Paul uses these words.

Question 4

Most scholars believe the epistle to the Hebrews was most likely written by Paul.

Question 5

The Epistle of Barnabas claims that both Jews and Christians will ultimately be saved.

Question 6

The Epistle of Barnabas claims the world will last six thousand years.

Question 7

Any sequence of letters in Hebrew or Greek can be added up to a total number.

Question 8

Gematria is the name of the evil Creator-God in Marcionite theology.

Question 9

The primary point of Hebrews was to show that:

A) Christ is superior to Judaism.
B) Christianity comes from God; Judaism comes from the devil.
C) The Jewish Law can only be understood allegorically.
D) Christians must follow the Law.

Question 10

Most scholars believe that the Epistle of Barnabas was:

A) Written by Paul's companion Barnabas
B) Written pseudonymously
C) Written during Paul's lifetime
D) Written long after Paul and Barnabas had both died

Question 11

The Epistle of Barnabas was probably written in:

A) Jerusalem
B) Asia Minor
C) Alexandria
D) Rome

Question 12

According to the Epistle of Barnabas, the Old Testament is:

A) Irrelevant
B) The product of a lesser god
C) A Jewish book
D) A Christian book

Question 13

According to the Epistle of Barnabas, most of the Old Testament is:

A) Best understood literally
B) Applicable only to Jews
C) Best understood allegorically
D) Best disregarded

Question 14

According to Barnabas, when did the Jews lose God's covenant?

A) When Adam and Eve sinned
B) When they worshiped an idol at Mount Sinai
C) When they were exiled to Babylonia
D) They never lost the covenant.

Question 15

Barnabas believed that the Jewish dietary laws:

A) Should be strictly followed
B) Actually referred to moral issues such as ingratitude and sexual promiscuity
C) Pointed to Christ's sacrifice on the cross
D) Were only intended for Jews (not Christians) to keep

Question 16

Gematria is:

A) Idolatry
B) Writing under a false name
C) Interpreting words based on their numeric value
D) Secret teachings

Question 17

According to the Epistle of Barnabas, all of the following statements are true except:

A) Christianity is a direct continuation of Judaism.
B) The Old Testament is a Christian book.
C) Judaism is a false religion.
D) Judaism has misunderstood God's commands from the beginning.

Question 18

Who accused the Jews of deicide, of killing God?

A) Barnabas
B) Paul
C) Melito
D) The author of Hebrews

Question 19

Philo of Alexandria used the allegorical method of Scripture interpretation to ___________ Judaism.

A) attack
B) support
C) denigrate
D) dismiss

Question 20

Barnabas utilized the allegorical method of Scripture interpretation to _______________ Judaism.

A) attack
B) support
C) denigrate
D) dismiss

Question 21

How is the noncanonical Epistle of Barnabas characterized by historians?

A) As an epistle
B) As a Gospel
C) As a treatise about the historical roots of Jesus
D) As a treatise about the nature of Judaism

Question 22

Which of the following is an example of gematria?

A) 666
B) The cross
C) A square
D) Q

Question 23

The Epistle of Barnabas used all of the following to attack Judaism and support the author's version of Christianity except:

A) Allegorical interpretation
B) Gematria
C) Citations from the letters of Paul
D) The Jewish Scriptures

Question 24

All of the following have distinctly anti-Jewish passages except:

A) The Epistle of Barnabas
B) Hebrews
C) Philemon
D) Melito's Passover sermon

Question 25

Which book ends by talking about the "Two Ways" of life?

A) Hebrews
B) The Epistle of Barnabas
C) Melito's Passover sermon
D) Romans

Question 26

According to the Epistle of Barnabas, Jews are wrong to take ___________ literally.

A) the dietary laws
B) Roman law
C) the deeds of Jesus
D) the Pauline epistles

Question 27

Which book argues that Jewish Scriptures and traditions are just a shadow of Jesus?

A) Matthew
B) Hebrews
C) Romans
D) Ignatius' Letter to the Magnesians