Judaism and the Theology of Liberation

Abstract

For nineteen centuries Jews and Christians lived alongside one another; nevertheless, positive dialogue between these two faiths has only recently taken place, for several reasons. First, there is increasing scholarly exploration into the background of the New Testament. Jesus and Paul were Jewish figures; they kept the Jewish law; they participated at Jewish feasts. The pioneering work in this area done by such scholars as Samuel Sandmel (in We Jews and Jesus),¹ H.J. Schoeps (in Paul: The Theology of the Apostle in the Light of Jewish Religious History),² and Geza Vermes (in Jesus the Jew)³ has aroused much critical interest from both Christians and Jews. Quite apart from broadening the Christian understanding of their own religious background, these works, as we have said, counterbalance the anti-Semitic elements of the New Testament. Secondly, fruitful Jewish-Christian encounter seems to be more of a possibility today because it is conducted on a personal level. Over the past few years encounters between Jews and Christians have been undertaken in friendship and understanding in Israel, Europe and the United States; such amicable dialogue has resulted in the formation of numerous associations of Jews and Christians throughout the world.