Matthaeus Adversus Christianos: The Use of the Gospel of Matthew in Jewish Polemics Against the Divinity of Jesus

Description

In this book Christoph Ochs presents for the first time an extensive study of the use of the Gospel of Matthew in Jewish polemics. These often overlooked texts advance numerous exegetical arguments against Jesus' divinity, the incarnation, and the Trinity. Seven Jewish polemical key texts comprise the main sources for this inquiry: Qissat Mujādalat al-Usquf (c. 8/9th century) and Sefer Nestor ha-Komer (before 1170), Sefer Milhamot ha-Shem (c. 1170), Sefer Yosef ha-Meqanne (c. 13th century), Nizzahon Vetus (13-14th century), Even Bohan (late 14th century), Kelimmat ha-Goyim (c. 1397), and Hizzuq Emunah (c. 1594) et al. Together with the relevant passages in the original Hebrew and in translation each text is presented with a historical and exegetical introduction. Contemporary parallels are also discussed, but in less detail. The result is a compendium of arguments against the divinity of Jesus based on the Jewish interpretation of Matthew. Jewish polemicists focused in particular on Jesus' portrayal as a human (e.g. as sleeping, hungry, and ignorant) and passages where he differentiates himself from God. Some of these arguments can be traced back to philosophical and heterodox dogmatic debates in antiquity, while others look surprisingly modern. The aim of the polemicists was to highlight what they saw as contradictions between Christian Scriptures and Christian beliefs. Cover Preface List of Contents Abbreviations Chapter 1: The Use of the Gospel of Matthew in Jewish Polemics Against the Divinity of Jesus 1.1 Introduction 1.2 The Divinity of Jesus 1.3 The Gospel of Matthew 1.4 Jewish Polemics 1.5 Methodology & Presentation Chapter 2: The Use of the Gospel of Matthew in Qiṣṣat Mujādalat al-Usquf and Sefer Nestor ha-Komer 2.1 Introduction 2.2 The Historical Context of Qiṣṣa 2.3 The Character and Content Overview of Qiṣṣa/Nestor 2.3.1 The Narrative Setting (§§1–8) 2.3.2 Better Candidates for Divinity (§§9–24) 2.3.3 Theological Issues with the Trinity (§§25–32) 2.3.4 The Divinity of Jesus and the Law (§§33–37) 2.3.5 Scriptural Proofs against the Divinity of Jesus (§§38–57) 2.3.6 The Law, Jesus’ Humanity, and his Divinity (§§58–71) 2.3.7 The Life of Jesus’ Reveals his Utter Humanity (§§72–109) 2.3.8 Miscellaneous Arguments against Jesus (§§110–138) 2.3.9 Arguments from a Different Gospel Sequence (§§139–158) 2.4 Underlying Sources in Qiṣṣa/Nestor 2.5 The Gospel of Matthew in Qiṣṣa/Nestor 2.5.1 Jesus’ Distinctiveness 2.5.1.1 The Term “Son of Man:” Mt 24:36, 12:18 (§39, §57) 2.5.1.2 Jesus’ Prayer at the Cross: Mt 27:46 (§45) 2.5.1.3 The Use of “Messianic Psalms:” Mt 22:41–46 (§50) 2.5.1.4 Jesus and the “Rich Young Ruler:” Mt 19:16f (§51) 2.5.1.5 Jesus’ Prayer in Gethsemane: Mt 26:36–46 (§53) 2.5.1.6 Jesus’ Statements of Being Sent: Mt 13:54–57 (§55) 2.5.2 Jesus’ Human Origins (§78, §77, §80, §150, §97) 2.5.3 The Inappropriateness of Incarnation (§74, §76, §82, §111) 2.6 Summary Chapter 3: The Use of the Gospel of Matthew in Jacob ben Reuben’s Milḥamot ha-Shem 3.1 Introduction 3.2 The Historical Context of Milḥamot ha-Shem 3.3 Outline and Content Overview of Milḥamot ha-Shem 3.4 The Gospel of Matthew in Milḥamot ha-Shem 3.4.1 Outline of Chapter 11 3.4.2 Jesus’ Genealogy: Mt 1:1–16 3.4.3 Jesus’ Baptism: Mt 3:13–17 3.4.4 Jesus’ Temptation: Mt 4:1–11a 3.4.5 Jesus’ Prayer to the Father: Mt 11:25–27 3.4.6 Jesus in Gethsemane: Mk 14:32–37a, 40b–41, par. Mt 26:36–40a, 45 3.4.7 Jesus’ Cursing of the Fig Tree: Mt 21:18–19 3.4.8 Jesus on the Kingdom and Authority: Mt 28:16–20a 3.4.9 Jesus on Blasphemy against the Spirit: Mt 12:30–32 3.5 Summary Chapter 4: The Use of the Gospel of Matthew in Joseph ben Nathan’s Sefer Yosef ha-Meqanne 4.1 Introduction 4.2 The Historical Context of Sefer Yosef ha-Meqanne 4.3 The Manuscripts of Sefer Yosef ha-Meqanne 4.4 Overview of the Use of the New Testament in Sefer Yosef ha-Meqanne 4.5 The Gospel of Matthew in Sefer Yosef ha-Meqanne 4.5.1 Jesus’ Mission: Mt 1:16, 18, 21 (§16) 4.5.2 Jesus’ Birth: Mt 1:23, 26:39, and 20:28 (§37) 4.5.3 Jesus’ Flight to Egypt: Mt 2:13–14 (§22) 4.5.4 Jesus’ God-given Judgment: Lk 12:22–24, par. Mt 6:25–26 (§24) 4.5.5 Jesus was Sleeping: Mt 8:21–25 (§29) 4.5.6 The Term “Son of Man:” Mt 8:18–20 (§§26–27) 4.5.7 The Term “Son of Man:” Mt 8:20 (§7 4.5.8 The Term “Son of Man:” Mt 9:6 (§25) 4.5.9 The Term “Son of Man:” Mt 9:6 (§28) 4.5.10 Jesus and the Hemorrhaging Woman: Mt 9:20 (§12) 4.5.11 Jesus and John the Baptist: Mt 11:11a (§1) 4.5.12 Jesus on Gluttony: Mt 11:19a (§4) 4.5.13 Quicunque Vult and Blasphemy against the Spirit: Mt 12:31–32 (§9) 4.5.14 Jesus on Blasphemy against the Spirit: Mt 12:31–32 (§41) 4.5.15 The Term “Son of Man:” Mt 13:37 (§13) 4.5.16 Jesus and the “Rich Young Ruler:” Mk 10:17–21, par. Mt 19:16f (§33) 4.5.17 Jesus and the Sons of Zebedee: Mt 20:22–23 (§15) 4.5.18 Jesus’ Lament over Jerusalem: Mt 23:37 (§3) 4.5.19 Jesus in Gethsemane: Mt 26:38, 41 (§6) 4.5.20 Jesus in Gethsemane: Mt 26:39 (§10) 4.5.21 Jesus’ Words on the Cross: Mt 27:46 (§38) 4.5.22 Jesus Commissions his Disciples: Mt 28:16–20 (§30) 4.6 Summary Chapter 5: The Use of the Gospel of Matthew in Sefer Nizzahon Vetus 5.1 Introduction 5.2 The Historical Context of Nizzahon Vetus 5.3 The Textual History of Nizzahon Vetus 5.4 The Gospel of Matthew in Nizzahon Vetus 5.4.1 Jesus’ Genealogy: Mt 1:1–17, 25 (§154, §88, §28, §72) 5.4.2 Jesus’ Flight to Egypt: Mt 2:13–14 (§159) 5.4.3 Jesus’ Baptism: Mt 3:13, 16–17 (§160) 5.4.4 Jesus’ Temptation: Mt 4:1–11a (§162) 5.4.5 The Term “Son of Man:” Mt 8:20, 9:6, 20:28 (§188, §168, §215) 5.4.6 Jesus’ Prayer to the Father: Mt 11:25–30 (§170) 5.4.7 Blasphemy against the Spirit: Lk 12:10, par. Mt 12:31–32 (§223) 5.4.8 Jesus’ Statement of Being Sent: Mt 13:57 and Mt 12:18 (§207) 5.4.9 Jesus and the “Rich Young Ruler:” Mk 10:17–21, par. Mt 19:16–21 (§184) 5.4.10 Cursing the Fig Tree: Mk 11:11–14a, par. Mt 21:17–19a (§181) 5.4.11 Jesus’ Ignorance: Mk 13:24–34a, par. Mt 24:29–33, 36 (§177, §194) 5.4.12 Jesus in Gethsemane: Mk 14:32–42, par. Mt 26:36–46 (§176) 5.4.13 Jesus on the Cross: Mk 15:33–34, par. Mt 27:45–46 (§178, §145) 5.4.14 Jesus Commissions his Disciples: Mt 28:16–20 (§182) 5.5 Summary Chapter 6: The Use of the Gospel of Matthew in Shem Ṭov ben Isaac Ibn Shapruṭ’s Even Boḥan 6.1 Introduction 6.2 The Historial Context of Even Boḥan (and Kelimmat ha-Goyim) 6.3 The Hebrew Gospel of Matthew in Even Boḥan 6.4 The Gospel of Matthew in Even Boḥan 6.4.1 Jesus’ Genealogy: Mt 1:1–16 (§1) 6.4.2 Bethlehem Ephratah: Mt 2:1–12 (§3) 6.4.3 Jesus’ Flight to Egypt: Mt 2:13–15 (§4) 6.4.4 Jesus’ Baptism: Mt 3:13–17 (§6) 6.4.5 Jesus’ Temptation: Mt 4:1–11 (§7) 6.4.6 Jesus’ Healings: Mt 8:1–4 (§18) 6.4.7 Jesus’ Raising of the Dead: Mt 9:18–26 (§22) 6.4.8 Jesus’ Miracles: Mt 9:32–38 (§23) 6.4.9 Jesus and John the Baptist: Mt 11:11–15 (§24) 6.4.10 Jesus’ Prayer to the Father: Mt 11:25–30 (§25) 6.4.11 Jesus’ Exorcisms: Mt 12:22–29 (§28) 6.4.12 Jesus on Blasphemy against the Spirit: Mt 12:30–37 (§29) 6.4.13 Jesus’ Signs: Mt 12:38–45 (§30) 6.4.14 Peter’s Confessions: Mt 16:13–20 (§37) 6.4.15 The Transfiguration: Mt 17:1–8 (§38) 6.4.16 The Cursing of the Fig Tree: Mt 21:10–22 (§42) 6.4.17 Paying Taxes to Caesar: Mt 22:15–22 (§44) 6.4.18 Jesus’ Ignorance: Mt 24:27–36 (§50) 6.4.19 Jesus in Gethsemane: Mt 26:31–44 (§53) 6.4.20 Jesus’ Words on the Cross: Mt 27:27–66 (§56) 6.5 Summary Chapter 7: The Use of the Gospel of Matthew in Profiat Duran’s Kelimmat ha-Goyim 7.1 Introduction 7.2 The Historical Context of Kelimmat ha-Goyim 7.3 The Gospel of Matthew in Kelimmat ha-Goyim 7.3.1 Jesus was not Called God in the New Testament 7.3.2 Jesus’ Temptation I: Mt 4:1–11 7.3.3 The Cursing of the Fig Tree: Mt 21:18–21 7.3.4 Jesus and the “Rich Young Ruler:” Matt 19:16–21 7.4.5 Jesus’ Temptation II: Mt 4:3–4 7.3.6 The “Term Son of Man:” Mk 10:45, 11:13–14 7.3.7 The “Term Son of Man:” John 5:30 7.3.8 Joseph is Jesus’ Father: Mt 1:22–23 7.3.9 Jesus’ Words on the Cross: Mt 27:34 7.3.10 Jesus’ Self-Understanding: John 10:19–36 7.3.11 Matthew’s Intention with Isa 7:14: Mt 1:22–23 7.3.12 The Hypostatic Union and Jesus’ Death: Mt 27:46 7.4 Profiat Duran on Contradictions in the New Testament 7.5 Summary Chapter 8: The Use of the Gospel of Matthew in Isaac b. Abraham of Troki’s Sefer Ḥizzuq Emunah 8.1 Introduction 8.2 The Text of Ḥizzuq Emunah 8.3 Content Overview of Ḥizzuq Emunah 8.4 The Gospel of Matthew in Ḥizzuq Emunah 8.4.1 The “Son of Man” and Blasphemy against the Spirit: Mt 12:32 (I, §10) 8.4.2 Jesus’ Nativity and Isaiah’s Prophecy: Mt 1:20–25 (I, §21) 8.4.3 Jesus in Gethsemane: Mt 26:36, 27:46 (I, §47) 8.4.4 Jesus’ Temptation: Mt 4:1–10 (II, §7) 8.4.5 The Term “Son of Man:” Mt 8:19–20 (II, 12) 8.4.6 Jesus is Sent: Mt 10:40 (II, §14) 8.4.7 Jesus on Blasphemy against the Spirit: Mt 12:32 (II, §16) 8.4.8 Jesus and the “Rich Young Ruler:” Mt 19:16–21 (II, §19) 8.4.9 Jesus and the Sons of Zebedee: Mt 20:23 (II, §20) 8.4.10 The Term “Son of Man:” Mt 20:28 (II, §21) 8.4.11 Jesus in Gethsemane and on the Cross: Mt 26:39 (II, §24) 8.4.12 Jesus’ Words on the Cross: Mt 26:39 (II, §24) 8.4.13 Jesus Commissions the Disciples: Mt 28:18 (II, 27) 8.4.14 The Cursing of the Fig Tree: Mk 11:12–40, par. Mt 21:18–22 (II, §30) 8.4.15 Jesus’ Ignorance: Mk 13:32, par. Mt 24:36 (II, §31) 8.5 Summary Chapter 9: Conclusion: The Use of the Gospel of Matthew in Jewish Polemics 9.1 Synopsis of Finds 9.1.1 Selectivity of Readings 9.1.2 Continuity with Earlier Polemics 9.1.3 Avoidance of Doctrinal Engagement 9.2 Evaluation of Finds 9.2.1 The Divine/Human Dichotomy 9.2.2 Jesus is Vere Homo Only 9.3 Epilogue: The Central Paradox Appendix I: Me’ir ben Simeon’s Milḥemet Miṣva: Reason 11 of the 15 Reasons Why Jews Cannot Believe in Jesus Appendix II: Index and Overview of Common Polemical Arguments Bibliography Primary Sources and Text Editions 1. Jewish 2. Muslim 3. Pagan 4. Christian Secondary Literature Index of Literature Hebrew Bible Inter-Testamental Writings New Testament Rabbinic Scriptures Muslim Scriptures Christian Writings 1. Early Christian 2. Patristic 3. Anti-Christian Polemics 4. Medieval Index of Modern Authors Index of Persons & Subjects