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Christian Persecution and Hatred Against Jews Throughout History

Persecution, defined as suffering for religious opinion, has a long history within the biblical narrative, with early instances recorded among the Jews during the reign of Ahab and Jezebel, who sought to eradicate the worship of Yahweh [1]. The New Testament records instances of persecution against early Christians, often at the hands of Jewish authorities. For example, Paul recounts his past life in "the Jews' religion," where he "beyond measure persecuted the assembly of God, and ravaged it" [4].

The New Testament also describes a pattern of hatred directed toward Christ and, by extension, his followers. This hatred is presented as being "without cause" and arising from Christ's testimony against the world [2]. It is understood to involve hatred for God the Father and for Christ's people [2]. Jesus himself warned his disciples that they would be persecuted, stating, "If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you" (John 15:20) [5]. This persecution was anticipated to come from various sources, including Jewish councils and synagogues, where followers of Jesus might be beaten [10]. Paul's own experiences included multiple beatings, likely inflicted in local synagogues [10].

The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonians, describes certain Jews as those "who killed the Lord Jesus" and "their own prophets," and who "persecuted the apostles" [11]. This perspective views such actions as displeasing to God [11]. The Jewish historian Josephus also records instances of sedition among the Jews, including against Pontius Pilate, and events concerning Christ and early Christians in Rome [6].

The concept of hatred is explored in biblical texts as something forbidden, equated with murder, and identified as a "work of the flesh" [7]. It can be cloaked by deceit and leads to strife, being inconsistent with the knowledge and love of God [7]. Christ himself experienced such hatred [7].

Theological interpretations have sometimes connected the suffering of Christ and his followers to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. For instance, the hatred against Christ and his people is seen as fulfilling passages in the Psalms, such as Psalm 69:4 [8]. John Gill, a Baptist commentator, interprets Psalm 21:8 as referring to Christ's hand finding out his enemies, including the Jews who rejected him, the Gentiles involved in his death, and later persecutors of Christians [9]. Gill also comments on Deuteronomy 32:18, suggesting that God observed the Jews' disregard and rejection of Christ, their continued sacrifices after Christ's ultimate sacrifice, and their establishment of their own righteousness in opposition to Christ's [12].

While the New Testament records persecution of Christians by Jewish authorities, it also contains warnings against hatred and emphasizes that "oppression and anguish" will come "on every soul of man who works evil, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Romans 2:9) [3]. The persecution of saints is understood as a persecution of Christ himself [5]. The expectation is that "all that live godly in Christ, shall suffer" [5]. This suffering is attributed to ignorance of God and Christ, hatred for God and Christ, hatred for the gospel, pride, and mistaken zeal [5].

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Persecution — The first great persecution for religious opinion of which we have any record was that which broke out against the worshippers of God among the Jews in the days of Ahab, when that king, at the instigation of his wife Jezebel, "a woman in whom, with the reckless and licentious habits of an Oriental queen, were united the fiercest and sternest qualities inherent in the old Semitic race", sought in the most relentless manner to extirpate the worship of Jehovah and substitute in its place the worship of Ashtoreth and Baal. Ahab's example in this respect was”
  2. 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.”
  3. Romans “oppression and anguish, on every soul of man who works evil, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. -- Romans 2:9”
  4. Galatians “For you have heard of my way of living in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the assembly of God, and ravaged it. -- Galatians 1:13”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Persecution — Christ suffered -- Ps 69:26; Joh 5:16. Christ voluntarily submitted to -- Isa 50:6. Christ was patient under -- Isa 53:7. Saints may expect -- Mr 10:30; Lu 21:12; Joh 15:20. Saints suffer, for the sake of God -- Jer 15:15. Of saints, is a persecution of Christ -- Zec 2:8; Ac 9:4,5. All that live godly in Christ, shall suffer -- 2Ti 3:12. Originates Ignorance of God and Christ. -- Joh 16:3. Hated to God and Christ. -- Joh 15:20,24. Hatred to the gospel. -- Mt 13:21. Pride. -- Ps 10:2. Mistaken zeal. -- Ac 13:50; 26:9-11. Is inconsistent with the spirit o”
  6. Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 3, section 1: . Sedition Of The Jews Against Pontius Pilate. Concerning Christ, And What Befell Paulina And The Jews At Rome.”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Hatred — Forbidden -- Le 19:17; Col 3:8. Is murder -- 1Jo 3:15. A work of the flesh -- Ga 5:20. Often cloaked by deceit -- Pr 10:18; 26:26. Leads to deceit -- Pr 26:24,25. Stirs up strife -- Pr 10:12. Embitters life -- Pr 15:17. Inconsistent with The knowledge of God. -- 1Jo 2:9,11. The love of God. -- 1Jo 4:20. Liars prone to. -- Pr 26:28. The wicked exhibit Towards God. -- Ro 1:30. Towards saints. -- Ps 25:19; Pr 29:10. Towards each other. -- Tit 3:3. Christ experienced -- Ps 35:19; Joh 7:7; 15:18,24,25. Saints should Expect. -- Mt 10:22; Joh 15:18,19. Not marvel a”
  8. John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 15:22: But this cometh to pass,.... This hatred against Christ, and which is pointed at his people for his sake, and reaches to the Father also on his account, is suffered to be, and therefore should be patiently borne: that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law: either in Psa 35:19, or rather in Psa 69:4; which is a psalm of Christ, as appears by citations out of it in the New Testament, or references to it; see Joh 2:17. The whole Scripture is sometimes called the law, as here; for not the law of Moses is meant, or the five books of Moses, but the writ”
  9. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 21:8: Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies,.... The Jews, that would not have him to reign over them, who crucified him and persecuted his apostles; the Gentiles, who were also concerned in his death; the Roman emperors, who persecuted the Christians, and are signified by the red dragon that waited to devour the man child when brought forth by the woman, the church, Rev 12:3; and also the Papists, the followers of the man of sin, who oppose Christ in his offices and grace, and are the enemies of his witnesses, and of his interest; and besides these there are many pro”
  10. Mark (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Mark 13:9: 13:9 The second watch out! warns of persecution that was to come upon Christians (see 6:11; 8:34-38; 10:30; see 4:17). Jewish Christians would be brought before local councils of Jewish leaders, who had authority over Jewish communities. We read of such a council in Matt 10:17 and probably in Matt 5:22 (see also Acts 4:1-22). • beaten in the synagogues: Paul’s beatings in 2 Cor 11:24-25 were probably inflicted in the local synagogue. • The followers of Jesus would also be susceptible to trial before governors and kings (see Acts 23:24; 24:10-27; 25:1–26:32). Such tr”
  11. 1 Thessalonians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Thessalonians 2:15: Who hath killed the Lord Jesus, etc. - What a finished but just character is this of the Jews! 1. They slew the Lord Jesus, through the most unprincipled and fell malice. 2. They killed their own prophets; there was no time in which the seed of the serpent did not hate and oppose spiritual things, they slew even their own prophets who declared to them the will of God. 3. They persecuted the apostles; showing the same spirit of enmity to the Gospel which they had shown to the law. 4. They did not please God, nor seek to please him; though they pretended that”
  12. Deuteronomy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Deuteronomy 32:18: And when the Lord saw it,.... The disregard of the Jews to Christ, their forgetfulness of him, their disesteem and rejection of him; their continuance of sacrifices, when the great sacrifice was offered up; their setting up other messiahs and saviours, and the idol of their own righteousness, in opposition to the righteousness of Christ; all which not only as the omniscient God he saw, but took notice of, and considered, and did not at once pass judgment on them, at least did not immediately execute it, but waited some time to see how they would afterwards behav”
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