Brothers in deed ...

Submitted by Oliver (United States), Apr 2, 2008 at 22:12

"the courageous position of Pope John Paul II, toward the Jewish people ... and his effort to (re)interpret, in a more just way, certain hate-inspiring text in the Christian 'New Testament."

"In fact, in the Christian world - I do not say on the part of the Church as such - erroneous and unjust interpretations of the New Testament regarding the Jewish people and their alleged culpability have circulated far too long, engendering feelings of hostility towards this people."

Bryan - I do not see where Pope John Paul II made any attempt at (re)interpreting certain hate-inspiring texts in the New Testament. That's because there are no hate inspiring texts in the New Testament. There certainly have been hate inspiring interpreters of the New Testament text and that is the point the Pope was making. The only disagreement I have with his address is where he side-stepped the Church's responsibility in fostering the promulgation of these hateful insinuations. The Spanish Inquisition comes immediately to mind, where not only Muslims were driven out but also the Jews and others were severely persecuted. Of course the of culpability for the death of Christ is the question being alluded to - Jesus answered the question in John 10:11 - 18 ...

"For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father."

So as negative as certain Jews who opposed Jesus were - they had no more (or less) culpability for the death of Jesus than you or I do. It was all part of His plan to save us and bring us to Himself.

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