Christian Indifference to Jewish People in Scripture
The New Testament does not advocate for Christian indifference toward Jewish people; rather, it emphasizes unity in Christ and warns against causing offense. Paul instructs believers to "Be without offense both to Jews and Greeks, and to the church of God" [2, 3]. This directive highlights a call for respectful interaction with all groups, including Jewish people.
The concept of "indifference" in a theological sense often relates to matters not explicitly forbidden by God, where individual conscience and the avoidance of causing others to stumble are paramount [7, 8]. For instance, while circumcision was a Jewish practice, Paul circumcised Timothy but told the Galatians that allowing themselves to be circumcised would mean Christ profited them nothing, illustrating that the spiritual significance of such acts had changed [8].
Early Christian thought, as seen in patristic writings, also reflects a nuanced view. Augustine, for example, noted that the Church of all nations was prefigured by Noah's ark, and that the accession of Gentiles to the faith fulfilled this type [10]. He also observed the "obstinate unbelief of the Jews" in their rejection of prophecies concerning Christ [11]. However, this observation of unbelief does not equate to indifference, but rather a recognition of differing theological perspectives.
The Apostle Paul consistently acted on the principle that there is no difference between Jew and Gentile in Christ, "not in virtue of national or social distinctions, but solely of individual character and devotion" [6]. This perspective suggests that any perceived "indifference" would contradict the New Testament's emphasis on unity and the breaking down of barriers between ethnic groups in the church [6, 9]. John Gill, commenting on Acts 15:9, states that God "put no difference between us and them" in terms of spiritual gifts, grace, and privileges, whether Jew or Gentile [9].
While some biblical passages mention "fictions of the Jews" or their "ignorance of God" [1, 5], these are often presented as spiritual conditions rather than justifications for social or theological indifference. The New Testament consistently portrays a desire for the salvation of all people, including Jewish people, and warns against hatred towards Christ and his followers, which was sometimes exemplified by Jewish leaders [4].
Sources
- Titus “Titus 1:14 (BBE) — Giving no attention to the fictions of the Jews and the rules of men who have no true knowledge.”
- I Corinthians “I Corinthians 10:32 (LITV) — Be without offense both to Jews and Greeks, and to the church of God.”
- 1 Corinthians “1 Corinthians 10:32 (NASB) — Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God;”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Hatred to Christ — Is without cause -- Ps 69:4; Joh 15:25. Is on account of his testimony against the world -- Joh 7:7. Involves Hatred to his Father. -- Joh 15:23,24. Hatred to his people. -- Joh 15:18. Punishment of -- Ps 2:2,9; 21:8. No escape for those who persevere in -- 1Co 15:25; Heb 10:29-31. Illustrated -- Lu 19:12-14,17. Exemplified Chief priests & c. -- Mt 27:1,2; Lu 22:5. Jews. -- Mt 27:22,23. Scribes & c. -- Mr 11:18; Lu 11:53,54.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Ignorance of God — Ignorance of Christ is -- Joh 8:19. Evidenced by Want of love. -- 1Jo 4:8. Not keeping his commands. -- 1Jo 2:4. Living in sin. -- Tit 1:16; 1Jo 3:6. Leads to Error. -- Mt 22:29. Idolatry. -- Isa 44:19; Ac 17:29,30. Alienation from God. -- Eph 4:18. Sinful lusts. -- 1Th 4:5; 1Pe 1:14. Persecuting saints. -- Joh 15:21; 16:3. Is no excuse for sin -- Le 4:2; Lu 12:48. The wicked, in a state of -- Jer 9:3; Joh 15:21; 17:25; Ac 17:30. The wicked choose -- Job 21:14; Ro 1:28. Punishment of -- Ps 79:6; 2Th 1:8. Ministers should Compassionate those in. -- ”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 88: that if there be any difference between them, it is not in virtue of national or social distinctions, but solely of individual character and devotion. That we are all one in Christ Jesus, is a doctrine 811 which precludes the possibility of the preeminence assigned to the Jews in the theory of which their restoration to their own land, and their national individuality are constituent elements. 5. The Apostles uniformly acted on this principle. They recognize no future for the Jews in which the Gentile Christians are not to participate. As”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 39: of indifference, but in causing others to offend. The rules which the Scriptures clearly lay down on this subject are: (1.) That no man or body of men has the right to pronounce that to be sinful which God does not forbid. There was no sin in being circumcised, or in eating meat, or in keeping the sacred days of the Hebrews. (2.) That it is a violation of the law of love, and therefore a sin against Christ, to make such use of our liberty as to cause others to sin. “Take heed,” says the Apostle, “lest by any means this liberty of yours be”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 39: Christian Liberty in Matters of Indifference. It is perfectly consistent with the principle above stated, that a thing may be right or wrong according to circumstances, and, therefore, it may often be wrong for a man to do what the Bible does not condemn. Paul himself circumcised Timothy; yet he told the Galatians that if they allowed themselves to be circumcised, Christ would profit them nothing. Eating meat offered in sacrifice to idols was a matter of indifference. Yet the Apostle said, “If meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no”
- Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 15:9: And put no difference between us and them,.... Neither in the extraordinary gifts, nor special grace, of the Spirit; giving them the same graces of faith, hope, and love, admitting to the same privileges and immunities of the house of God, and giving them a right and title to the same inheritance of the saints in light, though the one were circumcised, and the other were not. God puts no difference as to matters of religion under the Gospel dispensation between Jews and Gentiles, neither on account of Abraham's seed, or of circumcision, or of the ceremonial law, or of n”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 4: Augustine — Anti-Manichaean, Anti-Donatist — BOOK XXXII. (part 10): of things strangled, they seem to me to have consulted the time in choosing an easy observance that could not be burdensome to any one, and which the Gentiles might have in common with the Israelities, for the sake of the Corner-stone, who makes both one in Himself;(8) while at the same time they would be reminded how the Church of all nations was prefigured by the ark of Noah, when God gave this command,--a type which began to be fulfilled in the time of the apostles by the accession of the Gentiles to the faith.”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 2: Augustine — City of God, Christian Doctrine — CHAP. 19.--OF THE 69TH PSALM, IN WHICH THE OBSTINATE UNBELIEF OF THE JEWS IS DECLARED.: But when the Jews will not in the least yield to the testimonies of this prophecy, which are so manifest, and are also brought by events to so clear and certain a completion, certainly that is fulfilled in them which is written in that psalm which here follows. For when the things which pertain to His passion are prophetically spoken there also in the person of Christ, that is mentioned which is unfolded in the Gospel: "They gave me gall for my meat”