Isn't "the Jews killed Jesus" heresy?

Question

Aren't you essentially saying that if the Jews hadn't "killed" Jesus, that he would have died of old age?

So, he wouldn't have "sacrificed himself" for "the sins of humanity"?

(Please only answer if you can sound educated... thanks.)

Answer 1

First, assuming that he actually existed, the Romans killed him.



This would have gone down well in Judea at the time where feelings about the Roman occupation were running high enough to cause revolt. Even more so after the heavy handed suppression of that revolt.



However, Paul was trying to sell his religion to the Romans. So all those dietary restrictions, clothing restrictions, working restrictions get thrown out, and the Jews get stitched up for the cause of Jesus' death, while the Romans were trying to do the best they could.



Meanwhile for the mythology to work out, then yes, Jesus has to die a brutal death. The symbology of dying in his bed, surrounded by his wife, kids and grand kids after a long life --- for our sins - does not carry the same weight. "Oh, Lord, forgive them for giving me a nice life, a wife and family and dying of old age" does not have the same ring to it.



This was the key argument in the gospel of Judas that got rediscovered a few years back. Judas was acting as Jesus directed. He had to be betrayed, and had to be crucified.



This, while being fairly obvious ( I worked this one out in my teens), went against religious doctrine, so most of the copies of The Gospel of Judas were destroyed, and the character that the early church leaders wanted was put into his place, and Jesus was turned into a victim rather than a suicide.

Answer 2

Be careful not to believe everything you're told. I came across this same stuff a few years ago. It basically says ''the Talmud says all kinds of horrible things about Gentiles in this chapter and that verse." They even had quotation marks from their supposed sources. Being a Catholic, I should've known what I would find. I shouldn't even have taken the time to check for myself. Folks are always ''quoting'' the Pope or the Catechism --- especially folks with a book or a newspaper to sell, or if their website needs more hits, or if their church needs more members. But I found a copy of the Talmud, and I went to see for myself what it said, and none of these fabricated ''quotes'' were there. Be careful not to believe everything you're told.

Answer 3

It is not heresy and also it was not God's plan for Jesus to die of old age.. It was also God's will for Jesus to be killed .as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity God's plan was prophesied by Isaiah. John 3:16 states that God so loved the world, that is the sinners that he gave his only son. "Note the word gave." the word gave means Jesus was prepared for the cross before he was born. Acts 2:36-39 - The house of israel was told during pentecost that they had killed the lord and christ. they stood hopeless when they realised the truth but Peter calmed them by saying that there is a way and it is repentence and baptism for the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Now note verse 39 when Peter said,: for the promise: which can be said as the prophesy before the actual. The promise is to Israel, those afar off and as many as the Lord shall call. This include the gentiles. GOD BLESS YOU.

Answer 4

I don't know if the term "heresy" is appropriate, but the Jews did not kill Jesus. Judea was under Roman rule at the time and Jews did not have the authority to condemn or to execute. Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate with the hope that he would impose the death penalty.



No, Jesus would not have died of old age: (New American Standard Bible (©1995)

Jesus answered, "You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin."



Whew! Did that "sound educated" enough?

Answer 5

To say that "the Jews" killed Jesus is heresy, yes, because saying "the Jews" makes it sound like the Jewish people as a group did it, can be blamed for it, etc. This kind of statement subverts the Gospel for antisemitic purposes, and any subversion of the Gospel for contrary purposes is heresy.



To say that "some Jews" killed Jesus, *if* you only mean that some people who participated in the event happened to be Jewish--that would just be a statement of historical fact. In that sense, some Romans also killed Him; and when it comes down to it, those Romans were more directly involved than any Jews were.



So in other words, a simple statement of historical fact cannot be a heresy, unless you are abusing that fact to subvert the Gospel for your own purposes.





Edit: I would add that the comment above mine is not heretical because her elaboration reveals that her intent is not to lay blame on the Jewish people, but rather to elevate their role in God's plan for our salvation. "The Jews" is not a magic phrase--I'm merely laying down a general principle, but you have to get a sense of the speaker's intent.

Answer 6

I really like your last sentence.. I think I will use that in the future, if you don't mind.



The interesting thing about Christianity is the way it has evolved. Unlike Judaism, the religion has not stayed constant since its beginning. Throughout the Middle Ages and to this day, the doctrines of Christianity are created and molded to fit political purposes. During the Middle Ages, the promise of the afterlife and emphasis on piety kept serfs from rebelling and overthrowing the established order.



This is another inconsistency. I am interested to read the answers of those who believe in Christianity.

Answer 7

Jesus was destined to die on the cross from the beginning of time. The prophecies said that he was to be rejected by his own people (the Jews). God had already written the story, they were just fulfilling the role.

Ultimately, who is responsible for Jesus's death? The answer is everyone. Because of the sins of every man, Jew, gentile, somewhere in between, Jesus had to die for us. The Jews don't bear that burden alone.



Is it heresy? I don't think so. By definition, heresy is a statement that contradicts the accepted doctrine of a church. Even the Jewish religion accepts that their ancestors were involved in the crucifixion of Jesus, right?



Judas betrayed Jesus. Just because it was prophecied that Jesus would be betrayed doesn't mean that Judas didn't betray him. It's not heresy to say that Judas betrayed Jesus just because if he had not, Jesus would not have been crucified. It simply means he was fulfilling the role in the prophecies. The problem is, there is no "if" here. What happened, happened and we have no way of knowing what would have come about otherwise.

Answer 8

Jesus would have died anyway for the sins of humanity

Answer 9

Well it's not heresy as much as is it ignorance and racist to make such a claim. First of all the Romans killed Jesus, the Jews didn't have the power to kill him with out legitimate charges. Though they did play the system.

Isn't it ironic that, no offense to Catholics, they are the ones that blame the Jews the most for Jesus' death?

Answer 10

no it's not because Jesus would have died anyway for our sins. if the Jews didn't betray him than the Romans would have killed him anyway. At that time the Romans believed in their gods and wanted everyone under their rule to worship them, they saw Jesus as a threat so they would have killed him anyway. and besides God planned this when Adam and Eve sinned.

Answer 11

If the Hebrews had killed Jesus, they would have stoned him to death like they did his brother. Crucifixion was a Roman punishment for treasonous activities.

Answer 12

The RCatholic and the World Lutheran Federation have basically labelled blaming the Jews as "Christ Killers" as heresy and sinful



The Christian theology is that the sins of all humanity crucified Jesus

Answer 13

1. Jesus willingly died for others....no one killed him.....



2. those present were both Jews and Gentiles...and there were also many Jews who did not agree with this crucifixion, and came to give emotional support. Only a small group was involved with the decision.



3. since he died for everyone.....then all mankind was responsible for his death, since everyone had sinned.



4. Since he rose from the dead., then he is not dead...and his death was only temporary......he is alive in heaven.....so technically .....there is no "killing" to argue about.

Answer 14

The statement "the Jews killed Jesus" isn't heresy, it's technically false. According to the story, the Jews didn't kill Jesus, they called for his execution. The Romans killed him. But police assisted suicide is still suicide and he would have just found another way.

Answer 15

Well, if you believe in the whole story, which there are people who do not, the fact that in the story the Jews killed Jesus adds to the awfulness of this fact. Jesus was a Jew, and supposedly, as the story goes, they killed their own King. This makes the story worse, if you care. That's about it. I wouldn't say it is heresy, because as I said, I believe it is only a story said, not really lived.

Answer 16

Yes, the Jews had to kill Jesus because it was the high priests job to make the sacrifice to atone for sin if he was not instrumental in this the sacrifice would not have been valid according to the Old Testament to which Jesus was the fulfillment.

Answer 17

Look, it was God's will that Jesus be killed. That's what Jesus came to earth to do, to die! The combined forces of the Jews and the Roman government killed Jesus. But, that really doesn't matter. Jesus' death on the cross to save humanity from our sins is what we should be focused on. The fact that God sent His son to die for us miserable humans is what we should really contemplate.



John 3:16

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Answer 18

The way Jesus died on the cross was the plan of God the

Father all along. The Jewish nations role in putting him there was just circumstantial.

Answer 19

The Romans actually killed him, and if you are a Christian, you should believe that was part of God's plan all along. Because if they hadn't, Christians would not receive the gift of salvation.

Answer 20

there was no question that the religious leaders were going to kill Jesus...for He represented God and our human nature doesn't want to serve God....Jesus called us to do just that...



after all he gave to the Jews first, and gave Himself to them...

Answer 21

lol lol lol lol lol Good one :)



CHRISTIAN FRIENDS, PLEASE NOTE: Jesus was NOT the 'king of the Jews' !!! NEVER! That was something the Romans used to say as a 'joke'!

Answer 22

We all had a part in killing Jesus beause he chose to die for the sins of each of us.

Answer 23

You are completely correct. Blaming anyone (or any group) misses the point, christians should be happy that he died and completed his mission on earth.



The reality of this argument is that it is a justification for people's antisemitism.

Answer 24

Not to be taken literally ...it is symbolic ...

Answer 25

maybe